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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1951)
Battalion Editorials da by Oc wa of in Ai ed is | “i Sl‘ th nil an of tir mi a W£ Se to tei Co to D« Co atl Ai asj hil F F m mi t>v of Nc do lig A du by iai thi fa( se] sc< th( •in H( of SO) re< bil Pu foi thi Ba b° lie Ai thi fei ha| sol ev te CH 38 th ot 41 fo SCi pai sc< eni mi Page 2 TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1951 i More of This, Please . Denounces Russian ‘Evil War by Proxy i Truman Asks For Vast Mobilization A SHORT while before the Christmas holi days, the Battalion, in two separate ed itorials, urged the instructors in the School of Military Science to keep these students . informed of any draft law changes and de plored the flippant attitude toward the Ko rean situation adopted by some of the in structors. Front page stories in most of the state papers last week showed just how serious the problem of “draft jitters” is becoming to the college student. Students from colleges all over Texas were quitting school to vol unteer for the armed forces. Most of them were trying to get into the Air Force or Navy to avoid drafting into the infantry. It is encouraging then to see some of our instructors realizing their students’ worries and attempting to advise them on a proper course of action. Lt. Col. Shelly P. Myers, in a talk to his senior Coast Artillery class last Friday, gave the most logical approach to the problem we’ve heard yet. Col. Myers told his stu dents to stop their worrying and go ahead with their schooling, plans, and dreams. Then if world affairs changed so that the Army didn’t need them, the students would be pre pared to face the problems which ordinarily face the new college graduate. On the other hand, if they were needed by the Army, they would be called and no amount of wor rying would change the situation. Such an attitude effects as much “peace of mind” as can be achieved in the war- torn world of today. We Need Allies Who Will Fight. T HE NEWS that our government is send ing arms and ammunition to the Chinese Nationalist troops in Formosa is most wel come. The United States cannot maintain an anti-Communist front in Asia without Asian allies. An attempt to do that would be folly. Chiang Kai-Shek has in Formosa the ■largest anti-Communist land force in Asia. The Nationalist guerrillas fighting the Reds on the Chinese mainland are the only force now conducting an offensive against Com munism, even though it may be little more than hit and run. United Nations troops are retreating 1 in Korea, and the French campaign against Communist-led rebels in Indo-Chinese is largely a defensive operation. Unless and until Japan is rearmed, Chi- ang’s Nationalists will be the only force in that part of the world to which we could look for substantial help in opposing Red aggres sion. President Truman has acted wisely in sending arms and ammunition to the Na tionalists. Whatever else may be said of him, Chiang was our loyal ally through World War II, He didn’t fold up in the war against Japan, as so many others did. And he has proved the sincerity of his oppos ition to Communism by fighting it for a quarter century. The United States should do all its re sources will permit to strengthen genuine anti-Communist forces wherever they can be found. Japan and Spain should have high priority, for both can make substantial con tributions to the cause. Arming Japan should not be delayed by any idea that it can wait until we and our former allies have gone through the motions of an old-fashioned peace conference. Mos cow doesn’t stand on such formalities and we will have to discardThem, too in dealing with the Russians. We may have lost the initiative in Germany by pursuing a policy of conventional diplomacy. The mistake should not be repeated in Japan. No political formalities bar the way to a realistic alliance with Spain, even though left-wing Socialists in Europe, who don’t want to fight anyway, won’t like it. Fran co has 23 divisions and 16 more in reserve. They are needed for defense of Western Europe. Given modern equipment, they can become a great asset. Allied air bases are needed in Spain to keep open the Mediterranean sea lanes we would have to use in defending the Persian Gulf area oil fields and Belgian Congo uran ium and cobalt deposits. We should be build ing those bases now.—The Houston Press. By ROGER D. GREENE Associated Press Writer P RESIDENT Truman told the nation yes terday “we will fight, if fight we must” to block the threat of world conquest by Russia. In a rousing speech, heard by millions over radio, the President called for a vast mobilization effort capable of producing 50,000 planes and 35,000 tanks a year if needed. He pledged that the United States will forsake neither western Europe nor other free nations against Red aggression. Bigger Draft The President said more money, a “ma jor” tax increase and a bigger draft of manpower will be needed to prepare for the possibility of “a full-scale war.” Addressing Congress in his “State of the Union” message, Mr. Truman declar ed.: “We are preparing for full war-time mobilization, if that should be necessary. “The threat of world conquest by Sov iet Russia endangers our liberty and en dangers the kind of world in which the free spirit of man can survive. Total Threat “The threat is a total threat and the danger is a common danger. “All free nations are exposed and are all in peril. Their only security lies in banding together. No one nation can find protection in a selfish search for a haven from the storm.” Mr. Truman bitterly denounced Russia for waging “an evil war by proxy” in Korea and called it a move by “the Rus sian Communist dictatorship to take over the world step by step.” The President said the United States is willing “as we have always been, to nego tiate honorable settlements with the Soviet Union,” but with out-thrust jaw he de clared: “We will not engage in appeasement: Applause greeted that affirmation. Russia Always Mobilized Mr. Truman accused the Soviets of keeping Russia and its satellite nations “in a state of perpetual mobilization,” and he declared: “The imperialism of the czars has been replaced by the even more ambitious, more crafty, and more menacing imperialism of the rulers of the Soviet Union. “The Soviet rulers have made it clear that we must have strength as well as right on our side. If we build strength . . . the Soviet rulers may face the facts and lay aside their plans to take over the world. . . that is what we are trying to bring about. That is the only realistic road to peace.” “Great Desicions” Mr. Truman warned the lawmakers that they must make “great decisions” in the months ahead to cope with the global cri sis. He called for changes in the draft law, greater powers to impose wage-price con trols, and continued military and economic aid to our allies. It is going to be “a long pull,” he said. The lawmakers listened solemnly as Mr. Truman drew an ominous picture of the Russian shadow over the free world. The first applause came after 13 min utes when Mr. Truman said that the/'coun tries which have received U. S. billions in Marshall Aid are “now ready to use this strength in helping to build a strong combined defense against aggression.” Applause Eisenhower Mention Waves of applause rolled up when Mr. Truman mentioned General Eisenhower, supreme commander of a projected 1,000,000 man Western European Army, and urged support for the general on his mission. Administration Democrats generally ap plauded his message as “powerful,” “up lifting” and “magnificent.” Republicans and southern democrats were more restrained. Rep. Martin (R-Mass), House GOP lead er, commented: “It is reassuring that there is to be no more appeasement of Russia. We are all ready to unite to do that which is neces sary to make a strong America, both from a military and economic sense.” Some said they were disappointed that Mr. Truman took the occasion to re vive his pleas for such controversal mea sures as health insurance and federal aid to education. One significant omission, was the ab sence of any mention about sending more American troops to Europe. At one point, he declared: “Our Unity Involved” “Our own national unity is deeply in volved with that of the other free nations. While they need our support, we equally need theirs. Our national safety would be gravely prejudiced if the Soviet Union were to succeed in harnessing to its war machine the resources and the manpower of the free nations on the borders of its empire. “Even if we were craven enough to abandon our ideals,” the President contin ued, “it would be disastrous for us to with draw from the community of free nations.” Mr. Truman’s speech appeared to be £i staunch and unrelenting defense of his foreign policy, coupled with a sketch of future mobilization moves. Russians Listen A small group of Russian diplomats lis tened silently in the gallery to the Pres ident’s scathing attack on Soviet ambitions. The Army, Navy and Air Force are moving toward an active strength of nearly 3, 500,000 Mr. Truman continued, and he commented: “On top of this, we will build the capa city to turn out on short notice arms and supplies that may be needed for a full- scale war.” Mr. Truman outlined a legislative pro gram, calling for: © Appropriations for the military build-up. ® Extension and revision of the draft law. i ® Foreign military and economic aid. • Revision and extension of authority to “expand production and to stabilize prices, wages and rents.” • Improvement of agricultural laws, to help obtain farm products needed for the defense effort. O Improvement of labor laws “to help provide stable labor-management relations.” • Housing and training of defense, workers and “the full use of all our man power resources.” • An increased supply of doctors, nur ses and other trained medical personnel. • Federal aid to schools. • “A major increase” in taxes. Further Discussion Mr. Truman said his forthcoming eco nomic and budget message will discuss these subjects in greater detail. The eeO' nomic message is expected in the next fe days. His budget message will come Jan? 15. The President pleaded with Congress for “unity in these crucial days,” but he said: “Make no mistake about my meaning. I do not ask, or expect, unanimity. 1 do not ask an end to debate. Only by debate can we arrive at divisions which are wise, and which reflect the desires of (he American people. “Let us debate the issues, but let every man among us weigh his words and deeds. There is a sharp difference between harm ful criticism and constructive criticism, i “Let each of us put our country ahead of our party, and ahead of our own per sonal interests.” Mr. Truman told the lawmakers: “Peace is precious to us. But more precious than peace are freedom and jus tice from being destroyed. “This is our cause—peace, freedom, jus tice.” The nation’s lawmakers, he said, face “as grave a task as any Congress in the history of the republic.” Unbombed, Unshelled Pusan Reflects Ugliness of War By JACK MacBETH Pusan, Korea, Jan. 9—(A’)—This dirty seaport town in southeastern Korea is suffering from an epi demic of heartbreak. Pusan is bulging at its seams with human tragedy. Its civilian population has been swollen by re fugees to 1,000,000—twice its pre war size. Never pretty, it has been stamp ed with ugliness by war. Neither shell nor bomb has yet fallen on the city, but vyar is here. Soldiers walk the streets wear ing uniforms of the United States, Canada, England, Austra lia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, France, the Nether lands, Greece and Turkey. This is the last major Korean port in Allied hands. Through it must flow all the seaborne per sonnel and supplies for the war front. The real feeling of war and its meaning have been brought here by the refugees. There are some 500,000 of them, for whom the civil ian government, with advice from the military, is trying to provide temporary shelter. At one temporary camp about 600 refugees had constructed tents from straw mats. There were no sanitary facilities and no water supply. Most of the men, women and children appeared filthy; many had bad colds. All had empty stares of despair and heartbreak. Along the streets, thousands of the refugees have built their own little shacks close against the sides of buildings or walls. Some are made from wood, obtained from cases marked “US Army C Ra tion.” A heavy rain or snow would al most certainly knock down these little huts. Teams of civilian doctors and social workers were visiting the emergency camps in Pusan. Thou sands who have been evacuated were dusted with DDT disinfectant. Martial law was declared in Pusan shortly before Christmas, but authorities are having dif- diculty herding all the refugees into camps. There afe too many of them. Tension over the worsening mili tary situation has gripped Pushn. In mess halls and other gathering places everyone asks: “What’s the latest from the front? How far south are the Chinese?” Recalling that the Pusan peri meter was held last summer, troops talk little about evacuation. They talk more of the fight which they know is coming. At one refugee camp this after noon an interpreter asked how many in a group of 100 men would like to fight the Chinese if given the chance. There were a few shouts and about 50 hands shot into the air. These were the young ones in the group. The Battalion Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions "Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman” Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act ot Congress of March 3, 1870. Member of The Associated Press Represented nationally by National Ad vertising Service Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444) or at the editorial office, Room 201, Goodwin Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Room 209, Goodwin Hall. DAVE COSLETT, CLAYTON L. SELPH Co-Editors John Whitmore, L. O. Tiedt Managing Editors Frank N. Manitzas Sports Editor Bob Huglison, Jerry Zuber l,;.. Campus Editors Joel Austin City Editor .Today’s Issue John Whitmore Managing Editor Frank N. Manitzas Sports News Editor Joel Austin City News Editor T. M. Fontaine, Carter Phillips .Editorialists Boh Hughson, Andy Anderson. George Charlton. Tom Rountree, Allen Pengelley, Leon McClellan. Wayna Davis, Bob Venable, Bill Streicb. Norman Blahuta, John Hildebrand, Bryan Spencer. Ray Williams, Herb O’Connell. Jim Anderson. Ori James, J. P. tjtern, Raympn Swan, Robert Ball. Bert Hardaway, Edward Holder, Richard Ewing News and Feature Writert Roger Coslett Quarterback Club Rose Marie Zuber — _... ...Society Editor Jack Fontaine, Jerry Fontaine Z Special Assignments ' 111 Sid Abernathy...... ....... ..Campus News Editor Sam Moljnary. - ......^.....Cbief Photographer Herman C. Gollob .....Amusements Editor Ralph Gorman, Ray Holbrook, Harold Gann, Joe Blanchette, Pat LeBlanc, Dale Dowell, Jimmy Curtis, Chuck Neighbors. Fred Walker -——....Sports Writers Bob Hancock, John Hollingshead, Tommy Fontaine, James Lancaster Photo Engravers Emmett Treat. Jerry Clement, Bob Hendry Cartoonists Autrey Frederick , Advertising Manager, Bussell Hagens, Frank Thurmond. Advertising Representatives Letters All letters to the editor must be signed by the writer and free from obscene and libelous references. Letter writers wanting their name withheld must make a personal request to the co-editors. No unsigned letters will be published, Traditions Falling Editor, The Battalion: Since entering A&M we have seen numerous traditions fall by the wayside, but the other night at the Rice game we witnessed the fall of another. We were all taught when we were “fish” to wildcat for the last two minutes of a basketball game. We would like to see this tradition brought back, in fact we insist upon it. Another thing we noticed at the game was the number of cadets sitting in the north stands. It has been our impression that the corps sits in the south stands. We would appreciate publication of these complaints. R. H. Schawe, A. Schecter, It. S. Matthews, E. V. So- Relle, W. It. Jones, Ina Park er, B. J. Gcbert, B. E. Zim merman, W. Lippmann. All class of ’51. HST Says He Won’t Let Reds Absorb Nations By J. M. ROBERTS, JR. AP Foreign Affairs Analyst President Truman made it clear yesterday that the ad ministration has no intention of heeding any advice which would leave other peace-lov ing nations open to piecemeal ab sorption by Russia. Europe, he said in answer to those who doubt the continent’s will to fight, hasn’t done enough. Neither has the United States. But all are working, he said, and Eu rope will have bigger armies than our own. “The Soviet rulers have made it clear,” Mr. Truman said, “that we must have strength as well as right on our side. If we build our strength—and we are building it— the Soviet rulers may face the facts and lay aside their plans to take over the world.” Only a few hours before the President spoke, one of the world’s most experienced observers had told me: “If we just keep building up, something will. snap in Russia. They’ll make a pact, or something. They are not kidding themselves about having an industrial plant sufficient to challenge the West, pr even the United States. You know and I know that if they make a break in Europe the atom bombs will fall. Don’t you suppose they know it?” But, while making no retreat on foreign policy, the President show ed no belligerency toward Ins crit ics. ‘Citizen Responsibility’ Program Organized The American Citizenship Com mittee of the Texas Bar Associa tion, in order to help safeguard our freedoms, has planned a state-wide “ROD” program (Responsibilities, Obligations and Duties) and Gov ernor Shivers has officially pro claimed January as “ROD Month,” according to Coulter Hoppess, pres ident of the Brazos County Bar As sociation. Hoppess has appointed Arthur Stewart, assistant professor of bus iness law here, as chairman of the “ROD” Committee in this county. “The Texas Bar Association adopted this program for the pur pose of encouraging the public to think as much about what each in dividual can do for Democracy as he does about what Democracy can do for him. “Assuming that a democratic form of government cannot last indefinitely unless citizenship re sponsibilities to it are fulfilled, the Bar is endeavoring to remind the public of citizenship duties in “ROD” prpgrams to be presented for schools and various civic organ izations during January,” Stewart said. A “Bill of Responsibilities,” list ing the corresponding duties to the Bill of Rights has been prepared by American Citizenship Committee of Color Film Planned For Biology Club “The Gulf of Mexico Inverte brates” film, will be shown by the Biology Club, Tuesday in Room 107 of the Biology Building. Dr. Sewell H. Hopkins of the Biology Department will be pre sent to give comments and answer questions on this two reel color film. Freshmen attending will be giv en credit for class attendance in Freshmen Orientation. Members of the faculty will be present to ad vise those students interested in becoming biology majors, T. M. Ferguson, club sponsor, announced. the Bar as a basis for the entire program. The “Bill” is being distributed widely over the state along with a “Citizenship Questionnaire,” also prepared by the Bar Committee. The questionnaire, composed of 14 questions, categories superior, good, average, fair and poor citizens. Secretary of State John Ben Sheppard, state chairman of the Citizenship Committee, which is di recting the project, first expressed the “ROD” idea at a state Bar convention in San Antonio recently. Civic groups of Brazos County are invited to participate in the “ROD” program by having a local lawyer speak on the “Responsibil ities, Obligation and Duties of the Citizen” at some January meeting at which time the “Bill of Respon sibilities” is to be distributed and the “Citizenship Questionnaire” will be filled out, Stewart said. All organizations interested in staging such a program are re quested to contact either Hoppess of Stewart who will arrange for the speakers’ appearances. Couch to Attend Dehydrator’s Meet Dr. J. R. Couch, a professor in the Poultry Husbandry Depart ment, will attend the annual meet ing of the American Dehydrators Association to be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., Tuesday. He will report on the progress of a project at A&M to determine the value of dehydrating alfalfa leaf meal and breeder rations for chickens and turkeys. The project was started in Sept ember, 1950. Dr. Couch will also at tend a meeting of the alfalfa re search unit of the association. Bible Verse And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. —Acts 2: 21. J anuarif a earance • MEN’S SUITS *||i • TOP COATS • WOOL SLACKS • CATALINA SWEATERS • BROKEN LINES SHIRTS • SPORT SHIRTS Conway & Co. 103 N. Main Bryan, Texas LI’L ABNER The Plop Thickens By AI Capp