THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 118, 14 February 1944, Page 4

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Comments—Reflection s

“The (U.S.) Government’s policies abroad are undermining the morale o£ our troops. This is uot the time to pay an American workman £lOOO a month to fix electric 'wires- on the airfield at. Accra while privates in the United States Army, working on the same field, are paid £5O a month. This is not the time to build immense bases such as we are building in Eritrea with an understanding that only union labour be sent abroad. This is not the time to play into the hands of labour racketeers who require that any skilled American civilian electrician working overtime in Algeria be paid more per month than General ■ Eisenhower is paid. This is not the time for anything but victory. What would you think if you were an American soldier in North Africa or Eritrea? Well, that’s the way our soldiers feel about it everywhere They believe that a great injustice is being done by our Government in permitting labour extortion in this war. They have no patience with the political ambitions of the men who make this possible. These soldiers will return bitter and mad, and they will demand a reckoning.”—Henry J. Tay lor: “Reader’s Digest.”

“Though, the Russian victories have frustrated a German victory, they have not yet insured a German defeat. In fact, the German retreat, which started much earlier than Napoleon’s, lias apparently saved their armies intact. They still seem prepared to put up a strong defence at their chosen line. They have been working on their ‘East Wall’ for years. Their occupation of Bulgaria, coupled with increasing terror not only in the conquered lands but also at home, Is further evidence of their determination to continue the fight. In that light the retreat in Russia is indeed part of the new German strategy, which the Germans now admit has been dictated, in part at least, by the .collapse of Italy, and which compels them to mass forces against the Allies in the west.”-—N.Y. “Times."

“There were eloquent advocates of the union of Great Britain and the selfgoverning colonies under a federal constitution. Yet the movement for federation within the British Empire failed, and its place was taken by the Commonwealth of British Nations, which is not federation at all. There fore, I raise the question; If the British peoples, the most highly endowed peoples, politically, in the world, with their infinite ability for compromise and for adjustment, could not form a federation of Great' Britain and the Dominions, how can our promoters of world federation expect to bring it about in defiance of the political limitations of this varied human race?” —Major-General David Prescott-Bar-rows, in “Journal American.” ♦ * ♦

“This is really civilization’s last chance. That is why I have this day accepted the presidency of the. ‘Win the Peace Movement,’ and am going to do my best to make it nation-wide.” said Lord Vansittart, in a recent address. “There is nothing extreme or extravagant or inhuman or unreasonable in the whole or any one of its 12 points. We stand for the total, permanent, unilateral disarmament of Germany, not only material but spiritual, and therefore for the total and permanent liquidation of German militarism, both technical and moral, therefore also for Allied occupation of Germany till the four-fifths of Europe ean be sure that German militarism is dead beyond hope of resurrection; therefore also for inter-Allied control of German war potential; therefore also for inter-Allied supervision of German education, for breaking the Prussian stranglehold on the rest of Germany, for the. redistribution of rhe Prussians within Germany, and for the decentralization of the Reich administration. We stand for the right of the average man and woman in Europe to be safeguarded against and further German cruelties. Their hatred is a factor that has got to be reckoned with. Europe as a whole will not be very patient with lectures from this relatively immune island. Do let us try to have hearts and imaginations. Our first care should be to win the affection and confidence of our friends.” * ♦ * Prayer. God, listen through my words to the beating of my heart. My words cry out: “Where’er Thou art, Lift up Thine hand to guard my son; ’Take not his life until his years are run. From all disaster on the sea, From shell an'd fire on land, Protect him. Thine the gracious hand To guide him home to me.” But deeper than my words, O Lord, More vital than my breath, More sure than homing birds, O Lord, More sharp than stinging death, The cry that knows no rest: , -'"Use him—Thou knoweth 'best. Thine the inscrutable will.” My words grow still. ... And in the silence here at last I feel 'Thy hand upon me, as I kneel. Margueritte Harmon Bro in the "Christian Century.”