Current Events Review. Vol. I, No.1 November 1945

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Part of Current Events Review

Title: Current Events Review. Vol. I, No.1 November 1945
Issue Date: Vol. I (No. 1) November 1945
Year: 1945
Language: English
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extracted text: November, 1045 President Osmeii.a and the late President. Quezon, after thefr arrival in the United States from Corrcgidor in 1932 (Courtesy, Free Philippine~) What the Commonwealth Government Accomplished during Its Stay-in the United States The Commonwealth Government of the Philippines was invited by the President of the United States, the late Franklin D. Roosevelt, to transfer the seat of the Government of the Filipinos from Corregidor to Washington, D. C. The step taken by the Commonwealth Government ·was authorized by an Act of the National Assernbly, the law-making body of the Philippines in 1941. Conegidor was ~hen evacuated. The Commonweal·th Government functioned in Washington, D. C., from May 1:5, 1942 to October 3, 1944. It is an accepted fact that mere military occupation of a territory does not confer sovereign rights on the invading army. When the Commonwealth Government was transferred to Washington, D. C., it was officially recognized by the United States. The 42 Page 2 m.embers of the important international organization known as the United Nations also officially recognized it. ·what were the objectives of the Commonwealth Governm~nt during its stay in Washington, D.C.? lt worked closely with the Government of the United States. Its objectives were: / 1. To maintain and keep up the interest of the American people in the redemption of the Philippines as a sacred obligation which had been assumed by the United States. 2. To speed up the preparation of the necessary men, material and plans for the reconquest of the Philippines. 3. To accelerate the advent of Philippine independenc~. 4. To obtain adequate guarantee for the permanence of Philippine political independence. 5 .. To work for economic rehabilitation and stability as the material foundation of Philippine independent structure. Were these objectives achieved ? All the above objectives were substantially achieved. The Philippines has been liberated and J aparlese power has been destroyed. On December 28, 19411 while the Battle for Manila was raging, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a promise to the gallant people of the Philippines. He said: "I give to the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed and their independence established and protected. The entire resources in men and material of the United States stand behind that pledge." The Commonwealth Government at the initiative of the late President Manuel L. Quezon took seveCurrent Events Review Far Eastern Policy of the United States·u The United States has liberated the Philippines from' Japanese tyr~nny. She is now directing the reconstruction of the once sacred Empire of Japan along democratic lines. It is now necessary to underst9.nd the various policies of the United States in the Far East. What are her objectives? Policy on Japan.-The President of the United States approved on September 6, 1945, the general initial polic)'· concerning Japan after her surrender. The documeni- was prepared jointly by the Department of State and the War Department. The ultimate objectives are: (1) To insure that Japan will not again become a menace to the United States and to the peace and security of the world. (2) To bring about the eventual establishment of a peaceful and responsible government which will respect the ral steps to obtain Congressional sanction for the pledge given by the President of the United States. S. J. Resolution No. 93 was introduced in the Congress of the United States at the request of the President and the Vice-Pleesident of the Philippines. The Joint Resolution pledged the resources of the United States both in men and materi~ls to drive away the treacherous inva<ling Japanese from the Philippines, restore the orderly and free democratic proces'Ses of government. to the Fi1ipino people and to speed the day of ultimate and cOmplete independence of the Filipinos. It also provided, through the maintenance by the United States of bases in the Philippines, 11fur full security for the Philippines, for the mutual protection of the Islands and the United States, and for the future maintenance ~f rights of other States and will support the objectives of the United States as reflected in the ideals and principles of the charter of the l!nited Nations~· Policy on Korea~-It is expected that Korea will be separated from Japan and become an independent country. At pl'esent Korea is not yet prepal'ed to become immediately an independent nation. It is advocated that the Koreans be prepared and guided to take over the independe'nt administration of their country. Policy on South East Asia.-The attitude of the United States toward French lndo-China is the recognition of French sovereignty in that area. The attitude toward the situation in ·Dutch East Indies is the same attitude as that in French lndo-China. The United .. St~tes, Arpericans and nine Filipinos. The Commission i,s now sitting in Washing~on. It is now investigating all matters affecting post-war economy, trade, finance, economic stability· and rehabilitation of the Philippines. Economic rehabili.t~· tion covers damages to public and private property and t.o persons occasioned by enemy attack and occupation. The Commission will repoi;t its recommendations to the President of the United States and to Congress, and to the President and the COllgress of the Philiphowever, has no -intention to assist or' participate in forceful measures for the imposition of control by territorial sovereigns. It 'is the policy of t.he United States to foster friendly relations with ·Siam and encourage· the development of healthy, democratic institutions. She also advocates the 11 open door" policy in Siam: She eXpects Siam to give equal treatment to all nations and their peoples. Policy on China.-lt is the·Jlolicy of the lJnited States t_o encourage and assist, when she can appropriately do so, the ·development of .a tmified,. strong, and cooperative nation. ,The.policies must be based on democratic principl~ and popUlar sovereignty. It is also the policy of th.e United States to encourage and facilitat.e the re-establishment di American busfo-ess in China. This policy al'so applies to missionaries amt representatives of cultural and 'philantrophic organizations. Policy on Russia.-It is the policy of the United States to cooperate with China aJ(d Russia to maintain stability in the Far East. The United ·states· '~ill not cooperate with either of them in any policy antagonistic toward the other. Policy on the Philippines.-The policieS of the United St~tes on th~ Philippines are -clearly defined in the Independence Act, S. J. Resolu· tions No. 93 and No. 94 which pines. p;utlrante·i> the indepernknce .'li'td Significance.-The transfer of protection f•f Philippine inrlcven~ the Commonwealth Government to t'HC'<..' and assistance in the rchabil· itutiHn nf the Philippines. Washington, D. C., saved it from destruction by the Japanese and enahled it to C()ntinue functioning. The passage of J11int Resolutions No. 9~ and 94 are important because Phi.lippine independcu<'e \vm peace in the Pacific." The legisla- be gTanted and protected. A new tion was approved unanimously by era in Philippine·American relaCongress on June 29, 1944. Tt is important to note that the pnlicies of the United States are based on the seventeen points outJined by the ex-Secretary or State, Cordell Hull, (m M a r c h 21, 1944. These pr•licics are based on d e rn o c 1' a t i C' principles and the desire of the Pnited States to k<'q1 pc·ncc in the w_orld. The policies could on]y be achieve~ through the coopera· tfon of China and the Soviet Union. Congresi; als~ apprQved on June 29, 1944 S. J. Resolution No. 94. It established a Filipino Rehabilita!' tion Commission composed uf nine NO\•ember, 1945 tions is inaugurated because freedom and independence, and peace and security are assured tlie Filipino people. Page 3 Significant World News Roundup··· Germany After a comprehensive study by the conquerors of Germany, her war-making power was ended by a 48-point proclamation. The proclamation legalized Allied control of every phase of German life. All German land, naval and air forces, th~ Storm Troops and the Gestapo (secret police) were abolished. All groups which serve to keep alive the military tradition-such as the army general staff officers, military schools and veteran organizations were abolished. Racial discrimination was outlawed. The proclamation abolished the Nazi party and all secret organizations. Greece The present regent of. Greece is Archbishop Damaskinos. He was chosen by Winston S. Churchill and Anthony Eden to become regent. His immediate problem is to carry Greece through this. winter. He must also see to it that the elections for a new government are held and that government must go through. The next important problem is to hold a plebiscite on the monarchy. France France held its first general elections on October 21, 1945. The elections were the first elections held since 1936. What is the significance of the elections? 1. A glance at the election results show that the French declared itself overwhelmingly in favor of a new constitution. 2. The people had expressed its loyalty to Gen. Charles de Gaulle, the first resistance leader of France. Russia A new Five-Year Plan has been announced by Premier Josef Stalin. The plan is called piatileka. The Red Army began evacuating Manchuria in accordance with the SinoRussian Treaty signed on August 14, 1945. ment of Dr. Karl Renner has been der Dr. I. R. Soekarno established officially recognized by the four an independent Indonesian repupowers on the Allied Con'trol blic. The politically-conscious AnCouncil for Austria. Authority of namites are demanding freedom the Renner government will be ex- from their French rulers. tended to all Austria. Italy Italy held the session of the in· terim consultative assembly in October. The session was Italy's first free meeting of political minds since Benito Mussolini abolished ·parliamentary govemment 20 years ago. The interim consultative assembly had no final powers. It was the first step toward a real parliament. It was also considered as the trial run in democratic representation by Premier Ferruccio Parri. Spain ~neralisaimo Francisco Franco announced on October 13, 1946 the restoration of civil liberties i~ Spain. These were: 1. The revival of individual liberties. 2. The general amnesty for political prisoners. 3. Municipal el~tions will be held in March, 1946, 4. Referendum <>n certain national laws will be instituted. Burma Japan Great Britain is set in giving Steps were taken by Gen. Doug- Burma self-government as early as los MacArthur to uproot Japanese possible. The term of office of the feudalism. The United States or- g~vernor of Burma, Sir Reginald dered Japan to go democratic. In Dorman, until ,ltfay, 1947 is an in .. a directive, Gen. MacArthur de- dication of the continuity of the manded,full civil liberty, release of adminis~r~tion of. Bur~ese civil political J,1risoners abolishment of and pohtical affairs dunng Burtotalitarian powe~s freedom of ma's transition to self-government. speech and freedom ~f thought. Among the important matters to be China Unity in China has been achieved. The two most important fundamental principles that had been agreed upon are: (1) the Komintang and Commuitist Parties would cooperate on an equal· footing in the reconstruction of China under the leadership of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek; and (2) all political and non-palitical groups would confer on participation in the Central Government. The unity achieved by China is the result of the untiring efforta of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, leader of the Central Government and Mao Tse-tung, leader of the Com· considered are the formation of new political parties and the organization of a regular Burmese army. India On September 19, 1946 Great Britain renewed her offer of self· rule for India. She was willing to compromise with Indian nation· alist leaders on the independence formula rejected by them in 1942. Prime Minister Clement A. Attlee announced: 1. Elections will be held in Indi:J. 2. Th~ assembly elected by the Indians will be invited to draft a new constitution. munist Party. Only very recently, broke out in China. 3. Conferences will be held with a civil war the different Indian leaders after Indonesia and Annam The people of Indonesia a.nd the people of French Indo-China are the elections for further discusaion of self-gov~mment. What were the main points of the 1942 independence formula? Austria demanding freedom from their rul• 1. An elected body charged with (Ctmtinued tm pr.ge 9) The provisional Austrian govern- ers. The Indonesian leaders unPage 4 Current Ev~nts Review Sig.nificant Dates For Filipino Students--1941-1945 December 7, 1941 Japanese naval and air forces attacked Pearl Harbor, naval base in Hawaii without declaration of war. Results: Eight battleships-almost half of the United States Navy's backbone and 10 other ships were sunk or damaged. Over 3,000 men were killed or reported missing. December 10, 1941 Japanese forces landed at Vigan and Aparri On northern Luzon. December 28, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a historic promise on' Philippine independence. He said: "I give to the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their fi-eedom will be redeemed and their independence established and protected. The entire resources -in men and materials of the United States stand behin4 that pledge." January 2,-1942 The Japanese forces occupied Manila. January 23, 1942 Inauguration of the Japanesesponsored Philippine Executive Commission, with Jorge B. Vargas as- Chairman. April 9, 1942 Bataan fell. The Japanese captured 36,000 American and Filipino troops. Major. General Edward P. King, Jr., .signed the surrendel" instrument. United Nations on June 10, l942. ships, four carriers, six heavy cruiOn ~une 14, 1942, the Philippines sers and tp.ree light cruisers, nine signed the Declaration. The Phil-·- large destroyers or small cruisers. ippines is also a signatory to the The Second Battle ~f the Philippine Atlantic Charter. The Philippines Sea was recorded as the great~st is also a member of the United naval battle of the war ·and the Nations. greatest in American naval hisJune 29, 1944 tory. President Franklin D. Roosevelt October 27, 1944 signed S. J. Resolutions No. 93 and President Osmefia and the Phil94. The first made, it a declared ippine government in Leyte 1·epo1icy of the United States Con- opened postoffices and issued "vic·gress "that the United St~tes shall tory" currency based on the ..:\merdrive the treacherous, invading ican dollar, worth two pesos. Japanese from the Philippine Is- October 29, 1944 lands, restore as guickly as possi- President Osmefia and his cabible the orderly, free -democratic net held their first meeting on n&processes of government to the Fi- tive soil. Jipino people and thereupon estab- December 16, 1944 lish the complete independence of u. s. troops, under Gen. Macthe Philippine Islands . as a sepa- Arthur, landed without loss of a rate self-governing nation/' The man on Mindoro Island, 155 miles sec;:ond established a Filipino Reha- south of Mani~a. bilitation Commission. October 14, 1943 Inauguration of the Japanesesponsored Philippjne Republic with Jose P. Laurel as President. September 23, 1944 The Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic declared that a state of wa"r existe4. between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America and Great Britain. October 20, 1944 January 9, 1945 U. S. sixth Army troops landed on Lingayen Gulf. By nightfall 68 thousand troops were· ashoro.? and in conttol of fifteen hiiles of beatil head six thousand Yards deep. February 3, 1945 First Cavalry Division entered Manila. Santo Tomas interm~ent camp was taken. February 5, 1945 The 37th Division entered Manila. Gen. MacArthur formally announced ·the fall of Manila at 6:30 a.m. Gen. MacArthur's forces landed in the Philippines at Leyte. More than 600 ships steamed into Leyte )\fay 6, 1942 Gulf Thursday and Friday, October February 27, 1945 Corregidor surrendered after a 27- 19 and 20, after an undetected Restoration of the Common.day 'epic st.ind. Lt. General .Jonat- eight day, 1,500 mile voyage from wealth Government of the Phiiiphan Wainwright, the "Hero of Cor- the waters of New Guinea and the pines. General MacArthur said: ·regido)'," surrende1;ed to Lt. Gen. Admiralty Islands. They carried "On behalf of my Government I Masharu Homma on May 6, 1942. four fully equipped divisions of now solemnly' declare, - Mr. Pres·l\lay 13, 1942-0ctober 3, 1944. combat troops-the first Cavalry,· ident,-the full powers and responThe· Commonwealth Government the 24th, the 7th and the 96th--:-all sibilities 'under the Constitution functioned in Washington, D.C. It veterans o:E Pacific fighting from restored to the Commonwealth, was officially recognized by the the sno-ws of Attu to the jungles whose seat is here reestablished as United· States and the other 42 of New Guinea. provided by law." members of the important interna- October 23, 1944 March 8, 1945 tional group known as the United The Commonwealth Government Induction of the new cabinet o:t Nations. was reestablished._ under President President Osmefia. President OsJune 10, 1942 "and June 14, 1942 Sergio Osmefia. mefia summarized in rough outline The Commonwealth of the Phil- October 22-25, 1944 the developments of the \\·ar durippines in Washington, D.C. Ad- Second Battle of the Phittppine ing the last three years as they hered to the Declaration by the Sea. The Japanese lost two battle- (Continued on the next page) November, 1945 Page 5 Current Events Review Published llfDnthly for High School Students Diosdado G. Capino Editor D. R. Manlapaz Publishe1· · 125 Reten, Sampaloc, Manila lrti It II ~i 111[) I: ~T () 10 Bi· FERMi Research and (:,. Department "Nielo's lips nre no"Y tts ~mooth and sweM as they were before! Nol u trace or stomatitis can he found on his rosebud-lips! A miraclel" ~·1rs. Paz, her eyes aglow, began her explBnation of the absence that had kept her from work for several, days. The absence wa!I- due to the illness SIGNIFICANT . . . of her two-year-old. only child. (Continued from. vaue. 6) "How did you do it?". was the question tha1 rose simultaneously from the group of co-i;-~searchers. affected the functioning of the "His lips were terribly inflamed and studded wnh thick creamy Commonwealth Government and pus _just tl1e .other day. How could. the Change have happened in l<'ss the carrying out of the independ- than forty-right hours?" I recalled, inquiring ,\•ith great· interesL ence program as agreed upon b~... "Penicillin the wonder drug did it. Tht> doctor gave Nieto four tween the United States and the injeeHons of ii al two-hou; intc.:Vals. Like chnlk marks that wne erased, Philippines. The President also thl" pus forni'ntio'n disappeared totally." Mrs. Paz enthusiastically exlaid down the basic principles th:1t plninC'd. Concluding she Said. "Now, he can eat as much as he wants.' will guide the Filipinos as t.he opf'n his montl1 as wide as he can-painlessly, effortlessly, nnd without Commonwea~th Government is le~ any blet"ding whatsoever. Thank God and Sir Alexander Fleming for established. These basic principl~s the immediate relief and early termination of Nieto's smfferings." are known as the .. New Philippine Ideology." · That was enough motivatiOn for a research on Penicillin. -the spectnculnr microbe conqueror, for the benefit and welfare of ·all high school June 9, 1945 students. in general; of -my nieces and nephews, of my former pupiJs nnd their friends; in parti.cular. A letter~to a niece is herewith published fo1· it embodies the most important. inter~sting. and recent facts ab~mt tlie study made on Penicillin. Opening of the special session of the Congress of the Philippines. The session was the first free meeting of the biC1:lmeral legfslature. · since its electiolt in 1941, a month prior to the Jap8.nese invasiOJ?.. My dear Luisa, November 2. 1945 June 28, 1945 G~ll. MacArthur announced the liberation of Luzon .. July 4, 1945 Gen. MacArthur announced the end of the Philippine campaign. He announced: "the entire Philippine, lsl~nds are now liberated arid .the Philippine campaign can be regaJ¥dfd as virtually closed:" September 21, 1945 President .Sergio Osmefia signed the document ratifying the -adherence of the · Philippines to the United Nations Charter. The President declared: 11with the· signing of this document, the Philippines has taken a final step toward the assumption of its responsibilities a-S a member of the family of free nations." N ovem her 15, 1945 Tenth anniversary of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Page 6 Writing these days with the aid of a kerosene lamp is an ordeal but writing for you under t.he same·. condition is a pleasure. Do you kn~w why? You are such a zealous student. that ·a person_who understands will not leave anything -Possible under the surr to help you. I wonder if the following 6nswers to -your questions could satisfy your young inqu.isitive mind. \Vhat ;s pentdll;n? Penicillin is not a chemical like othei drugs but n living yellow mold of brush-like appearance belonging to .the PeniciJlium family of fungi which actually destroy ''gram·posi~ve bart-nin" responsibfe for such disenses as: blood-Poisoning, pneumonia. How was ii discovered? The story of penicillin starts blindly but beautifully coupled wHh h<'ni·teninf! luC"k due to keen observation. HN<" follo:\\-'S the short nor~ mt ive of that wonderful magic mold. Way back in 1_929. Sir Alexander Fleming's sharp eye detected a fleck ol' green mold on a culture plate milky with 'millions of bacteria. Af.ound the fleck of green .fllold was n halo of clenr fluid. Some.thing from the nir was destroying. the bacterial Flemjng then fished out' the mold that was causing the death of bacteria. However, research on it stood for ten years. There was little interC'st in chemotherapy-the- cure of disease with chrmicals.. Then came the sulfa drugs. \Vith ii wtts a reawakening of interest on something bette-r to fight ghastly wound infections occa·ssioned by war. Because of this "'need. Dr. Howard Florer of Oxford remembered Fleming's .. vorlc A f!rt•f'n mold Was poison lo bacteria. ·'J\1igh't it not also work ()If IJ)l:~lliClllLLll~ ~ N. GAN dculum Division Instruction in the bodies of men?" This question set Florey and his coll~aaues to tnvestigate. Growing the mold, then eliminating its elemenbl of no antib.acterial effect. leaving a yellow-brown powdery stuff led to a sloggering fact-here was a bacteria murderer thousands of t-imes as pot.ent ns the sulfa drugs! ",Might·the stuff also poison men?" Streptococcus pvoqenes, a rnmmon- wound infector was the-n injected into SO min. TI1en lhP micr Historic .Evenls Leading to the Surrender of Japan The most :io.teful days in the Greater East Asia War that led to the capitulation of the Japanese Empire are: July 26, 1945 - The United States, Great Britain, and Russia, after a conference at Potsdam, issued an ultimatum to J·apan to su:rrender unconditionally. were divided ..into two groups of 25 each. A group would get no furthn July 27," 1945-Japanese broadattention, the other would -get penicillin. After 17 hours all the un- cast indicated the government had protected mice died. The others conJinued to scamper ahoul. Days decided to ignore the unconditionpassed into weels. the casualty· was just one. Similarly favornble resuhs ·al surrende'r demand, their efforts on hundreds of trials on mice Followed. At last, in 1941. Florey carrif'd to obtain a negotiated- peace two ·his experiments from mice to ml"'n. Here '"'AS tlw d<'<"isivf' trinl for weeks earlier-having failed. penicillin. Hopeless victims of .diseases who could not bl"' curf'd by anything August 6, 1945-President Hany else were selected. Three patients as good as dead with blood poisoning S. Truman announced that a new and a two-months old babf with- slaphylococcus inf~ction (caused by and terrifying -total death-weapon pus formers) of the vertebrae, bones of fingers. neck. and legs were llit>. -the atomic bomb-had been uSed test cases. The yellow magic waS di~solv~d in watn and shot into tlw -Oil. Hi-roshilna. Virtually 60C::'r patients' blood streams. They should ho.ve died but remainPd 'Blivc ....... of the city had been wiped out. thanks to penicillinl From thence, Luisa,' begins tht' lif"rOk df'f"d~ or lifesaving by penicillin. Your third question comes next. W/1y is ii a u,c1nder drug? t. It is a living mold. hut thousandi; of limes mon• d(•adly thnn the sullas. 2. It has no toxic eHect on hod}· cells: its supuiorily over -the 'sulfas. Bacteria cannot build re.!listnnn af!ainsl ii nor contiiiuf' their reproduction. l. It works wonders on people who are aood as d("ad. Pnti<'nls feel better quiclfy; Appetites arr reviVf'd. NI'\\' lir_,. And vigo1· r<'fUrn~ lo voices that had tapered to a whispn. _ 4. -It does its bang-up job after 12 lo 48 hours on hopf'lt'6s cas<"s of osteomylitis (bone-crippling disease). pneumonia. meningitis. 5. It is the nev.•est. sofl"st. miracle drug again.cit hoils. carhuncl"s.. abscesses, eye infection. 6. It has a bright future againsl bacterial <'ndon~rditis. 7. It has a strong posstbility n.,gainst some formci of lnu~an cann•r. It has sav~d tremendous losses of nursf'ries and fruil lo -farmrrs du"· 10 plant cancer~ 8. Of all drup, it can be injected intrawiuscularly. intravenously, or locally at 2 or 3-hour intervaJg within a pl~riod of 12 hours. J1 can he taken orally in the form of qukk-diss-ol\'inf! gelatin rnpsuli-s. It is indeed a wonder drug! And now your fourth quf'stion: /-low doPs ii slom/ os a llC'f/' discorJery. in medical science? The discovery of penicillin marks onr of the greah.·sl m<'dirnl advances of the 20th century. Thousands of soldit·rs nnd dvilians ow<' lil1~ and health to Sir Alexander Fleming. a quiet British scientist. Providence has been kind to us in letting us have this wonderful mold, tl1e most powerful agent against septic infections just when ii was want<'d to combat the high death, rate from wound infC'ctions when mankind plunged into the bloody Wo,fd '.V "' Tl. (Continued .iJ'l1 the ~ext page) November, 1945 August· 7, 1945-The Japanese government ignored a second ultimatum for un°conditioha1 surrender and admitted the td'·tal destructfon caused by the atonlic bomb. President Harry S. 'Truman warned them their cities will .be ·"atomized" out of exi'ste_nce one by one. August 8, 194;J-Russia declared war on Japan "at the request" of the United States, Great Britain and Chi'na. .August 9, J945-Nagasaki, Japan's. eleventh largest city, received the' second atomic bomb, an 40 improved type." Unlike the Hiroshin'la atomic bomb,, it dug a huge. crater, destroying a square· mile80% of the city. August 10, 1945-The Japanese News Agency broadcast that the Japanese government had decided to accept the Allied demand for unconditional surrender provided the Emperor can remai~ as the Sovereign Ruler. August 14, 1945-The Japanese government accepted surrender according to the Potsdam terms. Page 7 Why Germany Surrendered----T-he war ended in Europe on Monday, May 7, 1945..at 2 :41, A.M. Ge:fmany invaded Polarid on September 1, 1939 without a declaration of war, just as Japan invaded Manchuria on September 18, 1931. When Germany surrendered on MaY 7, 1945, it was exactly 2,076 days of war. The German army surrendered piecemeal. In the_ beginning when there was no more hope of winning the war, the Germaps surrendered by the thousands as disoTganized regiments and divisions gave up. Then they surrendered. by the hundreds of thousands as the armies in Italy and Austria and in North Germany collapsed. British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery received the German delegation headed by Admiral Gen~_ral von . Hans von .friedeberg on May 3, 1945. The delegation offered 011 • behalf of Field Marshal Busch· to surrender three German armies in front of. the Russians. Montgomery ><efused ll"!ld asked the delegation to surrender the German forces on his northern and western flanks. ·~n May 4, 1945 the Geri'nan surrender delegation headed by Admiral General Hans von Friedeberg signed the surrender instrument at Luneberg. The German · surrender delegation headed bY Colonel General Alfred Jodi, last chief of staff of the defeated German ar:riiy and General Admiral Hans von Friedeberg signed the unconditional surrender instrument at Rheims on May 7, 1945. Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Bedell Smith, signed for General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Major General Ivan Susloparoff. signed for the Red High Command. General Francois Sevez signed for the commander of the French Expeditionary Forces. It is important to note that the peace terms dictated by Eisenhower at Rheims were acceptable to the Russians. The Russians, however, thought tha~ the final surrender sho'uld be made to them. On May 8, 1945, Field Marshal 'wilhem Keitel, titular head of the German army, !)igned at Berlin. Marsh'.3-1 Georgi Zhukov signed for Stalin. 'Vhd were the greatest mistakes of the German Army? PENICILLIN ..• (Continued from page 7) Three high ranking German War leaders, Col. Gen. Jodi, Chief of Staff, Field, Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, head of the German High Command, and Field Marshal Karl von Rundstedt, Western commander gave the following great mistakes of the Wehrmacht: 1. Failure to invade England. The German General Staff was unprepared for the inva~ion of England. It was believed that after the surrender of France, England would have capitulated. 2. The German High Command did not plan for a winter campaign when the Soviet Union was invaded in 1941. The terrific snowstorm and the strong Red Army defense precipitated the strategic defeat of the German Armed forces. 3. The Stalingrad campaign was disastrous to Germany. The German High Command was overruled by Adolf Hitler. 4. The Allies were allowed t0 make ·landings in North AfriCa. The Germans thought that landing ships entering the MediterranP.an were going to land in Rommel's rear in Lybia. 5. The Nazis misjudged the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. They beli~ved that tho landln recognition for a most meritorious service lo humanity. _the 1945 ings would be followed by landings Nobel Prize for physiology a.nd me~icine has been a.warded . to· Sir Alex- in the Pas de Calais. So Runclstedt ander Fleming· of London University. discoverer of penicillin, and hovo held fourteen divisions there. of his co-workers-Dr-Ernest Boris Chain·, professor of chemical palho- 6. The Nazis failed in their coun· lo:?y at the William Dunn School oJ Pathology .. Oxford and Sir Howurd tera.tta~k in the Mortain-Avranches \Valter Florey., an Oxford pathology professor. are~ on August, 1944. It was inln Sir--Alexander Fleming's laboratory, the birthplace of penicillin. tended to smash Patton's thrust two new medical theo~ies .were advanced. namely: (I) That bacteria ~astward. can c::ure as Well as kill. and (2) that a substance thriving upon decay 7. The Nazis. failed to inflict can cure advanced septic conditions. Luisa, i.n the future you may con· great damage on the Allies in thelr tlibute new discoveries in line v.;ith these theories, ahem, when you are Ardennes offen!tive on DecembeI,", a full-pledged doctor. . 1944. The fresh armored-divisions I must hurry writing my last will and testament on Mighty Penicillin. of the Sixth Panzer ArmY, the Please do me the favor of crossing. the street and obt_ain Penicillin principal reserve, was damaged. from Metro, Drug Store for your first case-staph).rlococcied Puppy. Re- The failure 'of the Ardennes offencord case, procedure, and results. Finally. do not forget to submit sive convinced the German .High findings to the "Researcher." Command that the war was lost. Do you know that Physicians are now worried because of the pos- 8. The last important mistake sible availability of penicillin in po_pulnr ptoduets hl<e: pills. lozenges, was lettiJ).g the American First chewing· gum, dental pastes, face Crea.ins, shaving pastes, and ice cream? Army capture the Remagen bridge That the laymen may use it indiscriminately and develop a sense of false intact, which made Germany comsecurity?_ May I heBr from you? mit to action a mobile force that Good night. Your aunty. was being held for the defense .of "Mine" the "Rhine Line." Page 8 Current Events Review foreign Policy of the United States President Harry S. Truman pro- 5. Cooperation with the Allies to claimed to the whole world on Oct- help defeated enemy states "estabober 27, 1945, Navy Day, a 12-point Jish peaceful democratic gov.ernforeign policy based on the use of ments of their own free choice" military power to preserve peace and a· world "in which Nazism, while planning to outlaw the fascism and military aggression Mamie ~omb. cannot exist." 1. No territorial expansion, no plans for agression, no objective uwhich need clash with the peaceful aims of any other nation." 2. Eventual return of soverign rights and self-government to all peoples who have been deprived of them by force. 3. No territorial changes ·;nvolving friendly peoples except in accordance with their "freely expressed wishes." 4. Self-government for all peoples prepared for it without inter· ference from any foreign source. 6. No recognition for any gov· emment imposed on any nation by force of any foreign power and prevention where possible of force· ful imposition of such government. 7. Freedom· of the seas for all nations and "equal rights to the navigation of boundary rivers and waterways and of rivers and wa· terways which pass through more than one country." 8. Access on equal terms to the trade and the raw materials of the world. "The Philippine Islands provides a WORLD NEWS • pattern for the future of other (Continu•d from page 4) small nations and the people of the world.'' the task of forming a new consti· tution shall be set up in India. "The brave peoples of the Philip- 2. The British government unpines-their Army and their civil- dertakes to accept and implement ians-stood shoulder to shoulder.., the constitution framed by that with the Americans in the fight body subject to the right of any against overwhelming odds-reso· province. of British India not pre· lute to shed their blood in defense pared to accept the new constituof their liberty. Richly do they tion to retain its present position. deserve that liberty! 3. Signing of a treaty to be ne"I like to think that the history gotiated between the British govof the Philippine Islands in the ernment and India. last forty.four years provides in a 4. Complete transfer of respon· very real sense a pattern for the sibility from British to Indian future of other sniall nations and hands. peoples of the world. It is a pat- Siam tern of what men of good will look The United States and Great forward to in the futur<>-a pattern of .global civilization which recog· nizes no limitations of religion or of creed·,or of race. Britain had taken steps to recon· cile their extremely different policies toward Siam. What are their divergent policies on Siam? United States: The United had never declared war on Siam. She recently made public that 9. The right of" the "sovereign states of the Western hemisphere, without interference from outside the Western hemisphere," to work together as good neighbors in the solution of their common problems. 10. Economic collaboration among all nations for improved living conditions and "establish· ment of freedom from fear and freedom from want." 11. Freedom of expression and freedom of religion "throughout the peace loving areaa of the world." 12. Preservation of peace through the United Nntione "composed of all the peace-loving nations of the world who are willing jointly to use force if necessary to insure peace." should then be enemy. Malaya considered as an The new labor government of Britain announced on October 10, 1946 her intention of establishing self-government in Malaya within the British Commonwealth. Singapore will be constituted as a separate city. The plans of the government were disclosed by George Hall, colonial secretary. The points disclosed in the House of Commons were: 1. The government's policy calls for a constitutional reunion of Malaya. 2.. It will institute Malayan citizenship which will give equal citizenship rights to those who can claim Malaya to be their homeland. 3. Fresh agreements must be arranged with Malaya state rulers. 4. Fresh constitutional measures should be taken !or the Strait Settlements. uPresident Quezon-on this aus· picious anniversary - I salute, through you, the people of the Philippine Islands. I salute their courage. I salute their independ· ence." Siam was a secret supporter of the Argentina United Nations. The United States Recent events in Argentina are also believes in the eventual free· interesting to observe. To Filipi-President Franklin D. Roosevelt dom for all dependent peoples. no high school students accuatomRadio address on the Seventh Great Britain: Britain conai· ed. to the workings of democracy, Anniversary of the Philippine ders Siam an enemy nation against the events that took place in Ar, Commonwealth, Nov. 15, 1942. whom had been at war. Siam (Continued on next page) November, 1945 a1e 9 Significant Names in . Conte111111rary News·· Franklin D. RoOsevelt :-He was the 32nd President of the United States. He was the President that broke the third term tradition. He was also the President elected four times by the American people. "In the minds of millions of people everywhere over the globe Frankiin was the greatest world ritizt>n of their time." (Life, April 2:~, 1H4fi) "No man ()f his time was more beloved. No man since Abraham Lincoln endured more calumnies. He dedicated himself to politics - the life blood of a Republican democracy - and weathered, sometimes lightheartedly and sometimes in anger - and praises apd abuses that his profession made inevitable. He led the nation through its worst depression, sometimes holding fast to the Constitution, · sometimes waving it aside. No President ever made more use .of the powers of his office thau Roosevelt did in peacetime. In wartime he was-by deed as well as by title - Commander-in-. Chief." (News1\'eek, April 23, 1945). "History will honor this man for many things, however wide the disagreement of many of his countrymen with some of his policies and actions. It will honor him above all else because he had the vision to see clearly through the supreme crisis of our times and the courage to meet that cns1s boldly." (The New York Times) Benito Mussolini:-He was a mem· ber of the Axis TriumvirateAdolf Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo. He become Italy's Dictator on October 30, 1922. He obtained power with the aid of his "Black Shirts." He abolished democracy in Italy and he became II Duce, 11the leader." He was the first modem dictator to die. When Italian Partisans found him in a hill cottage near Dongo, he "cried: 11Let me save my life and I'll give you an empire." He was tried and afterwards executed in a· square not far from Milan's Center, where 22 years ago Editor Benito Mussolini launched the Black Shirt march on Rome. His body was ih public display on April 29, 1945. He died with his mistress, Clara Petacci. Adolf Hitler:-Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of the German State on January 30, 1933. He became dictator of Nazi Germany. He plunge<I the world into World War II. He boasted that the Third Reich (Germany) will last a thousand years. He has been reported dead. Acrnrding to witnesses, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun, his mistress, shot themselves at about 2:50 on April 30, 1945. ("Last Days of Berlin" by Jack Fleischer and Seymour Freidin in Collier's, August 25 and September 1, 1945.) \VORLll NEWS ... 6. The first official pronounce· 4. Romulo Betancourt, lawyer gent.ina are baffli~g. \Vhat are these events? 1. Col. Juan D. Peron came into power in 1943 through the work of a clique of colonels. ment of Peron on his return to po- -end writer on economics, set up a wer was to call for a 24-hour gen- seven·man junta to govern the eral strike tO celebrate "this day country until elections could be of glory." held. The presidential election is 2. ~he democratic Argentines Venezuela demanded his resignation because SignifiCant developments have they want the full restoration of recently taken place in Venezuela, constitutional government. the country that sells more oil than 3. On October 16~ 1945 Col. Juan any other count~y except the D. Peron resigned as Vice-Presi- United States. What are these dent, Minister of War, and Seci'eta- developments: ry of Labor. 1. On Odober 18, 1935 a revolt 4. After the resignation of Pe- was started by the rank and file of ron, President Edelmiro Farrell the army led by young officers. formed a triumvirate government 2. The revolt was staged be· with Col. Filomeno Velasco as cause of opposition to the adminis· Vice·President to succeed Peron tration of President Isaias Medina and Admiral Hector Vernengo Li- Angarita. The revolt was prima· ma as minister of the navy. rily directed against the Andinos. 5. Eight days after his resigna- the traditional rulers of the countion, Peron was restored to power. try. The revolt aimed to eliminate He was resctied by his supporters the Andean dynasty of militarY from a warship. President Edel· presidents. rniro Farrell threw Alvarez and his 3. The revolt left 100 persons cabinet out. The favorites of Pe- dead and 300 wounded. The new ron were returned to power. regime set up a provisional junta. Page 10 scheduled for April, 1946. 5. The new government announced: . a. It ,would protect foreign oil interests. b. It would follow a pro-democratic policy. c. It decided to reject any plan for a general election by di~ rect secret vote. Bratil llazil decided to give the people a constitutional government and free election. President Getulio D. Vargas issued a presidential decree. It (1) advanced the date of state elections to coincide with the presidential elections on December 2, 1945, and (2) required state governors to resign and stand for election if they want to succeed themselves. Cu'rrent Events Re,•iew .Secrets of the War Unfolded (1) Why did Germany fail to invade England7 Blitzkrieg in Eutope lasted from September. .']., 1939 to June 24, !M ·(lerinany waged ten months il! Blitz/' She waged three victorious ca.ilfpaignS;· 'In thfee months of actual warfare, she defeated six countries. On June 10, 1940, Italy declared war against France. She invaded France from the south. After forty five days of the initial German invasion, France signed the surrender terms at Compiegne on June 24, 1940. Adolf Hitler had outlined in his Mein Kampf the conquest of England. The Battle of Britain began in August, 1940 and lasted through October of the same year. The Luftwaffe staged unprecedented mass aerial attacks against the coast of England and London. The main objective was to soften up England for the planned invasion. Adolf Hitler estimated that the RAF (Royal Air Force) would be wiped out by September 1, 1940 and then the invasion could be launched. Pierre Huss, noted war correspondent, reported one of the few statements worth remembering about the questionable record of Hitler's boasts and prophecies. On the high shore of Cape Griz Nez near Calais, Adolf Hitler boasted: uGentlemen," he told the WehrHistory oF Germen Aggression World War II was a war between nations. It was a war between ideologies or philosophies. It was also a war between two ways of living-the democratic way of living against the totalitarian way of living. The Uriited Nations War Crimes Commission believes that World War II is also a war bet\veen good and evil. The people of the victorious nations demand that those responsible for agression be punished. On October 19, 1945, the International War Crimes Tribunal in Berlin issued a 30,000-word indictment charging 24 German leaders individually and as members of six German organizations with responsibilities for conspira~y and crimes of w.ar that brought destruction to Germany and devastation to her neighbors. The charges were drawn up by Robert H. Jackson representing the United States, Francois Menthon repi-esenting the French Republic, Hartley Shawcross representing Great Britain, and R. A. Rudenko representing the Soviet Union. The indictment contains four counts that constitute the history of German aggression. What are these accusations? 1. Common plan of conspiracy -planning of the entire criminal war pattern. 2. Crimes against peace-plan· ning, preparing, initiating, and waging \Vais uf agr('S5i•rn in vrn!ation of international treaties, agreements, and assurances. 3. \Var crimes-practice of total war, including methods and practices di?ectly -conflicting with the laws and customs of war. 4. Crimes against humanitymurder and persecution of all who were suspected of being hostile to the Nazi Party and the aim of the party to' rule the world. This includes tJhe plan to exterminate the Jews, the Poles, and the gypsies. The indictment accuses 24 top Nazis of the fpllowing crimes in general: 1. Starting World War II. 2. Murdering more than 10,000,000 innocent civilians, including 5,71JO,OOO Jews, thoug·h systematic extermination outside re~ gular military operations. 3. Looting and destroying nearly 160-billion-dollars worth of property in France, Russia, and Czechoslovakia alone. Who are among ihe 24 top Nazis indicted? 1. Hermann 'wilhern Goering, successor designate to Adolf Hitler. 2. Rudolph Hess, Hitler's deputy. (Continued on the nezt vage) macht officers and Nazi party mi- great daylight attacks. By the the attack on Russia. fi;tler annions crowding around him, "over third week of September, 1940 the swered: 40 This invasion of Great there lies our fate and the decision daylight attacks of the Luftwaffe Britain is no longer necessary, for in this war. Politically or militar- ceased. The Nazi airforce suffer- we will be in India in three ily, there is only one shortcut to ed so much damage that late in months. Moreover, submarine war .. the end of this war. That is Eng- September the pilots w~re ordered fare will be intensified in July and land. No matter what happens or to return to different fields. August to such an extent that by where the ba~tles lead to, we must William L. Shirer, author of the September, England will have to never lose sight of the fact that famous "Berlin Diary" stated that choose between getting American ~t is England we are fi~hting. It the Germans were confused' be- planes or food. She will not be ts England we must bnng to her cause the British would not admit able to have both for we shall have knees, by force or persuasion. The defeat or that they were licked. sunk too many of her ships. We ~:st1r°f .:v..he ';~rd w~ll ,,take care of Waverly Root, the distinguished .are sure that the English will pre1 se · e WI 0 it!. . author of ''The Secret History of fer food. They will give up Amer!he excellent Bntish defense the War," reported that Hitler de- ican planes to keep from starving foiled the plan of the Luftwaffe to cided to postpone invasion of Bri- to death. Churchill will be thrown d~stroy th~ Royal. Air Force. Goe- ta.in. Goering opposed violently out by the people, and we will at nng pronused s~1ft results to the the plan of Hitler to invade Rus- last be able to get the compromise ~ermans. ~e. t?ed for a month to sia. He believed that the invasjon peace we want, which will leave us estroy Bntain s air arm, using of England would be safer than the undisputed masters of Europe." November, 1945 Page !! Science Marches On-The wonderful insecticide, DDTmonths with new hearts cornplete- University, discovered of penicillin, (dichloro - diphenyl - trichloro- ly replacing their own. and two of h'" co-workers. His ethane), was hailed in 1944 as one Chemical treatment~ we:re deve- co-wQ.I'kers are· ~r. Ernest Boris of the greatest contributions to loped -in 1944 to make stockings Chain, professor of ·che_mical pathworld health. It is important in run less, 'trousers· remain crea,aed, ology at the William DU.nn ..£c.bo0l helping win the war and in improv- and dres~s that will not wrinkle. of Pathology, Oxford, and Sir If I.ling the countrY's health. Army From the negatives th1:ec black- ward Walter· ·Flore:,.', -ah Cfxf'ord experience shows that DDT checks and-white prints were rriade, and pathology professor. a touaeborne typhus epidemic when each was placed on a cylinder re- The laboratory of Sil· A. Fleming dusted as a powder in maee-delous- presenting one of the three basic is the birthpl~ce of penicillin. II~ ing of civilians and aids in control- colors-red, blut, and yellow. ·\.Vith- --this laboratory two new medical lirig malaria when used as an anti- in a few minutes the picture fn:m theories'were advanced: (1) bactemosquito spray. Potsdam arrived in \Vashington- ria can cure as well as kill;. and (2) 1. It repels mosquitoes for by radio. The picture is called a substance thriving upon decay about four hours. telechrome. can cure advanced septii'! condi2. DDT is effective as a mos- In the field of-biological sciences tions. quito larvicide. a report had been submitted about Dr. Otto Stern of the Carnegie 3. It is the greatest weapon in a mold that lives in the soil catchPs Institute of Technology re\!eived the fight against malaria. and devours insect prey. the 1943 Nobel prize in physics fo= 4. It is useful against many On the third week of April, 1945, his studies of the structure >f the biting insects, including lice~ mos- military censors lifted cen~rship atom, by means of the 0 moleculg,r quitoes, flies, and bedbugs, and on the "amphibious match." Science beam" method. chiggers. hlis produced water-proof match Dr .. Isidor I. Rabi of Columbia 5. It has many agricultural which lights when wet. Chemist University received the 1944 Nobel uses. · · Raymond Davis Cady of Diamond award in physics for investigating Further investigations-: Investf· gations are being conducted to discover new uses of DDT and the harm it produces on agriculture. Match Co. discovered the match. magnetic and electric -properties of It looks like an ordinary kitchen the atomic nucleus by means of the match, but is coated with a cherni- "magi;ietic resonance method." cal (formula: still secret) whkh A process for transmitting color sheds water. by wire or wireless in the form A soviet scientist successfully The 1946 Nobel P1ize for physio- of three-color separation films transplanted the hearts of frogs. logy and medicine was ~warded to ready for the usual photographic Some of the animB.ls lived for four Sir Alexander Fleming oi I .ondop processing. GERMAN AGGRESSION ... 3. Joachim von Ribbentrop, Minister of Foreign Affairs. ·l. Robert Ley, Nazi Labor Party leader. 6. Wilhelm Keitel, Chief of the High Command. 6. Ernest Kaltenbrunner, Chief of the Security Police. 7. Alfred Rosenberg, head of the Foreign Political Office of the Nazi party. 8. Hans Frank, Commissioner of Justice. 9. Wilhelm Frick, Minister of the Interior. 10. Julius Streicher, Gauleiter of Franconia. ' 11. Walter Funk, press chief of the Reich Government. 12. , Hjalmar Schacht, Minister of Economics. 13. Gustave Krupp von Bohlen und Haldach, German industrialist; 14. Baldur von Schirach, Reich Youth Leader. 16. Fritz Sauckel, Gauleiter of Thurincia. 16. Alfred Jodl, Army Chief of Staff. 17. Martin Bormarut, Nazi Party Secretary. 18. Franz von Papen, former Reich Chancellor. 19. Artur Seyss, Minister for Armament and MU.nitions. 20. Gonstantin von Neurath, Minister of Foreign Affairs. 21. Hans Fritzsche, Goebbel's deputy and editor of the Official German News Agency. The six organizations named in the indictment were: 1. Die Reicheregierung (Reich Cabinet). 2. Das Korps. Per. Politischen Leiter der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen ,Arbdterpartie {Leadership Corps of the Nazi Party). 3. Die Schutzstaffeln der Nation.alsozialistischen Deuts· rhe"n Arbeiterpartei. (Commonly known as the "SS" and including Die Sicherheitsdiertst, the "SD".) 4. Die Geheime Staatspolizei tSecret Police known as ''G(;stapo"). 5. Die Sturmabteilungen der National3ozialist i s c- h e J1 Deutschen Arbeiterpartei. (Commonly known as the "SA.'') 6. The General Staff and High Command of the Ge:nnan Armed Forces. Current Events Review