TWO
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
TURSDAY. tY 6. 1944.
________________________________AA.uZ.J111 AA 1A A .Y 1llU J A £3.ALZ4
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Fifty-Fourth Year
THE PENDULUM:
The Failure of Current Literature
Edited and managed by students of the University
of Michigan under the authority of the Board in Control
of Student Publications.
Editorial Staff
By BERNARD ROSENBERG
MR. BERNARD DE VOTO has
roasted the American writers of;
the 20's in a bonfire of invective
called "The Literary Fallacy." His
claim is that men like Dos Passos,
Hemingway, Jefferson and Fitzger-
ald, in their respective works and in
toto, inaccurately reflected what was
a healthy U.S.A.. He insists the dis-
illusionment they displayed was not
America's.
Were this charge justified, Mr. De-~
Voto would have to take in much
more territory than he does. For
every major power in the last war
produced novelists and poets who
sang the same unhappy tune heard
here. Can it be mere coincidence
that artists everywhere expressed
similar sentiments? Did all of them
misrepresent the truth?
Remarque in Germany, Schnitzler
in Austria, Gide and Cocteau in
France, Sasoon and Huxley in Eng-
land are but a few of the European
intelligentsia whose lagmentations
still reverberate in our ears. I think
subsequent events have shown amply
that the post-war era was, for all its
outward glitter and prosperity, ev-
erything "The Lost Generation" said
it was.
But, the best retort to Mr. De-
Voto I know is the one Professor
Davis provides in his English 184
class. Prof. Davis holds that the
function of an artist is not to pho-
tograph life. It is rather to create
a reality of the artist's own which,
by means of illusion, he can con-
trol. These books of the 20's, then,
must be judged by aesthetic stan-
dards, and not by lifelikenees. It
is interesting, though, that they
meet criteria admirably.
Jane Farrant
Betty Ann Koffman
Stan Wallace
Hank Mantho
Peg Weiss .
Lee Amer
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NIGHT EDITOR: DOROTHY POTTS
Editorials published in The Michigan Daily
are written by members of The Daily staff
and represent the views of the writers only.
War Effort Drags
DESPITE DESPERATE PLEAS to civilians to
stay at home on their vacations, Tuesday
evening found thousands of Detroiters stranded
in vacation areas. Crowds jammed busses and
trains.
Absenteeism in many plants was reported to
be "abnormally high to the point of impairing
production" by one qualified spokesman.
In western Pennsylvania, holiday-week absen-
teeism closed at least 37 pits and caused a pro-
duction loss of approximately 105,000 tons.
In Chicago operators of the Union Bus station
started going without neckties, were ordered to
put them back on and struck in protest.
With only 96 hours remaining before the close
of the Fifth War Loan Drive, less than half of
the E bond quota was sold in Detroit.
Multiplied instances like these, some of them
insignificant in themselves, some of them impor-
tant, all add up to one thing-a slackening of
the will to pitch in and end this war as soon as
possible. War-weariness after more than two
and one-half years of all-out effort, infrequent
vacations, long hours of work and the stringen-
cies of rationing are all having their effect. An
apparent general slump in the war effort is
augmented by a growing wave of optimism occa-
sioned by the growing success of Allied armies
all over the world.
OPTIMISM, but not certainty of early victory,
is justified by virtual American conquest of
Saipan and landing on Noemfoor Island in the
Pacific, the Red Army's seizure of Minsk and
Polotsk and unchecked push toward Latvia and
East Prussia, the fall of Cherbourg and offensive
gains on the 20-mile front in Normandy, the
Fifth Army's push toward Leghorn and the
telling effect of Allied bombing of Germany's
production centers and oil supplies. The only
dark spot in the over-all picture is the threaten-
ing Japanese offensive in China.
Perhaps we are also justified in believing that
the hardest stretch of the road lies behind us,
but it is in this hour of mounting Allied success
that a relaxing of the war effort can be most
dangerous. It would indeed be disastrous to
believe that complete victory is already within
our grasp.
A long, hard way still lies before us. If any-
thing our efforts should be redoubled.
The grave warning of General Marshall, Ad-
miral King and General Arnold against slacken-
ing of production on the home front should be
remembered:
"There is still a tough fight ahead of us ...
The war is not yet won; it will be won the sooner
if everybody in war work sticks to his job till
complete victory has been attained."
-Jennie Fitch
Candidate Bricker .. .
So the answer to the vice-presidential ques-
tion, the one scrap of suspense in the Republican
convention, is an anti-climax named Bricker. No
one else showed any interest in the job. And
furthermore, since Bricker worked more than
a year at a diversion presidential candidacy
which drew attention away from the machinery
that was preparing Dewey, the nomination may
be regarded as a reward for faithful service. But
whatever the reasons may be, it seems a sorry
outcome.-
Though much might be said on the subject,
one need only turn to two other Republicans
of various views to take Bricker's measure. Alice
Longworth called him "an honest Harding."
When Bricker declared himself last year, Wen-
dell Willkie also spoke of the Harding resem-
On the other hand, most of
day's "novels neither gratify the
tistically-minded nor inform
to-
ar-
the
WITH THE AEF:
A Battlefield in Italy
Down but Not Out
I'D RATHER BE RIGHT:
Nazis Fight Saboteurs'
By KENNETH L. DIXON
ON THE ITALIAN FRONT--UPJ)-
You read about the big push in the
papers. Maybe you understand what
it means to the soldier, maybe you
don't, being as far from Italy as you
are.
Anyhow, here are a few notes
which have nothing to do with maps
and pins or world strategy but which
are part of the big push just the
same:
"It means starting forward in
the night through barbed wire,
minefields and booby traps which
have been months in preparation.
Seeing out of the corner of your
eye but refusing to look when
bursts of exploding flame mark the
spot to right or left where someone
took his last step . .. Gritting your
teeth, sweating, praying, swearing,
shaking, swallowing--but still go-
ing forward.
(In some cases our engineers have
stealthily cleared out minefields a-
head of the troops in the night, and
when the men charged across them
they found the Germans had re-
sown the mines just as stealthily.)
IT MEANS when the enemy alerts
to the advance the barrages be-
gin . . . they close in on you shaking
and wrecking the whole world . .
and then you disperse and take cov-
er. There is no cover so you scratch
frantically at the dirt to get j.ust a
little protection.
It means listening to the screams
of the wounded and not being able
to turn back to help them ... And
you're not sure that maybe it isn't
easier to keep going ahead than to
By SAMUEL GRAFTON
NEW YORlr, July 5 .-We are now entering
the period of disintegration of the Nazi forces.
The Nazi armies are breaking into fragments,
each one as busy as a bird dog with some task
which can neither bring victory nor head off
defeat.
Nazi troops must suddenly, irrelevantly, fight
the people of Copenhagen. They have to step
out of the war to make that fight. But when
they win it, they win nothing.
In the South of France the Nazis launch a
furious offensive against the partisan Maquis.
The people of France have no tanks, but when
German tanks must be used irrelevantly against
them, then those German tanks may be said, in
tactical terms, to have been taken out of the
war, precisely as if they had been shot out of
the war from the 1kies. Each ragged partisan on
the roads of southern France becomes, incred-
ibly, a kind of tank destroyer.
Fragmentation and Dispersal
Fragmentation and dispersal; these are
what lie ahead for the German armies. Stra-
tegic tank reserves are whipped west from the
Russian front to fight in France, but when
they reach France, they must pause to fight
the people, who have cut the railroads; or else
they must detour incoherently to fight in
Denmark; or else, forgetting about the appall-
ing railroads, they must clatter cross-country,
under their own power, a process almost as'
destructive of tanks as battle itself. This con-
sumes gasoline, and leads to the strange, peri-
odic non-appearance of German planes.
The French partisan, who does his little bit to
put the rails out of commission, becomes, mir-
aculously, a destroyer of planes as well as a
destroyer of tanks.
Fragmentation and dispersal; for the German
cohmander at Cherbourg, General von Schie-
ben, surrenders, regardless of his men; and in
the forests of Minsk, thousands of Nazis hide
out, awaiting their chance to surrender, regard-
less of their -commanders. This is what the
deaths of our men are buyig, more than local
victories; for our enemy is not only losing, but
changing as he loses, and changing for the
worse, and the lives Americans are giving in
localscombat have morethan a local meaning.
The Crazy Defensive
The Germans are not only on the defensive;
they are on the crazy defensive, as of one bailing
out an ocean liner with a cup, or plugging eleven
holes with ten fingers. For a kind of miracle is
happening; each European who becomes a sabo-
teur steps directly into the war, while each Ger-
man soldier who goes after him steps out of it,
and becomes another fragment, broken off from
the main body of the German forces.
Every peasant who puts a dynamite cap on
a rail joins our armies, and every S.S. soldier
who tries to hunt him down, leaves his own;
and this deepening unity on our side grows in
direct proportion as the great Nazi body frag-
ments and splinters.
Deepening division on the German side; this
is the order of the day; a pattern of spreading
fissures, like cracks racing along a wall. We
must prepare ourselves for the most sensational
surprises.
Perspectives
The first stage of mutiny, desertion, is put-
ting in a tentative appearance, and so, among
the perspectives now raised is the possibility
of German mutiny. Another is a break be-
tween German army propagandists, who wish
to shock the German people into defense of
Germany, and Nazi lParty propagandists, who
wish to soothe them, by tall tales of the work
of robot bombs, into continued defense of Hit-
ler. Fragmentation and dispersal, fissures and
cracks; these are what the Allied armies are
working for, and all nature seems to be help-
ing them, for every peasant in Europe has
become a kind of rocket bomb of our own, and
no robot, either.
The miracle of Allied unity now outraces
thought itself. And whoever among us would try
to halt it by petty complaint of our allies, or
mawkish tears for Finland, or whatever, becomes
guilty of trying to halt the process that will save
us, guilty of treachery against the grand design
of the war.
(Copyright, 1944, New York Post Syndicate)
The Philippines.. .
In the normal course of events, the Philippines
would become independent of the United States
July 4, 1946. By the terms of a resolution just
made law, that date may be accelerated, depend-
ing on how long it takes to eject the Japs from
the islands.
It could be contended that acting in this time
of uncertainty is more a handsome gesture than
a stroke of statesmanship. Nevertheless, it not
only reaffirms our intention to avoid arty sus-
picion of imperialism; it says that we are happy
and eager to show once again our belief in free-
dom for the Filipinos. By virtue of this act, our
voice in the post-war arrangements for other
weak lands gains a new power.
True, we have the stain of Nicaragua on
our record. The situation in Puerto Rico is still
far from pretty. And in the Philippines our pol-
icy wavered between benevolent exploitation and
the desire to liberate, until the onset of the
Great Depression joined liberationist forces and
domestic commercial interests which feared fur-
ther competition from duty-free Philippine
products. But ever since the Independence Act
was passed in 1933, there has been a continuous
sincere effort to provide for launching the Phil-
ippines as a nation not only free but able to
survive in a world of mightier neighbors and
fearful economic forces.
In the finest sense of the word, the popular
Quezon Government and the United States Gov-
ernment have collaborated. And what their col-
laboration has now produced, and is still pro-
ducing, is a shining thing in a world engaged in
a re-dedication to human dignity and friendship
among all peoples. - St. Louis Post Dispatch
face the horror of what happened
to those who now remain behind.
It means hearing the German ma-
chine guns and machine pistols fir-
ing from well protected nests some-
where ahead . . . and knowing that
someone will 'have to go in and try
to get them . . . that it may be you
and if it is the odds are that you'll
never go home again...
jT MEANS stepping on bodies at
night and over or around them in
daylight . . . Some are newly slain
bodies but not all; some are bloated
remains of men who died fighting
over these sectors months ago . .
And you notice that in death there
isn't a- great deal of difference in
friendly and enemy bodies .. .
It means seeing the flamethrowers
ahead and then later seeing the
charred remains of those who met
the flamethrowers.
It means lying in the dust of the
roads waiting the next order to move
up . . . And for once the length of
the wait doesn't irritate so much..
It means not knowing how the push
is going anywhere except where you
are until gradually the news drifts
that it's going ahead everywhere.
And then as you move up again
and again the strange stimulus of
victory begins to seep into that
void which was your conscious self
before it was drained dry of all
sense of feeling.
And finally a little bitterly bought
pride begins to dawn on you and a
little perspective begins to come back.'
Then for the first time since the
jump-off you start to scent the scope
of the big push as the strategists see
it rather than as you saw it.
fact-hungry. The literature of the
20's is probably not great.
As to the true tenor of the 20's, no
one in my generation can judge ex-
cept by hearsay. But, about our own
times we can speak with more assur-
ance. And it seems to me if critics
must fire their cannonades at the
literati of any period, they should be
saved for this one. The decline of
letters in general can be ascribed to
the war. This does not explain the
absence of first-rate poetry, however.
Warfare normally inspires poetry.
Even World War I-during which
time Western degeneracy had not
plumbed its present depths-gavenus
the verse of Graves and Spender and
Cummings. What has World War II
given us beyond Mairsey Doats?
IN TRUTH, this tendency was man-
ifest long before the war. We have
reason to believe it will be more
manifest long after the war. It is a
curious fact that the men who wrote
so acceptably in their youth (circa
1920) write so poorly in their middle
age (circa 1940). A strong case can
be made out for the tremendous
effect of intellectual climate on art,
although it is essentially Mr. De-
Voto's thesis that the process works
in reverse order, that cynical writers
make a cynical society instead of
vice versa.
Now, the opinion expressed in
this column since its inception has
been that cynicism is very deeply
imbedded in America. Its inroads
can be seen everywhere in our cpl-
ture. The more we win militarily,
the more we lose ideologically.
David Lloyd George revealed in
his memoirs that he accepted the
Fourteen Points as a matter of
"political expediency," useful to
arouse support but not in need of
implementation. Churchill has ta-
ken much the same attitude to-
ward his and Roosevelt's sop to
idealism-which was once paraded,
gaudily in the raiment of an At-
lantic Charter.
Nor is the average layman de-
ceived except insofar as he digests
the syrupy prose of contemporary
literature. Lloyd Douglas and Wil-
liam Saroyan ("The Kiddies' Tol-
stoy") lead the procession of incur-
able optimists who have twisted
America's look of anguish into a
synthetic laugh, who see nothing but
good in a world where evil has all
but mastered mankind, who insist on
using baby talk in an unpreceden-
tedly complex age, who talk only of
"beautiful people" when villainy
abounds.
At the turn of the century Brooks
Adams wrote in "The Law of Civili-
zation and Decay," "No poetry can
bloom in the arid modern soil, the
drama has died, and the patrons of
art are no longer even conscious of
shame at profaning the most sacred
ideals." Brooks Adams might well
have been writing in 1944.
DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1944
VOL. LIV No. 2-S
Alh notices for The Daily Official Bul-
letin are to be sent to the Office of the
Summer Session, in typewritten form
by 3:30 p. m. of the day preceding its
publication, except on Saturday when
the notices should be submitted by
11:30 a. in.
Notices
Students, College of Literature, Sci-
ence and the Arts: Election cards
filed after the end of the first week
of the semester may be accepted by
the Registrar's Office only if they are
approved by Assistant Dean E. A.
Walter. Students who fail to file
their election blanks by the close of
the third week, even though they
have registered and have attended
classes unofficially will forfeit their
privilege of continuing in the College.
Laboratory Assistants in Chemis-
try: There are several partatime
assistantships in the chemical labor-
atory available to students who have
completed a college course in general
chemistry and preferably more ad-
vanced courses. Apply to Dr. R. J.
Carney, Rm. 227, Chemistry Build-
ing.
All Men Interested in Rushing reg-
ister in Rm. 306, Michigan Union,
from 3-5 p.m. this week. There will
be no registration fee.
French Club: The first meeting of
the Club will be held on Thursday,
July 6, at 8 p.m. in the Michigan
League. Program: Election of offi-
cers. French Songs. Social hour.
"La France nouvelle dans un monde
nouveau," an informal talk by Pro-
fessor Charles E. Koella. All stu-
dents of the Summer Session and of
the Summer Term as well as all ser-
vicemen are cordially invited to all
weekly meetings of the French Club
which are free of charge. All inter-
ested please see Prof. Koella from 10
to 11 and 3 to 4 Wednesday and
Thursday of this week in Rm. 100,
R.L. Building. Charles E. Koella
Try-Outs for "The Chocolate Sol-
dier" will be held Thhrsday from 4-6
p.m. at the Lydia Mendelssohn Thea-
tre. All interested are urged to come,
bring music and be prepared to sing.
The Michigan Repertory Players
of the Department of Speech will
present five plays during the summer
session, tickets being or sale now at
the box office, Lydia Mendelssohn
Theatre. Opening July 12, the com-
plete schedule is as follows: "The
Damask Cheek," by John Van Druten
and Lloyd Morris, July 12-15; "The
Learned Ladies" by Moliere, July 19-
22; "Journey to Jerusalem," by Max-
well Anderson, Aug. 2-5; "Fresh
Fields," by Ivor Novello, Aug. 9-12;
lThe Chocolate Soldier," by Strauss
and Stange, Aug. 16-19. Tickets for
individual plays will be placed on sale
Monday, July 10.
Registration: The University Bur-
eau of Appointments and Occupa-
tional Information will hold its an-
nual summer registration for all
those wishing to register for perma-
nent positions in both the Teaching
and General Divisions of the Bureau.
Those desiring to register for the
first time as well as those wishing
to bring their records up-to-date are
urged to be present.
Juniors now eligible for concentra-
tion should get Admission to Con-
centration blanks at Rm. 4, Univer-
sity Hall, immediately. These slips
must be properly signed by the Ad-
visor and the original copy returned
to Rm. 4, U.H. at once.
Lectures
"Prospect for Educational Expan-
sion," Warren R. Good, Instructor in
Educational Psychology, 4:05 p.m.,
University High School Auditorium,
Thursday, July 6.
Academic Notices
Graduate Students: Preliminary
examinations in French and German
for the doctorate will be held on
Friday, July 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. in
the Amphitheatre of the Rackham
Building. Dictionaries may be used.
Lifesaving, Women Students: There
will be a lifesaving class for women
students on Tuesday and Thursday
evenings at 8:30 in the Union Pool,
beginning on Thursday, July 6. Stu-
dents interested in joining this class
should register in Rm. 15, Barbour
Gymnasium.
Room Changes for Sumner Term
and Summer Sesson 1944:
New Assignment
Chinese 179, S. Ses. . .231 Angell Hall
Eng. 1, Sec. 3, S. Term, 2003 Ang. Hall
Eng. 1, Sec. 4, S. Term, 2003 Ang. Hall
Eng. 2, Sec. 1, S.Term, 2231 Ang. Hall
Eng. 2, Sec. 2, S. Term, 2235 Ang. Hall
Eng. 32. Sec.l, S.Term, 2235 Ang. Hall
Eng. 31, Sec.4, S.Term, 3209 Ang. Hall
English 152s, S. Ses., 2013 Angell-Hall
English 196s, S. Ses.,.2029 Angell Hall
English 296s, S. Ses., 2014 Angell Hall
Geog. 142, S.Term, 209 Angell Hall
Geog. 181, S.Term, 209 Angell Haill
Ger. 85 STerm .2A TTniversit Hall
BARNABY
By Crockett Johnson
How's that for a pirate
treasure map? Note the
. aIndI s1 ross boes ...
Yes. I'm a skilled cartographer.
. . I mapped out a route to the
headwaters of the Nile.'For
Big jobs... Small ones. . .
originally determined the
boundaries of PerueBolivia.
But, now, let's find that
gold... This map shows
an old oak free. And-