Paris--European nations, obsessed by fear of impending war, are
steadily increasing their armaments. Two factors lie behind the increase in the
arms burden--the fear that Hitlerite Germany is preparing for revenge and the
belief that the disarmament conference will fail.
France has speeded up work on frontier fortifications,
stretching from Dunkirk to Basle and from Mount Blanc on the Swiss frontier to
Nice on the Mediterranean.
The British air ministry has ordered 100 new fighting planes
with a top speed of 250 miles an hour, and a number of tri-motored flying boats
equipped with one and one-half pounder rapid-firing guns.
Reports that Germany had a plan to attack France by passing
through Switzerland induced the Swiss government to appropriate additional funds
for national defense. These funds are to be devoted to increasing the reserve
supplies of arms and ammunition.
Every American family that enjoys the benefits of good food,
clothing, shelter and some of the luxuries of life, would do well to look around
them and decide upon a Christmas project for a needy family, or a fellow citizen
who is less fortunate.
If every family would assume the responsibility of helping one
other family, or some unfortunate, ill, or needy individual, this Christmas
could be the best ever observed in the U.S.
We are not suggesting that families wait until Christmas time,
go down to the local store and buy a few groceries to take to some needy family.
In this way, the really deserving cases are not found, because there is not
enough time to investigate the situation properly, and the real spirit of
Christmas is not fully carried out.
Those who wish to make this Christmas season a happy one for all
the children, and not just those children with wealth at their command, should
look around to discover other ways of helping their fellowmen.
Should all of us assume the task of one such undertaking, our
community would greatly profit because the spirit of brotherly love and
friendship would be enormously enriched by the active efforts of those who are
able to help those who might be temporarily struggling through difficult times.