Thomaston High School - Sea Breeze Yearbook (Thomaston, ME)

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' ' SEA BREEZE 5 largefbountiful land is very helpful to us now. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, most of the South American countries joined with us in declaring war on Japan and Germany. Because of the Axis monaco, this was one of the most important things that they could have done. Between the two Americas lies the Caribbean Sea and tho Isthmus of Panama, both very important possessions. The Caribbean, because of the supply route to the United States, and the Isthmus of Panama, because of the Panama Canal. Without the Panmna Canal we could not fight a war success- fully in the Pacific. South American nations by declaring war helped to control spy rings and to keep information from escaping to the enemy. Still there is something wrong in our relations with them. Argentina, one of tho most important countries has not broken off relations with the Axis. The Good Neighbor Policy must work both ways. They can't expect to receive only benefits and give nothing in return. This country has good bases for Axis supply rings. They must either break off relations or join our side. We do not want to have Quizlings in our policy. Be Good Neighbors but ox- poct Good Neighbors in return. Elaine Risteen '45 Careless Talk and Rumors Even more deadly than enemy guns are careless talk and rumors. Millions of lives have been lost by careless talk since this war began. Someone hears a report that the.WMaind'is leaving tomorrow at 7:15 a.m. for distant ports. Immediately, Jennie, as we will call hbr,telephones Gertrude the news. They talk excitedly while enemy ears on the wire listen with care. The next week it is learn ed t at the Whainen was sunk by enemy submarines soon after it had started its voyage overseas. Many lives and a ship was lost be- cause Jennie liked too well to talk. ' A soldier telephones his wife that he is leaving in a week for some distant fighting port. The wife teases until he tells her where they are going, and what time they will leave. That after- noon the girl and her friends talk over the war in a restaurant booth. The girl getting excited and wanting to add her share of the conversation, tells what her husband has told her. In the next booth a pair of malicious eyes open wide as he stealthily goes a- way to publish this news to the enemy. ' Rumors spread like a forest fire. One hears something, and it is told time and again, and each time with added information. Some people will believe anything, no matter how absurd it may sound. A propagandist tells that twenty-five American vessels have been sunk People will believe this and then they will ask nwhat is the matter with the United States anywayllu They will be inclined to think we are losing the war and their morale will be lowered. This is just what the enemy wants. Why do we believe stories that we know cou1dn't possibly be true?

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sm BREEZE ' - 2 . , - , 1? Our country is new at war. We know this through the news- papers, the commentators, and the sacrifices which we are being asked to bear. But obviously many of us do not know, or realize that our country is fighting not only fer those principles of Democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of the press, freedom of the seas, freedom of government, and equality for all, but also for its very life. We were treacherously and ruthlessly attacked. Such a kind of an attacker usually has but one end in viewv-to completely ever- come and place in a state of perpetual slavery that country which it has attacked. We must net, we can not, allow this thing to I happen torus. ' We, the youth of America, are being called to fight for our country and Old Glory.n We are being asked to become living semblanees of the utmost patriotism by willingly giving our minds and our living bodies to the cause of Democracy. Some of us will roturng many of us will not return. We that go shall witness FEE unspeakable horrors ST modern warfare. - ' 'However, some of us will not be able, for various reasons, to enter the armed servicesg but there are many other ways by which we will be and are able to show our patriotism. By new all of us must realize the vital necessity of purchasing as many war bends and stamps as we are able. However, we should not stop there, for there are many ways by which we may help our country hero on the homefront, Wo can aid by volunteering for 'Civilian Defensen duties, by refusing to believe and to pass on war rwnors until they have been confirmed by our government, by being con- stantly on the alert for sabotage or propaganda attempts by the enemy, and by having complete trust and faith in the decisions of our military and naval loaders. These are only a few of the+ ' things which must be performed here on the homofront lf our country and hor allies are to be successful in this global war. There is a job for everyone to do, whether they be young, old, or crippled. From the strongest to the weakest, from the richest to the poorest, I assuredly fool that not one of us will hesitate in do- ing whatever we are asked to do for the bonifit of our countryg for, one and all, we are--we must be--true patriotic Americans. Eugene Jelllsen '44 A Good Neighbors For a long time America has gone about the business of minding its own affairs. This is a very wrong policy as was shown after the world war. The world's business is our business. Our trading and new developments make it so. Perhaps our nearest neighbor is South America. Now, South America is made up of many smaller nations, but most of the people are Spanish, Portuguese or Indians. All of those are friendly with the Americans. The climate in southern South America is very much like ours and produces beef for our consumption. In the northern part, rubber, sugar, coffee and nitrates flow in a steady stream out of their large forests into our modern cities. This

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SEA BREEZE 4 Everywhere there are people willing to tell false things and people willing to sbread and believe them. Some really do not mean to be harmful, but their love to be the center of attraction leeds them on. Others are really enemy agents who are working against us. Army and Navy officials do not tell their mon where they are going anymore, until it is time to depart, because they think that this will reduce the danger of Sabotage, Even so, news will come out end enemy ears will listen, It would be a good idea if we all took it upon ourselves to cut down rumors and careless talk. Don't listen to idle gossip, and don't repeat anything which might aid the Axis. ' Priscilla Hastings 545 'lv 1 u , , 5R2l1Ei2W9f.E1PlEQhi ' II pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for ell.n This is a pledge which is, especially in present, repeated by several million American and naturalized. They know it by heart: they stretched hand toward the flag they love: and of patriotism in their he rts. Do they reali war times citizens, repent it they feel like the both native with out- the urge e fully, the meaning 'of the oledfe which thev, perhaos reboet from menor more than, J LJ v A. 3 ., . from feeling? w n I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States o5,America This opening clause of the pledge is more than gamers group of words when we say that we pledge allegiance to the flag, what do we mean? This, perhaps, can be seen more clearly through the definition of thd'word Wallegiancc.H Allegiance as defined in the dictionary means--UThe devoted loyalty which c citizen owes to his country or his governnent.n Therefore, we should mean that we will do all in our power to live up to the standards of the American people and the American way of living. This includes abiding by our local, state, and national laws, doing all that we cqn to aid the wolfero of our country, and at the present time aiding, to the best of our ability, the mar effort. As citizens of nThc United States of Amcrice,n alsb included in the first part of the pledge, this is mHyom'mmy. WAnd to the Republic for which it st1ndsU-- A republic, the republic, our republic-- eech'moro emphatic, but all the some rc- public. What is this republic? The next foh words describe it. Ono'Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for alll This then is what the flag stands for. A nation whore poonle have free- dom--freodom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and potition.f . ' The w:r'now being fought is to preserve this freedom. This ' freedom is ours now, and will continue to be ours as long as-the, ,