The Alamance Gleaner
VoL LXX GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1944 47
WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS
Nazis Gird for Counter-Blow;
B-29s Rip Japs Home Industry;
Approve Huge Waterway Bill
Released by Western Newspaper Union, ?J
(EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions are expressed la these eelamas, they are theee ef
Weste&a Newspaper Union's aews analysts and net necessarily ef this newspaper.)
Converted into fortress by Germans, the town it Langerwehe was
reduced to rabble by Allies in advance into Reich.
t
EUROPE: ]
Nazi Hopes i
Fighting now with its back to the
wall, a desperate Germany is draw
ing up its dwindling strength for |
ene great counter-blow next year in ,
the hope of yet winning the war,
according to advices from London.
The reports came through even
as the enemy struggled to retard
V. S. armies' steady advances on
the Ruhr, Rhineland and Saar, and
the Russian march on the Austrian
gateway.
In Hungary, the Nazis retreated
to mountainous terrain both in the
north and south, in an effort to slow
np the Russians' steady advance
apon Austria, 100 miles distant.
In reputedly preparing for a coun
ter-offensive, the badly mauled but
fanatical enemy apparently was
placing his hopes in a still strong
army, whose forces have been care
fully husbanded; in new weapons,
and in short supply lines.
With 4,000,000 Germans in the field
in both the east and west, the
Nazis have been fighting a defen
sive war from strongly fortified posi
tions in recent months in the hope
of inflicting maximum losses on the
Allies and keeping their own casual
ties to a minimum. Because of the
employment of many foreign work
ers inside the Reich, they have
been able to draw heavily on their
?wn manpower.
Now being used against Allied
troops in the west, the V-l buzz
bomb and V-2 rocket are two of
the new weapons the Nazis intend
r. ?-nriaafr ?- waHMM
to utilize in any counter-assault.
They have hinted at the produc
tion of ; two other destructive
weapons, but the only other one that
Allied authorities have knowledge''
of is a submarine with new devices
lor underwater breathing, which
they intend to unleash against ship
ping
Finally, the enemy hopes that his
short supply lines in contrast to our
longer ones will enable him to feed
his armies with much greater ra
pidity, but here concerted Allied
bombings can be expected to play
havoc with his land routes.
Whatever the German plans, Al
lied armies were, giving the enemy
oo chance to dream, as they main
tained their terrific pressure both in
the west and estet.
New Political Crisis
To the complicated European po
litical scene was added another
fetorbing incident in the Russian
sponsored Polish National coun
cil's announcement that the new year
would see the formation of a pro
visional Polish government inde
pendent of the U. S. - British
backed Polish exile regime in Lon
don.
Declaring that it would be the new
provisional government's concern tp
break up large estates for the dis
tribution of land to 8,000,000 prop
ertyless tenants, a National Council
spokesman assailed the present ex
iled-regime as . being representative
of the powerful nobility bucking So
viet influence in Poland because of
a fear of reform in ownership.
In Gree^, the British moved to
patch up differences between radical
and rightist elements and restore
order in that country fronting Bri
tain's Mediterranean lifeline.
Rep. Clare Booth Lace (left) confers
vttt Geo. Fatten on Third army front.
PACIFIC:
Fear B-29s
Aimed at knocking out the great
industrial centers of the Japanese
homeland, supplying enemy forces
on far-flung Asiatic fronts, super
fortress air raids were stepped up,
with one force of over 100 B-29s set
ting fire to the Mitsibushi twin
engine bomber and fighter plant at
Nagoya below Tokyo.
As a result of" the growing B-29
attacks, Japanese officials, who once
described the assaults as attempts
to lower enemy morale, took a more
serious attitude toward the bomb
ings, claiming that their steady ex
tension presaged wide damage, ne
cessitating the evacuation of civil
ians from danger areas.
As the giant superfortresses
winged their way over the heart of
Japan's loosely knit Asiatic empire,
U. S. forces in the Philippines
moved steadily ahead in reducing
that great stronghold protecting the
enemy's supply lines to the Indies.
On Leyte, the Japs were faced with
slow strangulation as General Mac
Arthur's forces continued to com
press them in the northwestern cor
ner of the Island, with their lines
under attack from the north, east
and south.
WATERWAYS:
Huge Program
Large-scale development of U. S.
waterway resources was authorized
by congress in a $1,000,000,000 flood
control bill, while- conferees from
both houses met to iron out differ
ences for approval of expenditures
of an additional $300,000,000 in proj
ects.
Part of the country's job
creating program when peace
comes, the two bills provide for
flood control, navigation, rec
lamation and hydro - electric
power, with the $1,$M,0M,MM
measure calling for an initial
appropriation of $400,#09,BOO for
the development of the Missouri
river valley by army engineers
and the bnreau of reclamation.
In acting on the bills, the senate
rejected-the effort of Senator Aiken
(Vt.) to push through the $421,000,
000 St. Lawrence seaway and pow
er project as an executive agree
ment requiring a majority vote
rather than as a treaty calling for
a two-thirds margin.
EGGS:
IP FA Program
With demands of the services and
the Allies expected to account for
approximately 26,500,000 cases,
there will be little surplus of eggs
in 1945, Lieut. Col. R. W. Olmstead,
deputy director of supply for the
War Food administration, told a
trade meeting in Chicago.
Colonel Olmstead spoke after the
WFA announced that beginning Jan
uary 1 it would supflprt prices at
27 cents a dozen for producers of
candled eggs and 24 cents a dozen
for current receipts to represent 90
per cent of parity as required by
IgW.
About 25,000,000 cases will be
needed for the processing of 365,000,
000 pounds of dried eggs for the
services, Russia, Britain, Belgium,
Holland and France, Colonel pirn
stead said, and, in addition, Britain
is expected to take approximately
1,500,000 cases of shell eggs. What
surplus remains may be disposed
of through school lunch programs,;^
institutions or for tankage.
In revealing that WFA has re
duced its 1944 holdings to 150,000
cases of shell eggs. Colonel Olm
stead said that no stocks would be
dumped on the market in 1945, with
prices tending to reflect production
costs which are expected to remain
high through the year.
WORK ORDER:
New Draft Rule
With 300,000 worker* needed for
critical war industries, th* nation's
draft boards checked through their
flies to offer those in the 26 to 37
age group not presently engaged in
essential production the alternative
of "working or fighting."
Reversing a previous Selective
Service policy of granting liberal de
ferments for the group over 30, lo
cal boards are expected to adopt a
more stringent attitude toward con
sidering the essentiality of a regis
trant's employment, it was thottght.
Registrants who left deferable posi
tions for less important work will
face a return to their old or similar
position or induction.
While the latest crackdown prin
cipally was prompted by the move
to provide manpower for essential
industry, Selective Service Director
Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey de
clared that increased military activ
ity called for a greater amount of
replacements, with the result that a
10 to 20 per cent increase in induc
tions could be expected in th* next
few months.
Output Lags
Although production of critical
war material rose 6 per cent in Oc
tober over the previous month, a
greater increase for the remainder
of the year is necessary to assure
required deliveries to the services,
the War Production board reported.
In reviewing October production,
the WPB said the following pro
grams were below schedule: air
craft, 3 per cent; ships, 1 per cent;
guns and fire control, 4 per cent; am
munition, 2 per cent; combat and
motor vehicles, 3 per cent; commu
nications, 6 per cent; and other
equipment and supplies, 1 per cent.
Particularly critical, it was report
ed, are the tire and cotton duck pro
duction programs, what with 500,000
vehicles in operation on the western
front alone, and the Nazi destruc
tion of shelter in the bitter scorched
earth fighting necessitating much
tenting.
Rehabilitate Vets
Adjustment to new conditions through
practice, known as occupational therapy, is
one of the means being used to rehabili
tate disabled U. S. war vets.
At the Walter Reed hospital in Washing
ton, D. C., Pfc. William L. Harris devel- J
ops dexterity in the movement of artificial
right arm by playing checkers with count
ers of different sixes, with Occupational
Therapist Susan Pohland.
SMOKES:
Plan Allocations
As long as manpower shortages
will persist and wartime conditions
will make extension of facilities dif
ficult, manufacturers will not b?
able to increase their already rec
ord production of cigarettes, the
trade told a congressional commit
tee.
Meanwhile, tobacco distributors
snnounced plans for the adoption of
nationwide rationing of supplies
among retailers to assure equitable
stocks for all smokers, with efforts
made to readjust deliveries to shift
ing populations.
Speaking at the congressional
hearing, Col. Fred C. Foy said that
the army will have procured 68,000,
?,000 cigarettes by the end of 1944,
movements of the smokes to the
front line areas were impeded by
limited facilities for unloading and
the need for rushing more vital ma
terials like food and gasoline to the
combat zones.
AGRICULTURE:
Boost Ceilings
In a move designed to reflect par
ity to producers, the OPA hiked ceil
ings on cash wheat 4 cents, and at
the same time raised the top on all
hogs except sows, stags and boars
to $14.75.
In announcing the ceiling boost on
wheat, OPA revealed that the in
crease affects all levels of distribu
tion, but could not disturb the cost
of bread. The present subsidy of 19
cents a bushel to flour producers
will stick until the first of the year,
OPA said, when new rates will be
established.
With official admission that the
boost in the hog ceiling to $14.75
was effected to increase feeding of
corn, the market tor that grain
spurted, although heavy country of
ferings tempered activity. At Chi
cago, hog prices were especially
strong, partly because inclement
weather kept Urge supplies on
farms.
The Red Man and the
White House
John Collier, commissioner of In
dian affairs, says there is no reason
why an Indian should not be Presi
dent of the United States. In years
of knocking around with the Red
man, he says, he has found him
notable for probity, complete patri
otism, extreme loyalty and humani
ta nanism.
?
Bot we ean't help doubting that
any good Indian with a proper re
spect for his backgrounds aiyl tra
ditions would take it. We often won
der what an Indian, driven out of
his native land as a savage, thinks
of the setup with modern civilisation |
in control. ?
?
We took the matter of the presi
dency up with Chief Loping Gazelle,
an old friend, today with the follow
ing results:
Q.?John Collier says the Presi
dency of the United States is open
to an Indian.
A.?Chief Loping Gazelle very puz
zled. John Collier never scare Red
man this way before.
Q.?You don't understand. The
presidency is the highest gift within
the hands of the American people.
A.?Indian take smaller gift.
Q.?White men are very happy
to be president.
A.?White men no look it.
?A
r\ ?M ? a u I
? mum ui wnat u means: you
can live in Washington!
A.?Indian do nothing to deserve*
such hard punishmenff
Q.?As president you can be
looked up to as the man to whom
the people bring all their troubles.
A.?Ugh.
?
Q.?As president you would have
the opportunity to give the people
good government.
A.?White man have too much
government. Indian happier behav
ing self of his own accord.
Q.?You don't seem to appreciate
the offer. Tours would be the great
privilege of bringing greater com
'forts to an the people.
A.?White man got heap funny
ideas what he needs to bo eemlort
able. Red man comfortable with
tepee, pipe, few feathers, one pony
and chance to enjoy nature. White
man have to have auto, gas, first
mortgages and time payments.
?
Q.?As president an Indian would
be among those world leaders
charged with preserving civilization.
A.?Civilization today not look so
hot to Indian.
Q.?Why not?
A.?Savagery of early Redskins on
much higher level.
?
Q.?Don't yon think it would be a
good thing if an Indian got a right
to bo president?
A.?Only if Indian refuse.
Q?It would mean Hi,NI a year,
free lodgings, eminence and white
influence.
A.?Indian think It no bargain.
Q.?Bnt try to realise the honor of
being the first Red man to bo
president.
A.?Indian no male* food presi
dent.
Q.?Why not?
A.?Squaw too busy to uglto for
newspapers.
Q.?It Is not necessary for squaw
to write tor newspapers and make
speeches.
A.?Indian read newspapers. Ha
know better than that.
? ? ?
Now thp OPA has taken to radio
Jingles, foore's the pity! This comes
over the air now and than:
Potatoes are cheaper, tomatoes are
cheaper?
Jota in with your OPA;
The-tarteher, the baker, the candle
stick maker
Are nndtt control today.
We t^pect any day to hear:
Cneambers are tower and spinach
is lower.
Fresh turnip* are now quito a bey;
Beans yery extensive are not toe ex
it's a regular meal that Is bight
? ? ?
THE SHORTAGE GROWS
Elmer Twitchell insists he saw a
half dozen vice presidents of one
of America's great financial institu
tions scouting for cigarette butts the
other day.
*
The OPA announces that it has
come out for the return of the nickel
cigar at a price of 714 cents. What
this country needs, in other words,
is a good 714-cent nickel.
? ? ?
It looks as if the only chance
American sailors have to see the
Jap fleet Is to get hold of an old
Jap newsreel. _
a
, ??'
Governments of Many Nations Changed ?
As Liberating Armies Advanced in" 1944
Common People Get
Chance to Establish
- Democratic States
Governmental changes that
shared world importance with
the war news marked the year
1944. Iceland became a repub
lic; five Soviet Socialist repub
lics again took their places in the
U. S. S. R.; four Nazi-shackled
countries were liberated; and
three Axis satellites deserted. A
year-end bulletin from the Na
tional Geographic society re
views these momentous events.
On June 1? Iceland became a
modern republic. On that day the
Althing? an 11-centuries-old legisla
tive body sometimes called the
"Grandmother of Parliaments"?
elected the nation's former regent,
Sveinn Bjornsson, president. In a
national election held in May the
people had voted to dissolve their
union with Denmark.
First settled in 874 and organized
as a republic 98 years later, Iceland
was independent until 1263 when it
Joined with Norway. Both Iceland
and Norway came under Danish
rule in 1381. Norway wak-sepa
rated from Denmark by cession to
Sweden in 1814, and the two coun
tries formed a union which lasted
until 1905 when the union was end
ed by mutual agreement. Iceland
ers had long agitated for independ
ence, but it was not realized until
1918. Iceland was then recognized
as a separate kingdom with unlim
ited sovereignty.
Germany tried in prewar years to
get control of this .jtpategic North
Atlantic island by establishing com
mercial routes. British forces were
stationed on the island shortly after
the beginning of World War II. They
were replaced in 1941 by American
I units. ?
Re-enter U.S.8.R.
Five other republic!, 1,500 miles
or more to the east, resumed their
prewar status. Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania, freed from Nazi occupa
tion, again became a part of the
Soviet Union as Estonian, Latvian,
and Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Re
publics. All three had first entered
the Union in 1940.
The Karelo-Finnish Republic, far
ther to the north, was the fourth to
be added to the Soviet family. It
also had first entered the Union in
1940. Its border city of Viipuri
guards the western approach to the
city of Leningrad. Russia's new
Arctic port of Pecheng (Petsamo),
acquired from Finland in Septem
ber, extended Russian boundaries
westward to Norway.
The fifth state restored to Russia
in 1944 is the Moldavian Soviet So
cialist-Republic, a slice of territory
lying between the Ukrainian Repub
lic and Romania. Once known as
Bessarabia, this area has experi
enced a round of governmental
changes. Before World War I it w as
Russian ground; from 1918 to 1940
It belonged to RomanM, It was
turned back to Russia in 1940 and
set up as a republic of the Union,
only to be reoccupted by Romania
the next year.
To four German dominated na
tions ? France, Belgium, Luxem
bourg and Greece?freedom came
toward the close of the year.
France, whose liberation was her
alded by Allied landings on the Nor
mandy coast, June 8, was almost
completely free by the middle of
September.
General Charles de Gaulle's Com
mittee of National Liberation was
recognized on October 23 by the U.
S. state department as the de facto
government of France. On Septem
ber 21 President Roosevelt appoint
ed Jefferson Caflery, former United
States ambassador to Brazil, as am
bassador to the French government
now established in Paris. On Ar
mistice day France was formally in
vited to become a full-fledged mem
ber of the European advisory com
mission meeting in London.
Belgium's Regent.
Belgium, whose national liberation
released its own governing agencies,
immediately took steps to restore
its prewar standing. In the ab
sence of King Leopold III, held in
Germany, 41 - year - old Prince
Charles, brother of the king, be
came "Regent of the Realm," to act
until the king returns.
In September, the tiny Duchy of
Luxembourg, neighbor of Prance,
Belgium and Germany, celebrated
its freedom from four years of Nazi
tyranny.
Allied lighting men landing in
Greece in October helped Greek pa
triots to oust the Germans. Internal
political problems had divided the
people into factions, some opposing
the return of the monarchy. The
cabinet decided to inform King
George II, in London, that returnp
tion of hit powers was conditioned
on popular will.
Late in the year, Netherlander
taw the beginning of the Allied at
tempt to am ash the western anchor
of the German defense system, pre
lude to liberation. From the south
west Pacific came more good news
?for the first time in more than
four years the nation's flag flew over
Hollandia in Netherlands New
Guinea.
Axis-satellites Finland, Romania
and Bulgaria broke their ties with
the Nazi government, and moved
toward agreements with the Allied
powers.
8hifta ia Italy
King Victor Emanuel III stepped
aside in favor of hiaB9-year-old son,
Umberto, designated "Prince Lieu
tenant General of the Realm." Pre
mier Ivanoe Bonomi and his Italian
cabinet contributed a novelty when
they took office in June. They did
not take the customary oath to the
crown; instead they pledged them
selves to fulfill their duties accord
ing to the constitution. The United
States resumed diplomatic relations
with' Italy in October when Alexan
der G. Kirk was named ambassa
dor. On November 10 the presiden
cy of the Allied Commission for It
aly was transferred from military
to civilian direction. <
The fledgling republic of Syria,
liberated from the Vichy-French in
1941, added to its territory the in
dependent mountain-kingdom of Je
bel Druz. Its people, dwellers in
southern Syria, voted to yield their
administrative and financial inde
pendence, and merge the manage
ment of their affairs with the gov
ernment of Syria. President Roose
velt appointed George WSdsworth
minister to the republics of Syria
and Lebanon.
Closer bonds between the-United
States and its African protege Li
beria were assured by the Decem
ber, 1943, treaty, the provisions of
which were made public on Octbbex
30, 1944. The treaty stipulates that
all naval, military and air -installa
tions will be supervised by the T. S.
Significant changes took place in
1944 in the New world. Argentina
abolished all political parties and
Instituted strict censorship of the
press. The tiny Atlantic island of
Bermuda modernized some of its
ancient laws. For the first time in
the three centuries of its history
women were given the same voting
privileges as men.
Philippines to Be Free.
Events in the Pacific area were
highlighted by the return to the
Philippines of President Sergio Os
mena and his cabinet with the in
vasion forces of Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur. The presence of the offi
cial was only suggestive of the re
sumption of authority on home soil,
for it was understood that Island af
fairs will continue to be adminis
tered from Washington^
The future status of the Philip
pines was defined in two resolu
tions adopted by the U. S. congress,
and signed by President Roosevelt
on June 30. These resolutions grant
independence to the islands as soon
as tire Japs are ejected, and pro
vide for defense fly the construction
of United States military and .naval
bases. ?
The preeMent el the newly established Icelandic reyobUe, Sveinn
Bjornsson, addresses the nation by radio on Jane 17. 1M4. the day the
island dissolved its onion with Denmark.
Crown Prince Umberto wm named
Prince Lieutenant General of the
Realm of Italy by hi* father, Kiny
Victor Emanuel, who abdicated
when Allied troope entered the capi
tal in June, 1M4.
Gen. Charles Ds Ganile, head d the >iwhhsal pimul of
France, reviews the 1M4 Armistice day parade la Parle, leaked by Wla
?too Cborehill sad Aatheay Eden tl Great Britain. Praaee was formally
invited to become a member tt the Earepeaa Adrteery eemmMtee by
the British statesmen.