Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 8

riCHT THE STATE JOURNAL! LAXSIXG. MICHIGAN, WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 25. 1342 An Evening With the War Commentators today's Versc State Press Outside Looking In The State Journal FOUNDED APRIL 28. 1855 ffici? afternoon and Sunday roornlnr by Pub.irai;o&a.

from the office of The State JfruTxx. Grano Ave and Ottawa Lansing. Mich. Entered as mcot.6 e.a matter at tht poat office In Lanaint. Bztacr kzi of llarcfi 3.

189. DEZ-TVEKD BY CARRIER IN LANSING AND EAST LANSING rm rtK 21c per year $1050 me to reckon with!" In another instance a mother remarked, "I hope they will feed my boy well." The point is that, while the general public does not feel the prisoner of war fate sharply, the parents and other kindred of the prisoners do. It deserves to be understood that the. Red Cross has a particular interest in prisoners of war. There are two branches of the effort in behalf of prisoners of war.

One- is an organization denominated the World Red Cross and the othe- is a league of the Red Cross organizations of various nations having Red Cross setups. Presumably Japan is a member of that league. The American Red Cross, of course, has membership. The Red Cross service appears to be largely in the way of effecting communications. In behalf of the mother who was quoted as hoping they would feed her boy well, one can do no more than conjecture.

Japan is on tight rations, and her food is likely strikingly different than that to which our men and women are accustomed. I MAIL SrBSCRIPTIONS IN THE COUNTIES OP BASF-Y. CLARE CLINTON. EATON. GRATIOT.

INGHAM. OSl ISABELLA. VINGSTON. MONTCALM. SWA- Assrr.

PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. rr hovtr a 60 three months si so S3 MONTHS S2 "5 ONE YEAR 5 00 Ejucect Where Carrier Delivery Service Is Maintained HaTT ErBSCSIPTIONS IN MICHIGAN OUTSIDE ABOVE COUNTIES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE MONTHS S2 00 EF. MONTH I 70 THREE MONTHS S4 00 ONE YEAR $7 80 alAlL EUSSCT.IPTIONS OUTSIDE OP MICHIGAN PAY A3LE IN ADVANCE TTT. MONTH SI 00 THREE MONTHS 2 50 BLI MONTHS So 00 ONE YEAR S10 00 KFVEER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Kjaoc.cG excuisr.ely entitled to the uj.e for cf ai; r.evx dispatches credited to It or not rwzm paper and also the local news a-yo. linen Ail of publication on special a-e a.o reserved.

'July 25. Ift27i PHONES ti: a 1.15 for all deparirocms. In calling for desired Department Editorial. Advertisinc. Cliculation.

etc. tertee International News Service STteo by United Press VOLUME 87. NUMBER 302 The ews Behind the Days News President States Situation That the American public found high interest and stimulation in the "fireside" chat of the President Monday night seems agreed. The President used his ingratiating powers as a speaker. Just why the President felt such accounting of the national policy or strategy as.

he gave necessary is not quite clear. He stated the situation as it has come to be generally understood. As the matter has stood there has been a deal of criticism of the handling of the war situation, but it has been no more than is to be expected when war situations are not going well. But the President has been accustomed to stimulate his followers and doubtless he felt stimulation due at the present time. The high note of what the President said was his admonition.

produce and we'll win!" Doubtless that is true. At least we must think so. The contrary is beyond dispute. Unless America does out-produce Germany and Japan, in the implements of war, then surely we will not win. As one reads the daily news, it does appear held in many places that there is such confidence in winning that many desire to take advantage of the war situation to press their especial desires.

Perhaps the moving consideration with the President was that he desired to counteract such attitude toward the situation. If he does that he will have succeeded effectually. The President did not reveal but he stated as already known that the war thus far is going against us. But he did reveal that many more American troops are on the firing line than supposed. Perhaps the American public would have remained happier if the President had not revealed that our troops are in on the rearward tendency of the fight.

If he had permitted us to believe that only a token representation of the American fighting force was at the front, we should have been happier in the thought that when Americans finally did get to the front, they would reverse the situation. Now we know that such American forces as are on the firing line are not adequate. What the President asserted is in quite a degree agreeable to this paper. Several days ago it was asserted in these columns Hhat the reverses suffered thus far in the war were not primarily due to ineffectual leadership on the part of anyone, anywhere, but were due to the lack of sufficient armed strength in the theater of the war. Japan has the war in its own back yard, so to speak.

On our part we are trying to fight a war half a world' away, and without sufficient enginery of war available. It has to be wondered if the exercise of more strategy at Washington previous to December 7 might have prevailed to have pushed back the time when the Japanese should launch their attack. As it was the Japanese diplomats gathered at Washington were told that the next consideration to be taken up for discussion would be the withdrawal of Japan from China. Then the blow at Pearl Harbor fell. It was a strategic moment for Japan.

Now. as the situation lies, there is no other alternative than to pay, work and produce! Ste) from Hard Jab So "3ob" Marsh has handed in his resignation as superintendent of the boy's vocational caool. this city. Mr. Marsh has been nineteen years on the job.

and Lansing will miss him. He fcas been highly acceptable to this city. When Robert Marsh was mentioned for the appointment of superintendent. The State Journal as highly skeptical of his attitude toward such undertaking. That skepticism has been tnrough the years he has served.

There Tie- er has been a time, so far as may be discerned. wnen ar.y superintendent has been so satisfactory. And there apparently never will be, nor ear; t. And. oesices the natural difficulties of con-curung such a place a place which is neither a prison, on the one hand, nor a Mooseheart orpninige.

on the other, there is always the menace of politics. Perhaps, more times than ht tnew, the Incumbency of Robert Marsh has sung by a spider web. But is the memory of the present staff of The State Journal, and so far as its files show, mere has not been a superintendent of the boys' vocational school so free from the censure of liitsLng. Maybe Lansing tired itself out in a ar of words over the conduct of the school, but. anyway, the fact is that, under Robert Marsh, t-ne scnool has been little in gossip and hardly in mention in this paper.

That is surely omeLh-ng. explain the showing as one will. In recent weeks an investigator of institutions far correction of boys has investigated the voca-tmra' school. He talked freely with Superin-teaoent Marsh. Ke then turned in a report just uch as Bob" might have submitted.

In ad that has just been said against the ransuct of the school has been said by Mr. Marsh himself for the past fifteen years. As often as tr iegislature has met. Superintendent Marsh r.a asked for appropriations to do the things now recommended and as often been met with tne reply. "There is no money to do the things you asst." P.DDert Marsh, when asked by this paper aether he would fight, or take it on the chin, replied.

"Tor the good of the lads here I must resign Lf for no other reason than that the figh. over ihe achool of late has completely wrecked in morale of the place. When any governor oenounces the place as an atrocity, there is bound to result runaways and general insubordination. Thii institution serves best when it is forgotten." The school needs a better staff, it needs vastly more equipment, and it needs the institution of luci a system as only a competent staff can asmmustrator. but that cannot be without larger appropriations.

Robert Marsh is one thing, but when a prominent clergyman waves his arms, pulls out the tremulo stop in his voice to denounce the place arid ask how anyone can expect to make the pjice succeed, with its fences remaining, that it another thing. But, when the investigator says ma: fences have been out with such institutions Jar twenty years, and then others have said this ami me other said that, without a shadow of aere-ment. that is something else. There is no axr-ement in either official or popular clamor. Let us ail hope for the best for the school.

Jt cannot blame ourselves if we are harassed wilt, doubts. 1 GIVE YOU SILENCE VView am silent in your company. It is because no empty phrase will do. I ivill not offer idle talk to you. My tongue can give its chatter easily To other folk who fill my careless days.

But these important times, when I can be With you. such sweet enchantment falls on me That lips abaiidon their accustomed ways. I am content to sit close at your side, And touch your hair with throb-ing finger tips. The tender language that I can provide Comes from the speechless pressure of my lips. Yet, could a spoken word mean more than this? No rapture would reward a verbal kiss! Ccila Keegatt.

in Westward. Just Before rm 11 i ne ueaaiine By DICK MURRAY VyHICH will America's war pol-icy be eagle or turtle? In his Monday night report to the nation President Roosevelt told the difference: the eagle "flying high and strikinR the. turtle ducking its head beneath its shell when danger threatens. Yes. we have both eagles and turtles in our midst.

The eagles demand that we carry the fight to our enemy; that we protect our shores by keeping the combat zones as distant as possible: in brief, that we take the initiative. The turtles, in contrast, plead that our warships and warplanes be called back from far-off battle areas, to safeguard home coasts: that we wait for the enemy to hit first, then we'll take care of him. Thus far in the world conflict the turtles haven't fared so well. In fact, they have taken it on the chin in every test. Austria.

Czechoslovakia, Poland. Belgium, the Netherlands. France all these and more have been sacrificed by the turtles. England, too. almost fell into their clutches until the debacle of Dunkcrque provided an awakening.

We should know now. if ever, that playing turtle doesn't pay off any war dividends. Eagles we must be or fail! ETURNING to California from a six-month sojourn in Iceland, a shivering soldier remarked: "Wish I had my Arctic clothes. I wasn't nearly as cold in Reykjavik." It was 11 deRrees below freezing unusual weather, said the natives. Florida would be delighted, no doubt, to have that soldier write a testimonial.

Plenty of Reading ALBUQUERQUE. N. M. Pvt. Harry L.

Mack has one of those long, long letters. It's from his Antigo. pals and runs 75 feet long on adding machine paper. Puttervillc Folks By E. R.

P. iSpeciai to The State Journal) pUTTERVILLE. Feb. 25 Miss Mvrt Elm root is again friendly with the Red Cross idea and has made up with the committee. Mvrt appeared today at the post office in full Red Cross uniform.

She said she hoped to be sent to Manila or perhaps to Australia. Mvrt thinks she could take more interest in Red Cross work if she were in foreign lands. Hopper Putter and his wife have gone visiting over in the Vinegar Hill settlement. Mr. and Mrs.

Putter will be gone 14 days as they will stay two days with each relative. If the relatives are friendly they may stay longer, it is presumed. Hopper was ordered by the welfare committee to get busy and take the job offered him at the stave mill. So he is now moving off relief and onto relatives. Prof.

B. B. Shott. our harness-maker, shoe repairer and leader of the church choir, announces that the choir will practice next Thursday night at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs.

Anse Punkberry. Mrs. Punkberry. our best cook, will serve chicken dinner. She can't sing a lick but was made an honorary member of the choir on account of her cooking.

No. 7 off some today. Nobody got off and nobody got on. City Hall Grouch By EARLE R. PITT "VVTE WAS invited to cat supper last night with some folks that live near us." Thus the Willing Juror started the day's confab with the Grouch.

"That's pretty slick," grunted the Grouch. "More free meals one takes on now the easier it is to live under this rationing system. You have to take your own sugar?" "Nope, them neighbors had plenty of sugar." answered the Willing Juror. "They are them kind of folks that lay in all their winter provisions in the fall and so have a cellar full of stuff in the winter when the hard goin' comes along." "An old-fashiond custom," said the Grouch. "It's as rare now, however, as paying cash for what the public buys.

Squirrels have the same habit, neighbor, and they don't go hungry unless some human being robs 'em of their nut store." "Yeah," agreed the W. J. "These folks had a good supper. I can tell you. I wish we had about 500 such folks who would invite us to meals.

It wouldn't cost us nothin' By HENRY McLEMORE THENS. Feb. 25 In their recent announcement of a program whereby they will train 30.000 pilots each year, the navy department's bureau of aeronautics pulled no punches in its plan to "meet the Axis meanness." According to the plan, and I first heard of it here in the land of sorghum and Sinkwich. the navy will select four, universities throughout the country where it will send its neophyte pilots for an Indoctrination course. These universities will be known as reception centers, and the University of Georgia here and the University of Iowa have already been chosen.

To these universities will go young men, handpicked physical specimens, to the number of 625 a month. And what they will get there is the story. At these schools, which will turn over many of the buildings and instructors, the fledgling aviation pilots will get the customary courses in mathematics, navigation, radio and all the others necessary to taking a fighting ship out to sea and bringing it home again. But the part of the program that appeals to me was pointed out by Lieut. Ted Mann, the former publicist for Duke university's football endeavors and now relations officer at the Atlanta naval air base.

The young eagles are going to get a course in physical training that will make them the toughest gents ever to sit at the controls of a ship. Not only the physical education stuff that calls for wand drills, swinging here and there on horizontal bars, breathing deep, and standing up and sqautting down after the manner of children playing squat tag. The young pilots will be put to such tasks as marching 40 miles a day, digging ditches, felling trees, and clearing away forests. And that's not all, either. Under the so-called "toughening process" will come other training such as instruction in jujitsu (spelling not guaranteed.) wrestling, boxing and plain, old-fashioned pier 1.

barroom, street corner rough and tumble fighting. It is this course in rouRh and tumble, every man for himself fighting, that does my heart good. I have maintained for a good while now that the day of chivalry and the Alphonse and Gaston stuff was gone from war. And that to meet the Axis brigands on an equal footing our soldiers must be taught to get in there and swing from the floor. And may the toughest gent win.

One of the parts of the new naval training will be the art of "liquidating" an opponent by phvsical means. Just what the navy means by that word, liquidate. I wouldn't know, but I do know that liquidate is a powerful word. The statement -by Lieut. Tom Hamilton, who will head the physical training side of the new program is very enlightening.

Hamilton, a two-fisted fellow who used to coach the army football team, said, in effect: "We know the Axis powers train their men to fight by any method, fair or foul, particularly the latter. While the navy would much prefer to follow the principles of sportsmanship in warfare, we are going to train our pilots to fight by any means, whatever they may be. It "would be unfair to our men not to have them ready, able and willing to fight back in exactly the way the fight is carried to them." As we got it, the youngsters for this new program, all of whom will be especially selected for the job, will start moving to the four universities within the next few weeks. Prominent figures in the sports world already have been called to handle the training of them. Following their indoctrination, these physically perfect and "toughened" youngsters will be moved to flight elimination bases, one of which is in inland Atlanta, to start their actual flying.

And then, if successful at these, will move on to advanced bases to get the final training preparatory to moving against the Japs, the Germans and the Italians, if there are any of Musso's boys still fighting. The civilian population of this country could well take a tip from the navy's new "hardening process." It is high time all of us started conditioning ourselves for the tough and mean days that are ahead. (Distributed by McKaught Zyndicite By charies b. dhscoii people were killed every month or so by being hit by falling bodies. -This form of suicide, confined largely to financial men, has almost passed out, either because there are very few financial men any more, or because incomes of most neurotics have increased.

One of the most grewsome suicides of the depression period was that of a proprietor of an old and famous cafe. In line with the enthusiasms of the time, he moved uptown and took on a terrific load in rent and overhead. The business never was half as good uptown as it was downtown. The worried proprietor, driven insane by his troubles, went into a washroom, cut off his ears, slashed his throat, cut both wrists, swallowed poison, and shot A lot of us arc waiting anxiously to hear just exactly what is go-iiiR to be done about feeding our dogs, since it has been announced that no more tin cans will be available for dog food. In New York, a wave of dog -food hoarding hit the stores the day the announcement was made.

Are the dog food factories to close, their people to be unemployed, and the dog-owners left to feed their dogs human food exclusively, thereby cutting down available human food and increasing the expense of the dog-owner? And how about the food formerly fed to dogs? Is it to go to waste? We'll need a little en-lishtenment on all of this. by Ml Sang lit Syndicate Inc.) "PHE work of the extraordinary session of the legislature is mentioned by one of the dailies. Another deals with the carelessness that resulted in the burning of the Normandie. Soldier pay and the fight of the Russians are also mentioned. Beating the enemy is stressed as the only way.

The spring drive of Hitler is also discussed as to probabilities. The Battle Creek Enquirer-News comments on the work of the legislature. It looks at the matter thus: "Michigan's legislature has ended its second special war session with achievements deserving of commendation. It has acted to meet wartime demands, yet It has been vigilant in assuring that stale funds will not be wasted. Unemployment benefits are hiked $12 to boost maximum benefits to $20 a week for 20 weeks.

This legislation was urgently needed, particularly in view of federal inability to provide such aid. Assistance for the aged and for dependent children was ir.creasd to meet higher living costs. These higher casts also were the reason for increasing the wages of civil service employes in the lower wage brackets." The Adrian Telegram thinks the fire on the Normandie was occasioned by carelessness like black-smithing amid exceisior. It continues: "A naval court of inquiry is to investigate the disaster, and there Is to be a congressional Investigation. Presumably the naval court will fix the responsibility somewhere, and it is to be hoped that it will not put the blame on some seaman or petty officer.

The real blame lies higher up. When precautions are not taken, or where there Is incompetent inspection, the final blame lies with whoever is responsible for the safety of the job. Some high naval official must have had supervision and full authority over such an un-mense and important job. If to. it was his duty to see that all proper precautions were taken against fire just as much as against sabotage, theft, bad workmanship or any other danger.

Somebody had that duty and failed to perform it." a The Kalamazoo Gazette mentions the British attitude toward the Russians. It looks at the matter thus: "'The notable gains scored in recent months by the Russian army against the German invaders undoubtedly have served to revise many British opinions cor.cemir.z the value of the Soviet Union as an ally. And while there miv be a few Englishmen here and there who are more concerned about what a victorious Russia might do in Europe at some future time than about the desirability of close Anglo-Soviet cooperation to win the immediate struggle, the chances are that the of Sir Stafford will be generally welcomed by Britishers who take a realistic view of things as they now stand." The Saginaw News commends a pay boost for the army. It states: "No one who still enjoys normal civilian comforts and advantages will begrudge whatever reasonable pay increases congress decides to give our men in the armed forces. Whether the base pay rate is hiked to $42.

or $45. or $48 makes little essential difference. The boys who are to do the nation's fighting in this war deserve all the are likely to get, and more. The country will be in debt to them in any event when it is all over in more wavs than one. The thing that hurts in this connection is that our main public burdens are not being distributed more equitably.

We who are staying at home are supposed to be buying bonds and stamps for all we are worth. But our combined efforts still are far short of the necessity." The Muskegon Chronicle thinks localities should not be more interested in themselves than in the nation. It looks at the matter thus: "Unless America has gone utterly soft, of which there Is no present evidence. President Roosevelt can make himself the leader of a united nation by proclaiming our purpose to win the war by beating the enemy where he is. regardless of punishment we may take at home to do it.

Senators from coast states who insist adequate provision must be mace for their defense do not speak the voice of America. That was spoken by of War Stimson. His declaration ought to be backed by the President in no equivocal terms, or else members of his cabinet ought to quit making announcements." The Ann Arbor News deals with a possible Axis strategy. It points out: "The United Nations are beginning to realize uneasily that there may be a coincidence between the fall of Singapore and activity around the Mediterranean. With the guardian of the Indian ocean in the hands of the Japanese, Axis maneuvering in North Africa and southeastern Europe seems to point to a master plan to fight to a union of Japanse and Germans in India or the middle east.

The distances are great, but the defenders are thinly spread. And looking at the "great distances which have failed to halt Japanese Pacific victories, the British and American people must realize that an effort to capture the riches of India and the middle east is by no means to be excluded from the Axis plans. Rrandiose as such a project would be." to live. I gosh. More folks you know that will invite you to eat.

the more you save and the better meals you get for when you get invited" to meals, the folks alius does their best." "System is all right except for one thing," said the Grouch. "If you want to play fair and show your appreciation, why you got to invite folks to your house to eat. So if you are fair and on the up and up, there isn't a profit in your idea." "Yeah. I guess that's the hitch to mv idee." said the Willing Jur- or. "Don't seems as though I ever had an idee that there was any profit in." Observer Within eight miles of Baku is 10 percent of the globe's reserve.

Guards CHIPPING perils do not begin when a periscope rears its serpentine head above the distant wave. German and Italian nationals are employed in great numbers along the New York waterfront. Aliens, who have never bothered to swear allegiance to the United States, have access to cargoes and holds and know exactly what we are sending overseas to our A. E. and Allies.

Most of these men may be loyal but they never have been thoroughly checked by the authorities. Hawaiian officials had no time to scrutinize their Japanese residents either. Maritime commission personnel claim that as soon as an undesirable employe is discharged from one wharf, he reappears at another part of the harbor with a new Identification slip. For a small price many a corrupt business agent of a longshoreman's union will sell a working card no questions asked. The present force of special police along the vast number of wharves is inadequate to watcli for sabotage and espionage.

The port has endless miles of piers in Manhattan. Staten and Long islands and in New Jersey, where curious eyes can easily observe the loading of ships destined to be convoys to the battlefields. On the west coast Harry Bridges, radical labor leader, has been placed in charge of 2,000 volunteer guards protecting the California docks. Heart FARWIN. the "down under" city from which non-combatants are being evacuated following frequent Jap air raids, is a typical "wild west" town much like those in our cow country.

Now that Singapore has been lost it Is of great strategic importance to the Allies since here are the huge fuel installations required by the Dutch and the United States Asiatic fleet: To protect its oil tanks the British admiralty some time ago set up an R. A. A. F. base.

Soldiers are everywhere from the docks to the back bush territory where one finds half-wild aborigines, who hold corroborees (ceremonies) to the music of dldgery-do pipes. Because of a shortage of civilian the troops mast also be road builders. They have con Lifetime Spans Four Wars Within recent days there has been recorded in The State Journal the end of days for veterans, both the remaining remnant of the Grand Army of the Republic. One was reported from Leslie, the other from Ionia. Both the old men were in advanced years.

Yet. even, so. the Civil war. the Spanish-American war, the first World war and now this present war fell within the span of life of those who knew them all. Four wars within a life time, yet there are all too many who persist in doing what they can to prevent some measure of preparedness.

In the last two wars, we have prepared behind the wall of protection afforded by others. The National Concluded from Pate One lies on the presidential desk. The schemers deliberately omitted General Hershey and Agriculture Secretary Wickard from this most powerful of federal agencies. Both officials deeply resented their proposed sidetracking. So did organized labor's representatives, who attacked it in their press notices.

In giving special preference to farm and labor groups, the general is fighting back with the covert assistance of the secretary. They are seeking to spike the grandiose ambitions of their rivals by catering to the three most vocal lobbies at the capital Hollywood, the C. I. O. and P.

of and the American Farm Bureau federation. Replied EON HENDERSON, price ad-ministrator. is smart, although he never wins a penny in National Press club bridge games. He will bid "no trump" on nothing. On the day that sugar rationing was promulgated, his better half went shopping.

Recognizing her as the wife of the price poobah, the grocer said. "Mrs. Henderson. I have a pretty good supply of sugar in the back room. Would you like about 10 or 20 pounds?" "No, thank you," she replied, as she bought the amount to which her husband had restricted her.

Riuh OINCE the far eastern oil treasures now are nothing but belching clouds of thick black smoke and German submarines are wrecking British tankers off Venezuela, the strategic and economic value of the middle east looms importantly. More than ever the United Kingdom mast keep the pipelines of Iran and Iraq, and the Soviet those of Baku. The drain on his tanks in Africa and Russia forces Hitler to reach for new fuel and in the process he is likely to try to make a land junction with the Japanese advancing through Burma, India and Persia. The attack may come in the Russian Caucasus or across Turkey. British secret agents have discovered stacks of Nazi drilling machinery In Rumania and the Ukraine, ready to be rushed through Turkey or to the land strip between the Black and Caspian seas.

No easy task awaits Laurence A. Steinhardt, United States ambassador, in his new assignment to the late Kemal Pasha's capital. New York gasoline experts claim the U. S. S.

R. petroleum empire is exceedingly rich. Its oldest shaft (Surakhani), is still producing. The territory accounts for 30 percent of the world's resources. Most of the wells are north of the mountains so that the Axis invaders, once they-have broken through the Slav lines around the River Don, can occupy the best fields without surmounting the ranges whose lowest passes are over 8,000 feet high.

Barbs (STATISTICS show 1941 was one of the top years in alimony paid out. The high cost of leaving! As to buying defense bonds, the quickest way to do it right is do it right now! In an Indiana town neighbors caught a peeping Tom. He will recover, but he'll never look the same. Wouldn't it be nice if some animal trainer could teach moths to eat holes like lace? Amusement Curfew ROCKFORD, 111. (JP) A 0 p.

m. blackout of all business establish ments, taverns, clubs, dance halls and amusement centers "to conserve electricity to aid war pro duction" was proposed by the Rockford Christian Temperance union to the city council. structed huts with corrugated iron roofs and cement floors against a rainy season of tropical violence. The port is the only community in Australia where gambling is openly permitted. Behind it stretches vast tracts of waterless deserts with the continent's population areas over 2,000 miles away.

Communication south is by railroada short distance and then by an all-weather road through a wilderness where kangaroos and emus are familiar sights. Between wet periods the region is so dry that Aussies call it "the dead heart" but when the annual deluge starts, travel becomes almost impossible. Today a stream of trucks, tanks and other weapons is hurrying north to meet the threat of Nipponese invasion. Darwin will be a logical debarkation point for an A. E.

F. a Law rPRAVELERS arriving in New York from Capetown reveal interesting facts about South Africa's recent war effort previously unknown here. The Springboks saw consifleiable action in Ethi-opio and in northern Kenya's Didi Galgalla lava wastes, which have a temperature of 140 degrees and stretch for miles over an area without a tree or a blade of grass. To be lost here is almost certain death. Airmen forced down in thus bleak wilderness returned with fearful stories of "cafard" desert madness.

The colonials relate adventures in Somaliland which demonstrate the eagerness of Italians to quit an unpopular conflict. When the Union troops advanced upon Mogadiscio they found that Mussolini's 200 soldiers had constructed special prison enclosures alongside their barracks and then had shut themselves up pending the arrival of the victorious Afrikanders. This perhaps is the first case on record of war prisoners willingly building their own jail in advance. On another occasion after empire advance guards had recovered Addis Ababa, the revengeful Abysslnians started a private feud with Fascist civilians and Greek traders. Then they turned on each other and the white soldiers had to arrest their savage allies in the interest of law and order.

tCopyright.McClurcNcwspaperSynitr.Mc) tOpintonq expressed here are solely lhoc ol the author and do not necessarily represent those 0 this newspaper prosecution, plus a few millions to help ease the common fellow's burden. As soon as Mr. Irey and his 14 stories of assistants got settled on the edge of City Hall Plaza, I dropped in to pay a visit. I found the big boss a genial, easy-talking He was born in Kansas City, raised in Washington. He has been in public service ever since he was 19 years old.

He will be 54 the loth of next month. Although much of his time is spent in pursuit of crooks who think they don't have to pay their just share of Income taxes, Mr. Irey is deeply interested in the Secret Service, which is a part of the treasury too. It takes care of the personal safety of the President and his large' family, and looks after counterfeiters. Because of intensive efforLs of this unit, counterfeiting has become an unprofitable and almost negligible business In this country.

As (or the safety of the President and his family well, just you try to toss a paper wad at one of them some day, and see what happens! The suicide rate in New York has taken a sharp drop in the last year. Increase of income, due to war business, is given as the cause for the slowing up of suicides. Fewer people take their own lives now. in New York, than have done so in any year since the financial boom, ending in 1929. Late in that year, and during the following two years, jumping out of windows of tall buildings became a veritable plague.

Several Maybe Some Lack Gratitude When there is no gratitude in return for proffered aid. where does the benefit go? The proffered ad is supposed to stimulate gratitude, out 'J there no gratitude, let us believe the tx. offer has its reward. The soldiers of Mac-Arthur have just captured a Jap scow in which trier attempted to land on Bataan peninsula. In ere hie preservers sent to Japan by the American people back in the time of the great oe-iaLmg earthquake, eighteen years' ago.

Mayoe me Japs have no element of gratitude, feu: can still be glad we had the impulse to he.E. The night sales of automobile license plates have been ordered. But that need not indicate that the tires need be worn out "at night driving. The production of refrigerators is to April 30. That once favorite ditty, "Hot time in the old town, tonight" may be revived.

New York Day by Day It is not strange the Japs bombarded the California coast, but how did so many horses happen to be together in one place? Yesterdays in Lansing IMMEDIATE construction of Lansing's new $1,250,000 west side high school is- ordered by the board of education. Finished national defense products in the strike-bound plant of the Motor Wheel corporation are to be removed today for nvF vrp emergency delivery at the request uiNr. imk of the war department as the strik-AGO ing employes prepare to vote on a proposal for settlement ef the dispute. The vanguard of an estimated 2,000 Michigan dealers arrives in the city to attend the opening session of the Michigan Automotive Trade association convention. Our Folk- in Japan Prisoners of war have always been a sore Consideration of the fate of those taken prisoners of war cannot be otherwise.

The best t---i can be thought on the subject can be none too soot. WiLhm recent days there has been unexpected return to the subject. We say 'unexpected" because, while the subject might have been sharply expected, it was not. We knew that Japan took Guam and others of our island strongholds, but ajomehow the fate of the soldiers there did not tror.f register with us. But a few cays ago the navy department the names of Michigan men held as prisoners by Japan, to Michigan papers and a service was accorded to the papers of ener states.

Tne may Lhe release of the names was put ief: the impression that the navy compiled the list from, its own records as showing those missing fram tne roster of the places taken. But it is poK.D.e that Japan forwarded the list through a neutral country. The fate of prisoners of war if supposed setter than was once the case. Revelation of trie fact that prisoners are still among trie should be expected. Bejuhe the men prisoners of war taken by Japan, have been included the names of a con-a-nermjie number of young women who were serving as nurses.

It is to be expected that they will be jrrcperly treated. America has not had much experience in the contemplation of its women nnsaners of war. Paliowing the announcement of the prisoner Zlsi. nne of the great metropolitan dailies carried mierriewg with parents of the prisoners, and in many instances likenesses of the parents or next in. One old grandfather was shown r.

old "horse pistol" and ejaculating. "Tit; Of food to our Ned. or they'll have JVEW YORK When Elmer Irey comes over from WashT ington to do some coordinating in New York, he now has a place to come to. Mr. Irey, chief coordinator of the enforcement agencies of the treasury department, recently took over a 14-story building on Broadway for his activities.

He hasn't had a bit of trouble filling it, either. The building is the one that used to be called the Postal Telegraph building, at 253 Broadway, just across the street from city hall. A restaurant and a clothing store occupy the ground floor. All the rest of the building is Irey's. The treasury department has quite a lot of enforcing to do, and Mr.

Irey. who comes to a high position in the government through many years of hard work, coordinates such jobs as putting Moe Annenberg away, giving Al Capone a respite at Alcatraz, and seeing Nuckey Johnson and Mr. Pendcrgast off to their government homes. As I get the story, we are unable, in this country, to imprison or hang our gangsters for gang-stering. So we get a coordinator and a lot of good lawyers, plus a flock of detectives, on their trails.

The bad boys wind up in prison, and it's small consolation for them to know that they went there for evading income taxes instead of for murder or robbing the public till. It's a profitable business for the taxpayers who pay their taxes. Every crook put away by Mr. Irey pays for his own detection and CHARGES of negligent homicide against Carl L. Skidmore are dismissed by Judge Sam Street Hughes in municipal court because of lack of evidence regarding responsibility for the automobile accident which caused the death of Iva Manross.

tfv vrinc A plea for a solid front in combat-i. ltAKS crime is made by Gov Wilber AGO M- Brucker before the central and South Michigan Sheriffs' association here. "Richard Starr. 5-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs.

Emil Starr, is saved from drowning by efforts of Francis Flanders. II. who dragged him from a basement excavation which was flooded with water. FRANK G. BENEDICT, for whom petitions have been circulated in the aldermanic race, refuses to enter the contest.

Mason O. Hakes rises to commend two women who turn out for council session but also condemns three aldermen who continue to smoke after the mayor had TWENT FIVE requested them to cease. A milk YEARS AGO strike, threatened at a meeting of 200 members of the local branch of the Michigan Milk Dealers association because a Lansing milk dealer refuses to pay an agreed price, is finally postponed..