The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-11-24

But with sufficient time and large
appropriations the cavalry and field
artillery handicaps can be over
come.
M-Day preparations place heavy
emphasis on industrial mobilization.
Directed by Louis A. Johnson, as
sistant secretary of war, the army
has located 10000 factory owners
who will turn over their plants to
manufacture war necessities at a
moments notice. With a $10,000,-
600 appropriation, the army is now
placing educational orders" with
these factories and perfecting dies
and machinery which will be sup
piled to professors in the event Of
emergency. For example, typewrit-
er factories would begin making ri
file sights, and beer can machinery
would make bomb cases.
Secretary Johnson is also direct
ing plans for mobilization of cleo
tricity. Recently announced is a
$4,000, 900, 900 expansion plan for pri-
vate utility companies, guarantee
ing that the nation will have suffi-
cient reserve power on M-Day.
There is some talk of connecting all
the nations electric lines.
Plan Rail Defenses.
Since railroads would be a vital
factor on M-Day, the government is
encouraging carriers to expand their
lines. This problem was recently
brought to a head by the carriers
plea for Is per cent wage reduc-
ton. Although the request was de-
MED, it is likely that next winters
congress will vote subsidies to help
railroads lay new track and build
more powerful equipment.
Less noticeable are M-Day plans
to train substitute workers who will
replace regular factory workers
called to the front trenches. The
government would also regulate
prices to prevent profiteering, con-
troll wages and hours and take 9TH
er steps to keep the country running
smoothly behind its fighting army.
Such preparations require money,
and although abnormally large army
and navy budgets have heretofore
been met out of regular govern
ment income, it is just possible that
special steps will be taken to meet
the new requirements. Bernard Ba-
ruch, financier and chairman of the
old war industries board of 1917,
made news few weeks ago by
speaking emphatically about the
United States responsibility for
Western hemisphere integrity. Adj
vocating huge rearmament pro-
gram, he suggested that it might
have to be financed with a zone
shot" income tax. This would be a
bitter pill, not only for the public
but for congress as well. Yet Mr..
Baruch claims we need a two-ocean
navy, a standing army of 100000
men and greatly increased air
force. He cites figures to show our
inferiority to German and Italian
military preparations.
And the amazing result is that
IlOSI VI hIuerlCd agrees with him.
Whereas five years ago this sugges-
ton would have been condemned,
the recent developments in Asia
and Europe are making America de-
fense-conscious. Incidentally, it is
hoped that such larger rearmament
expenditures will absorb a large
part of the nations unemployed,
thereby reducing relief rolls and en-
couraging economic recovery.
Perhaps M-Day can't happen
here, but talk to a Londoner or Pari-
sian who shuddered through the Ger
man-Czech crisis and the possibility
becomes starkly realistic. While no
American wishes to be a war-mon-
ger, we cannot help consider the
awful consequences of a combined
Observation-Disclosures invasion
into the Western hemisphere. So
long as this unwelcome possibility
exists it would be comforting to
know that America is prepared
against it.
Western Newspaper Union.