The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-22

The implement IS a honlng ma chine, used for the smoothing down or honing of steel surfaces such as the inside of a big gun. This honing machine is of a size never before built. It is calcu- lated to operate on a surface "A feet long and 30 inches in di- ameter - in other words, it will be used to smooth out the inside of a huge gun barrel "A feet long and 30 inches wide.
 Thus it looks as if the Rus sians have developed a new type of Big Bertha. The original Big Bertha, which the Germans used during the closing period of the World War to lombard Paris, was 60 feet long but had bore only 8 inches in diameter, as com- parde with the 30-inch bore of the new Soviet Bertha.
 Apparently the Russians are figuring on firing much bigger projecticle in their new death- dealer, and firing it farther.
 HARRY HOPKINS HOURS
 Ever since Harry Hopkins be- came secretary of commerce he and his friend Edward J. Noble, chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Authority, have been wing with each other to see who could work the longer hours.
 The other night Hopkins breezed into Noble's office, one floor be- low his own in the Commerce building. It was just 2 p. m.
 "Where is that air minded dynamO?" he demanded.
 'Why, he just this minute
 left for home," replied Kathryn
 Foley, Noble's secretary. "Said
 he had to get away carly"
 "SOldiering, eh?" shot back
 the triumphant Hopkins. I've
 a good mind to dock him."
 WAR ON MECHANICS
 Rep. Bert Lord, sagacious New York Republican, is working out an idea for the relief of once prosperous railroad centers.
 These towns he points out, are glutted with surplus me- chanics, unemployed since the railroad business went to pot. Therefore, he proposes more air. plane feeder lines from the main air routes to smaller communi- ties, especially railroad centers and to put the idle mechanics to work on the airlineS.
 Lord points out that this will tie in with Eoosevelt's airplane program for training both pilots and mechanics. He maintains that the United States must take a leaf from European experience and realize that the next war is going to be one depending upon mechanics = men who can repair and operate airplanes, tanks. arm- ored cars, anti-aircraft guns.
 CAPITAL CHAFF
 A book Mrs Roosevelt is recom- mending that her husband take time to read is "The Great Road. by F. A. Hummer. She consid- CTS it one of the greatest of re- cent inspirational books regard ing youth . Edward J. Gard ner, personal head of the Com- merce Department, has been busy shifting his anti-New Deal friends to safer posts before he, himself, gets out. His boss, Harry Hop- kins, is making numerous changes, including the busting of Gardner .. Walter Splawn, Inter- state Commerce Commissioner, gave an amazing demonstration of his photographic mind at the first railroad hearing. Nearly blind. he was led around the room while introducing reams of charts and exhibits He explainted them, page by page, from memory x. A pail of cautious silence has fallen upon trade experts William Fowler and James Sappington since their return from investigat- ing trade treaty possibilities in Argentina. The subject is too ticklish to mention.
 AFL COMMUNIST
 Six months ago. Francis J. German of the Textile Workers Union was branded by the A. F. of L. as dangerous Communist. Now. however, he has joined the A. F. of L. and it is different.
 Here Is. what AFL spokesman John Frey, head of the metal trades union, told the Dies com mittee last August: