The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-10-10
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Washington, d. C.
JAPAN GETS AVIATION FUEL

Washington, d. C.
JAPAN GETS AVIATION FUEL
The new iron and steel scrap en-
barge finally shut off one of Japan's
key military supplies.
But through loophole as big as
barn door, japan had been able,
despite this supposedly stringent
embargo, to obtain all the U. S. gas
it needs for the bombers that are
raining death and destruction on
helpless Chinese cities and villages.
This loophole is the little-noticed pro-
vision that limits the embargo only
to certain super-grade of gas-87
octane and over.
This type of fuel is essential for
modern aerial warfare. Without it
planes are not able to attain the
great speeds necessary In dog fights
and raids such as take place night
and day over Britain.
But japan is not up against that
kind of battling. Its bombers and
fighter planes face no aerial opposi-
ton. They have the skies to them
selves. They don't need super-gas.
They can do just as well on lower
octane fuel. Their job is no differ
ent than an ordinary transport
planes. They haul out a load of
bombs, dump it and fly back.
The story is told in the following
unpublished government figures. In
the month after the imposition of the
so-called embargo, Japan imported
from the United States 187, OPS bar
rels of lower grade gasoline, or more
than 20 per cent of all such exports
during that period.
SPY CENTER
The large Japanese fishing colony
on Terminal island in Los Angeles
harbor is soon due for a cleanup
by Uncle Sam.
This colony has long been under
suspicion as nerve center of for
eign espionage on the West coast.
More than one of the fishing" yes
sells is radio-equipped, and inteIli-
gence officials have evidence that
some of the colony's sea-going deni-
zens double in brass as spies.
No action has been taken I'D to
now chiefly because of state depart
ment qualms about kicking up an
international ruckus. The suspects
were kept under scrutiny but MOTH
ing was done to get rid of them.
But with Japan taking the bit in
its teeth in Indo-China and showing
signs of further adventures, the
state department has withdrawn it's
red light. Under plan worked out
with California and Los Angeles Of
ficials, the fishing village will be
dispersed.
q. S. FLYING FORTRESSES
Flying FortreSses" of the u. S.
army and powerful twin-engined
ply patrol bombers of the U. S.
navy-for Britain
The negotiations have been going
on for several weeks simultaneously
with conversations regarding the Sc
curing of air and naval bases on
strategic British islands in the Pa
cifc.
The British are urgently in need
OF long-range, great weight-carrying
planes of the Flying Fortress" and
ply type. Lack of ships of this
kind is vital weakness in British
air power. They have no planes
capable of operating east of Berlin,
which makes it impossible to strike
at some of the Nazis' key war pro-
duction centers located in what were
formerly Austria and CzechosIo-
vakia.
A feet of Is Flying Fortresses, Z"
which have cruising radius of over
5000 miles, would bring the war
home to the Germans where it
would hurt most. Also, the British
could strike smashing blows at
Italian industries-and Italy is the
Achilles heel of the Axis.
The naval Phys are needed in the
crucial Mediterranean struggle.
With range of 1000 miles, these
mighty flying boats could destroy
Italian submarines, transports and
supply ships. Italy has to transport
everything she needs in her African
offensive across the Mediterranean,
and the Phys could cripple this
jugular vein.
These planes also are needed to
meet assault on Gibraltar, key to
British control of the Mediterranean.
They also would put Britain in a
much stronger position to meet
Spanish Intervention.
The army has a total of SO ely
ing FortreSses' plus a number of
others in production, which are COM
ing from the factory at the rate of
about seven a month.
The British would like to make
an arrangement to obtain every 9TH
er new ship. Army officials say
this would not delay u. S. rearming,
but would enable the manufacturer
to expand his facilities and achieve
a greater output.
The navy is amply supplied with
Phys. It already has 1876 in service
and 200 more being produced at the
rate of one every So hours. The
new ships are considerably faster
and more powerful than most of the
1876 In service. Navy heads declare
that SO of these planes could be
spared without any impairment to
navy air power.
The British plan to fly the giant
planes direct across the Atlantic,
and crews of English and Amer
lean airmen are being assembled in