The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-10-09

National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

1t has long been believed in many
circles that two factors would eventu-
ally defeat Hitler: First, the scope OF
American material aid to Britain and
her allies; second, a slowing down of
production inside Germany due to lack
of certain basic supplies which are
vital to the existence of the civilian
population as we'll as to Hitler's gi-
gantic military effort. Now is a good
time to examine just what effect
those factors are having on the war
You can find many and various re-
ports on American shipments to Eng
land, ranging from the wildly opti-
mistic to the darkly pessimistic. A
first hand report recently appeared in
Raymond Clapper's syndicated col
umn. Mr.. Clapper is fortnight and
able journalist, and lately spent con-
siderable time in England finding out
for himself how matters stand. His
report is far from being encouraging
When it comes to lend-lease deliveries,
he wrote, "The figures, in terms of
appropriations, allocations and trans
fers, are large. In terms of de-
liveries, they shrink like a pair of
wool socks in the laundry" Food, for
instance, is one of England's princi-
pal needs. Yet, he stated, only about
100000 tons of lend-lease food-equal
to two and a half days English con-
arrived when he was
there a little more than a month ago.
We are far behind schedule on
shipping arms, he continued, notably
the tanks and bombing planes which
represent one of Britain's most i'm
portant military lacks. TO use his own
words, $50 far as the British are con-
cerned, ours still is popgun
arsenal"
Not long back, Senator Byrd made
similar statements, and declared that
the defense effort has been a failure.
He backed up that criticism with a
mass Of statistics. While the ac-
curacy Of some of these figures has
been denied, the President himself ad-
mitted that the Senator's gloomy
verbal picture Of American plane pro-
duction was substantially correct"
The fault for the lag in arms ship
ments can be laid at many doors.
Some segments of labor have certain
ly been as non-cooperative as pos
sible. Some industries also deserve
that Indictment. There has been too
much delay and buck-passing and
divided responsibility in Washington.
1t is becoming apparent that all
groups in this country are going to
have to undergo much change for the
better if the arms drive is to even
partially justify the high hopes held
for it.
Going on to The second factor,
|Newsweek recently made survey of
the extent to which the war has
strained Nazi economic power. The
German people are still living on
rations which would seem completely
inadequate to heavy-eating Ameri-
cans. This fall, for the first time,
even potatoes were ratoned. The
meat allowance is minuscular. This
years European harvest was 25 per
cent below normal. Even so, Ger
many has big enough food reserves
to last long time.
Germany's vital coal supplies have
been buttressed by seizure of the
Polish, Belgian and French mines.
Coal is Hitlers most important asset,
as it is the source of ersatz oil and
rubber and is the backbone of his
munitions industries. He apparently
will not lack an adequate amount al
though, according to Newsweek, Ger
man production has lately declined
Iduc to long hours, inexperienced
miners and the general WEAKNESS war
produces in strictly rationed popula-
|tionS.
The occupation of France has given
Germany enough steel with which to
carry on. Also, she has taken over
|enough oil lands to fulfill her mill
,tary requirements, though there is
practically none left over for civilian
use.
Big German shortage is in the tex
tile field She has almost no cotton,
and little wool. Hitler has so far
made up for part Of this lack by sys-
tematically looting the occupied coun-
tries of all the textiles his agents
could find.
Summing up, Germany is the poS-
SCISSOR Of sufficient basic supplies to
last for two or three years at least.
German technicans have performed
wonders in invcnting and perfecting
workable substitutes for scarce ma
'tcrials. Her most serious shortage is
metals-she has little or no "copper"