Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-04
Arm Us First.
Then Allies.
Army Pleads
Only Two Divisions Have
Even 80 Pct. Of Needs
BY PAUL MALLON

81 diiiOi0 SCI iObsiy dbdiliSl tit
possibility that Mr.. Roosevelt
may lead them into o h er
Dunkerque.
The truth is that only two of
our five armored divisions have
as much as so per cent of the
equipment they need to fight.
The other three have about 40
per cent.
THIS situation, of course. is
l. tangle ed in some very
delicate personal and official
relations between the command
er-in-chief and his generals. No
doubt both will officially deny
its existence.
Sound ground exists, neverthe-
less. for suspecting the army has
already attempted TO wangle a
larger share of the tanks and
planes being produced now for
the Allied cause. Possibly il sue
ceeded in acquiring a few more
tanks. but not enough TO fill the
deficiency.
IT is just a grave question of
policy--the problem of fixing
reasonable limit on our aid 10
Russia and Britain so we may
cquire an efficient fighting
force ourselves as quickly as
possible.
WHAT complicated it lately
w was the return of the Harri-
man mission from Moscow with
Red demands for more and more
tanks and planes.
The mission has inspired an
official expectation that Moscow
will not fall this Winter and that
the Reds will keep strong armies
in the field indefinitely if we
give them the material
But what are the British doing
for Moscow?
The army will gladly 60 where
the President sends it, to die
with its boots on if necessary.
but obviously no AEF can be
formed until the armored di-
visions are more than 40 to 80
per cent equipped.
CAUG HT hopelessiy in the
~ switches of governmental
labor feuds is Mr.. Roosevelt's
a Dor peace dispenser. Sidney
Hillman. Nobody loves him.
The CIO gang is cunning for
him and his job in its trade pub
lication, claiming he favors the
AFL. Unfortunately the AFL
does not think so, and has ex-
pressed no confidence toward
him.
Defense officials, the labor de-
partment and even the media
ton board have been consist
emily criticizing him sotte voce
for what they regard as his mis-
takes in meddling in their bust
ness.
To top il off, Mr.. Hillman pro-
pounded a government ] a Dor
policy before a congressional
committee in the Currier case
which will grow in unpopularity.
He openly assumed the posi-
ton that the government should
withdraw defense contract if
labor threatened disturbance.
Under this pronouncement Of
official fear, labor could rule the
government by threats.
1t may be possible that some
Go labor politics was involved.
Mr.. Hillman's job in the adj
ministration, at any rate. has
become unenviable if not I'M
tenable.
TOSEPHUS DANIELS per-
- sonal reason for retiring may
have been valid, but the Mex
ican-American political situation
might furnish further cause.
Mexican President Camacho
Is disappointed at the failure of
his emissaries, Suarez and Ma
jero. to obtain big loan in the
United States or settle the oil
issue.
The presidents brother, Maxi
mino, is telling Mexico City Of
ficials that Suarez will be
dropped from his finance post
upon his return.
Najero is being criticized for
sending incomplete or incorrect
reports back from Washington.
Both emissaries are said at
the home office to be in low
spirits but ardently seeking the
solution OF the oil question,
which would save them.
Meanwhile the Camacho and
Gardenas elements are nearing
a showdown.
II is quite possible the Gar
denas boys will he dropped from
the government. opening the
way for a wholly new. fair basis
of settlement of the oil problem.
SENATOR tPass-the- Biscuits)
~ O'DANIEL from Texas can
also pass the publicity.
Although he had steadfastly
refused to say how he was go
ing to vote on repeal of the
Neutrality Act, he ran away
with the headlines by an impos-
sible demand that vote be
taken the day Of the last de-
stroyer sinking.
Actually the Senate leaders
had agreed no vote would be
taken last week. and senator's
were writing speeches for this
week.
Ton, ConnaII,y tLo eon;or