Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-04
Togo to TOTO
Just Change
In Spelling
Move Doesn't Indicate
Low ia p Morale
BY PAUL MALLON

the Jap ulillldi Niiduc 90 biS
difference in spelling implies.
At first glance, the break in
the cabinet may have seemed to
signify a cheering lack of con-
fidence down the line of the
clique with Togo's conduct of
the war so far. Unfortunately,
this is not justified.
The incoming TOTO formerly
was war minister, and thus has
been in charge of the operations
of the army. He not only still
holds that post. but combines it
with the navy ministry, and the
home ministry. as well as the
premiership. Thus, he becomes
another tin god on the same
shelf with Hitler and Mussolini.
But the one thing clear and
tangible here, in the erection of
new tin god TOTO, is that his
predecessor Togo is known to
have given his personal word TO
the Reds that Russia would not
be attacked.
Also clear Is the fact that the
Japanese generally switch cabi-
nets to cover change of political
front which Hitler generally ac-
complishes by merely changing
his mind, making friends of
former enemies, and vice versa,
as expediency requires.
The Japs go to the extent OF
changing the minister who has
given his word.
That is why the column dated
September /, predicting a Jap
attack on Russia. as a result of
their Chinese Withdrawals, now
goes double.
TT IS not likely that Rommers
l. new attack in Egypt was de-
vised merely as diversion shout
ing and waving of arms to keep
up from shifting troops into
Iran, and thus bolstering the
weakening Caucasus line of the
Russians. Nor is it probable
that this crafty Nazi general
knew we were about to attack
and threw his in first. to push us
off balance.
True, we had been openly
moving up tanks, troops and
planes to the front lour Cairo
radio commentators broadcast
this) several days before the
fighting started. But we were
reinforcing because we expected
Rommel to strike, and we ex-
pected it because his position
was uncomfortable. .-
Rommel, however, could not
rest any troops without sending
them back 200 miles. All his
water had to come up to the
front that distance. His trans
portation facilities were made
quate. He was squirming in an
unfavorable position and had TO
act.
Our elastic line had an ex-
plosive front porch of mine
fields eight miles deep. Frag-
mentary early accounts of the
fighting las this was written)
told of a German victory in
penetrating our lines by eight
miles. which really only meant
that they got through the mine
fields and up TO the line OF
fighting.
THE weakness of the Russians
Il in the vital Caucasus be-
came apparent in the early
fighting for that excellent nat
ural line of defense.
About all the Russians seem
TO have in. the Caucasus are
remnants of the army which es-
capped from Rostov, defending
points along the Black Sea, and
especially trained mountain
forces, trying to hold the passes
further east land not doing very
well at last accounts.)
The Baku oil fields will be
strenuously defended, no doubt,
but probably not on the long
east-west line of the top of the
Caucasus, as previously ex-
pected. The Russians just did
not have enough troops.
MOST of the conversational
1V1 rumors about Alaska that
have swept the country were
found to be overdrawn by the
congressional investigators who
are now working their way back
to Washington from that ad-
vance post.
The probers found false the
report of delegate Dimond of
Alaska that the Japs have
seized the Pribiloff Islands, ia
nous home of seals. They also
found Rep. Warren Magnuson's
yarn about the Jap aircraft car
rier getting away because of
lack of coordination between
army and navy during the Dutch
harbor raid only represented
what was commonly believed in
Alaska.
Certainly the part of it which
held that the army commander
had been removed was untrue.
He Is still on the job.
Lack of complete co-ordina-
ton, however, was found TO
exist. At least army and navy
officials on the ground seemed
not fully satisfied with existing
ARRANGEMENTS hv which the