The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-07-24
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ALEUTIANs IMPORTANT

ALEUTIANS IMPORTANT
Behind the army-navy attempts to
blast the Japs out Of the Aleutian
islands is more than natural antipa-
thy to having an enemy on Amer
lean soil or the fear Of an invasion
of Alaska.
These are important. But, in adj
dition, events in Egypt may mean
that more than ever we shall have
to use these vital stepping stones
Of the Aleutian islands to carry the
war to the heart of Japan.
To get the full significance Of the
picture it is necessary to recall
that ever since Pearl Harbor there
has been an honest difference Of
opinion among U. S. war strategists
as to whether we should concentrate
on fighting Japan in the Pacific or
Hitler in Europe.
At one time, shortly after Pearl
Harbor, high-up U. S. naval advisers
worked out an elaborate war plan,
which is no longer secret, for con-
centrating almost all our naval
strength in the Pacific and making
a direct attack on the Japanese Is
lands-at time when the Japs had
their lines dispersed to Manila,
Singapore and the South Seas.
But the plan meant leaving the
Atlantic coast relatively unguarded,
also virtually abandoning conveys
to Britain and Russia. In the end
it was decided that the Russian front
was all-important and must be sup
piled at all costs. The wisdom of
this decision seems to have been
borne out by subsequent events.
Japs Worried.
However, those who urge the all
out war in Asia have persisted, and
their argument has been strength
ened by recent developments. One
is the fact that the Japs, obviously
scared at the prospect Of second
front in Asia, are fighting feverishly
to clean out the Chinese before
China gets important help from us.
Fear of a second front in Asia also
was why the Japs nipped part of
the Aleutian islands.
Main development, however, was
the defeat at Tobruk and the serious
Nazi threat to the entire Near East;
for if the Near East falls, with its
vital supply route opened by Amer
lean railroad engineers from the
Gulf Of Persia to the Caucasus, then
it may be absolutely imperative to
open new supply lines to Russia
l via Alaska and Siberia.
And, even more important, the
entire focus of the war, so far as
the United States is concerned, may
turn to the Far East; for, If Hitler
secures the oil of Iran, Iraq and
Mosul, it may be the wisest strategy
to knock Japan out of the war first
because the Nazis will have the re-
sources to continue for a long time.
WHAT is AN EXPERT?
When Federal Communications
Chairman Lawrence Fly appeared
before the house interstate COM
merce commission recently, he was
asked by Representative Clarence
Brown of Ohio:
"What is your definition of an ex-
pert?"
"Well," replied Fly, II once heard
an expert described as any damned
fool away from home."
"Do you pick your experts at the
FEC on that basis?" inquired Con-
gresham Brown.
"No," said Fly. "We generally
take them from the industry, where
they have proven their worth"
81 am asking these questions be-
cause of peculiar experience I had
recently" explained the Ohio con-
gresham, and went on to tell how
a congressional committee had
referred him to an expert on ac-
counting, "a young man who gradu-
ated from college in 1899 and was
still trifie wet behind the ears"
A short time later, Brown contin-
ued, he called at the War Produc-
ton board on another matter and
was referred to an agricultural ex-
pert" Lo and behold, the expert
proved to be the same young man.
Following this, again called at
the WPB on matter pertaining to
metal" said Brown. '.This time I
was referred to an expert on copper
and, believe it or not, Mr.. Fly, it
was the same agent.
"And," Brown warned the chair
man of the Federal Communications
commission, eff I ever come down
to your commission and find this
chap, you and ! are going to tangle."
, MERRY-GO-ROUND
Favorite rejoinder of Senator
Harry S. Truman, when a member
of his war contracts investigating
committee objects to his strenuous
pace: 'If you don't like the heat,
get out of the kitchen"
Silver matched Representative
Cliff Woodrum Of Virginia faces a
primary fight from Moss A. Punk
EFT, militant Virginia liberal.
MrS RooSnvelt'S c1oSe friend Con.