The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-07-16
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Washington, ID. C.
BEHIND Raj RAIDS

raids on Bremen, Cologne, Essen,
have been accomplished in part
through the farsightedness of Ed
Stettinius Jr., who, long ago saw the
Importance of high octane gas and
demanded that the administration
start large scale production.
Stettinius has taken it on the chin
regarding the slowness of aluminium
production and has admitted he was
wrong. (Real reason for the tragic
error was his reliance on Aluminium
Corporation of America figures).
But on two other vital commodities
he was way out in front.
One of these was rubber. Stetti-
MUS was the first to see the need of
building synthetic rubber factories
to prepare for the fall of Singapore
and began DINING on Jesse Jones
for nearly a year before he could
get Jesse to move.
The other commodity was high oc-
tame gasoline, without which the cur
rent bombing raids could not take
place. One bomber takes about
1000 gallons of gasoline to fly from
England to Germany and back, SO
with 1000 bombers staging a raid,
100000 gallons of fuel is used up
in one night.
u. S. PRISONERS IN BATAAN
x-Undersecretary of the Interior
Jack Dempsey has taken up with
the American Red Cross the prob
lem of getting a Red Cross repre-
sentative in Manila to look out for
U. S. prisoners from Bataan and
Corregidor.
So far, the Japs have not permit
ted a Swiss Red Cross representa-
tive in Manila, though they have adj
mitted Swiss representatives to
Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
No excuse has been given by the
Japs for not permitting a Swiss
representative in Manila, but U. S.
officials presume it is because they
don't want anyone. from the outside
world to see what is going on there.
Meanwhile, however, the treat
ment of U. S. prisoners in Japan
and China is reported to be good.
The Swiss representatives make
regular reports, state that Ameri-
can prisoners have no complaints,
that sheets on the beds are changed
frequently, and that married men
are allowed to go to see their wives
every weekend.
ROYAL PRESS CONFERENCE
At King Peters conference with
the press, the Jugoslav monarch
was completely poised, though adj
hitting the camera men faxed him
a bit. With characteristic zeal they
monopolized the proceedings with
popping fiash-bulbs.
A reporter asked Peter what his
outstanding impressions were of the
u. S.
"One that stands out is your
friendliness," he answered prompt
ly. Everywhere have gone have
noticed that"
docs that include photogra-
phers?"
"Wen, they are persistent, aren't
they? I wouldn't mind if they didn't
keep shooting off things in my face. "
TANKER-SAVING PIPELINE
American automobile owners don't
know it, but indirectly they had the
British to thank for the final deci-
sion to build new pipeline from the
South to the Middle West.
Secretary Ickes had been urging
construction of this pipeline for
more than a year-always being
rebuffed by the War Production
board.
Part of Ickes' argument was that
it was foolish to waste American
tankers by having them carry oil
all the way to England from the
Gulf of Mexico. If, on the other
hand, tankers could load oil and
gasoline at Middle Atlantic port,
they could save 1000 miles OF
travel and reduce the exposure to
submarine attack. Tankers are get.
ting scarce these days, and the
shorter the distance they have to
steam, the more trips they car
make.
Ickes put forth this argument EN-.
phatically at the last hearing before
the War Production board, but was
rebutted by Lieut.. Gen. Brehon Som
ervell, head of the army's service o.
supplies. Somerven pooh-poohed the
idea that England was hard up fol
oil or gasoline, said he had just re
turned from there, and that Ickes
argument was pure poppycock.
Ickes made no immediate reply
but cabled the British government
The British were boiling mad, anc
the reply he received clinched the
matter. The War Production boarc
decided Somerven didn't know much
about British oil supplies. The pipe
line was ordered built.
MERRY-GO-ROUND
q Capitol insiders are betting tina
before the tax bill finally emerge
from congress it will contain SOM
kind of provision for compulsor.
war savings as an anti-infiatiol
measure. Secretary Morgenthau ha
been opposed to this, but recent.
seems willing to shift his view.
q Former OPM boss William Knud
sen, in his new role as lieutenant
general in the army, has inspecte
285 war plants and in many of then
he has recommended changes whic
have increased production.
CAPITAL CHAFF