The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-08-21

have to rely largely upon more or
less unreliable rumors, or are
smuggled out from Germany over
run territory. Nevertheless the
Nazis themselves leak. doubtless
unintentionally, bit Of informa-
ton that sounds rather conhrma-
tory Of the gossip referred to.
One item, vouched for by Berlin,
as a warning, is TO the effect that
death is decreed in advance as a
penalty for the slightest help given
to Axis army deserters, All border
stations and ports, it's stated, are
searched infinitely. Now, II deser-
ton progresses at such a rate as TO
require these drastic precautions,
isn't II a fair conclusion that there
must be quite a lot Of it? The cpl
denies described as particularly
prevalent in East Prussia. That's
lust where II might have been
looked for. It's tolerably conven-
lent area TO escape from, out OF
Germany. Furthermore, the East
Prussians aren't overly enthusiast
tic Germans. Their regions name
perhaps implies that they ought to
be. but they include large Slav in
fusion. They were decidedly clam
my toward the kaiser in the last
war.
Narcotics Climbing
Then there's the whole Reichs
civilian morale. Is that going
Gooey?
1t isn't very favorable symp-
tom if folk are taking TO narcotics,
rs represented the other day in an
article in Zurich medical publica-
ton. The author, an expert on the
subject, surmises that desire for re-
lief from the worry Of air raids Is
responsible for what he calls the
"unbearable increase In drug ad-
diction.
However. another explanations
offered.
II may be remembered that, some
weeks ago, the Berlin government,
as a rationing measure, cut down
on drinks, especially beer, almost
to zero. II occurred TO me right
then, and l mentioned it, that /
didn't believe the average German
would survive long with his beer
abolished. The theory is that he's
taking 10 opium and morphine as
substitutes.
The story's current that Adolf
has pledged himself to Dictator
Franco Of Spain for a grab Of Por-
tugal by the latter. II it's true, it
can't but imply that the Fuehrers
making bid for another ally, and
the best guess Is that he wouldn't
make the offer unless he needed TO.
Franco, as matter Of fact, is
said to be modelling his forces ap-
parently for some sort Of an expe-
dition.
And it's official that the Portu-
guese are doing as much military
and naval concentrating as their
diminutive resources are capable OF.
Nobody questions that a unified
Spain could lick Portugal in short
order. Spain isn't unified, though.
Dictator Franco had a hard civil
war TO fight TO establish himself
and the betting is that the beaten
element will rebel against him at
the first opportunity
Brazil Would Help
Incidentally, there's a Western
hemispherical angle to the Spanish
Portuguese situation. Brazil, sneak
ing generally. is as Portuguese as
its parent land. Their relationships
comparable to that Of a feeble. cid
erly mother and a young and pref
ty husky daughter. l fancy that the
Brazilians wouldn't stand BY tame
ly with Dictator Franco trying to
assimilate the old lady.
Just how the Spanish part OF
Latin America would react TO that
kind OF friction is a problem to
puzzle any internationalist
Getting back strictly TO Ger
many
Herr Goebbels' yowls to his