Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-12
Drivers Face
Tire Scarcity
Till Mid '43
Killers Situation Morse
Than Ours Though
By PAUL MALION

There Is nothing phony
abou, the rubber shortage tcN-
cept the black dealing in second
hand tres.
Frankly we have about 500
600 tons of rubber available
Used normally IL would last a
year Counting tire stocks II
might last TWO years. But the
army and navy alone would use
n IN that time A plane cannot
get off the ground without a
rubber tire
BY the first of the year we
will bo producing at the rate of
$50 600 tons of synthetic rubber
a year In sin months more. we
viii be getting 100000 10 400
600 tons a year Thus, our crisis
is likely 10 last until mid l943.
Commerce Secretary Jones has
put out conflicting figures, but
the above represent a more accu-
rate concenSuS)
Within so days, therefore, you
are likely 10 see extreme changes
In the most vital element of
civilian life. II is possible long
distance buses may be stopped
eventually and delivery trucks
withdrawn, 10 haul defense
workers TO and from work
No civilian will be immune
from the early effects. In this
phase. first and forcefully, Is
war likely TO impose itself upon
the average man. Here. the first
belt-tightening will be required.
uITLER'S situation on rubber
III must be desperate. II has
been learned here he recently
took risks out Of all proportion
TO get meager 10000 tons of
crude rubber Without some
crude, his synthetic material
wears rapidly
He has not received single
known ounce of rubber since the
war began, except such as he
was able 10 seize in conquered
countries. and he found not even
second hand tires in Russia
incidentally also. do not ex-
pect too much from Brazil. That
nations leaders want 10 develop
some plantations and may get
some money TO try il. but ac-
copied estimates suggest no i'm
posing amount could be fur
niShed.
Greater store is placed in the
domestic tree planting now be-
ing authorized by Congress for
the agricultural department.
Some think we will be produc-
ing more than we need from this
source after l945,
CERTAIN cities have been
" seeking quietly to get out of
their own civilian defense mess
by employing retired army Off
GERS former corps area COM
manders) with a sense of mill
tary organization and discipline.
They have seen political hang
erS-on and third assistant street
lighters appointed to positions
where experienced leadership is
required This seems TO be
local counterpart of the choice
of friends Of Washington Off
Gals 10 the national headquar-
terS.
But, 10 all such suggestions,
the war department has shaken
its head negatively. No reason
has been offered. but il is
fairly well-recognized inside fact
that the White House killed the
House effort TO transfer all OCD
TO the army. No doubt, the boss
al the top also caused the war
department TO steer clear of
even indirect involvement.
There is an ancient liberal
principle that the military should
be divorced from the civilian to
keep the army out OF politics.
and thus to avoid the danger Of
revolutions which have corrupted
some other demoCracleS.
SO II appears TO have been
definitely determined that OCD
must middle along, politically
and socially, rather than with
military precision
nNE Of the original New Deal
~ brain truSterS. James
Lands, has taken hold of OCD
with stronger hand than
Mayor LaGuardia exhibited. La
Guardla delegated much author
lty Lands Is exercising IT per
Sonally TO such an extent that
congressman are hearing inner
screams.
Yet the government depart
mentS are only now getting
around 10 employc defense.
Stcamlng congressional Criti-
CiSm dramatized in the employ
mcnt Of the movie actor and
dancerl Is no doubt warming
OCD 10 more strenuous action.
cities may soon resume black
out tests and hold them once a
week although much depends
ON getting siren eulpment
MAN point of the disaster 10
A'i tho Normandle was lost in
most accounts II was 10 be
U-Ir best troop transport The
authorities have successfully
proved there was no sabotage.
hut In doing so they confessed
negligence comparable 10 that
90 Pearl EarbOr