The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-21

economic Commando expeditions slipped into Washington early in october, and after series of check-ups with State Department, office of the Co-ordinator of Inter- American Affairs, Rubber Reserve Corporation and other government outfits of that kind, he slipped right out of Washington again and went back to the Amazon without ever making & headline.
 This general In question is a twinkling- ruddy-faced little dynamo named Douglas Allen. He worked in Secretary of War Newton D. Bakers ofilce in the last war, but for the past IS years he has been doing business in the Amazon country and so. when this cam paign was launched, he was nat ural selection to head up the op- erations end.
 He has a slight limp and walks with a cane, but aside from that he is an inconspicuous figure and he likes to work in an inconspicuouS manner, quietly and behind the scenes. Not that he doesn't get around. He has league boots for that and he covers this vast Amazon valley-an area bigger than the whole United States with amazing facility, negotiating treaties and deals, working with the South American governments and busi- ness men to organize & rubber bank, reorganizing river transpor- tation, arranging for the migration of 100000 or more workers and their families, starting airlines, ad- vancing colonization. SEEKS NO MEDALS
 For all this work. Douglas Allen does not deserve the full credit, and he doesn't want it. Unlike a good many generals, he doesn't want any medals pinned on his chest for doing obvious jobs. Allen doesn't give interviews In South America or North America either. He wants no credit.
 It was only last April that the President signed an executive order giving the Board of Economic War fare responsibility for acquiring stockpiles of critical materials and giving BEW authority to issue di- rectives. It was mid-May before an organization could be set up. Rub- Der Reserve already had Allen on the job in Brazil.
 In Brazil, a $2.5 million rubber bank has been organized, the Bra zilians furnishing SO per cent of the capital.
 MASS MIGRATION
 The entire Amazon river trans- portation system had to be reor- ganized. In the United States, two big coastwise steamers were pur- chased and reconditioned for serv- ice between Balem and Manaos.
 As ocean vessels can come up the river as far as Belden, here was complete new water transport sys- tenn.
 The Brazilian governmen t planned mass migration of some l5O,OO0 of its inhabitants. Before this migration can be completed arrangements must be made to house these workers and to feed them in the jungles. Half million dollars worth of food was bought one item was 100 tons of beans and arrangements made to supply them at fixed, reasonable prices with everything they'll need from shotguns to machetes, outboard mo- tors, fsh-hooks, vitamins and qui- nine by the hundred pounds.
 Perhaps the final touch in all this fantastic program is the organiza- ton of airlines to supplement the water transportation. In two days, Washington approval was given for & $5 million contract with Pan American Airlines to operate a rubber express air route from Mi ami to Manaos. Sikorsky SAP fly ing boats will maintain daily 19- hour schedule on this hop. From the Amazon rubber capital of Manaos, 1000 miles up the Amazon, South American airlines will relay these shipments to remote jungle camps, above water falls which river boats cannot navigate. And on the return trips they'll bring out this precious rubber.