Milford chronicle., 1942-07-10

Those who take the time to read
this column will remember that q
few months ago this writer pre-
dicted that the Germans, although
sorely tried by the winter cam
paign in Russia, would with the
coming of July, make another bid
for the Caucausian oil fields. We
further predicted that this drive
would be synchronized with a
desert onslaught. The drive in the
desert began a few days before the
Russian drive, and up until July 8
was eminently successful. At pres
ent the Allies apparently have the
upper hand, but the cagey Rommel,
while he has one division of tanks
left, is a dangerous man, and has
proven without fear Of successful
contradiction, that neither masses
of men or material can take the
place of capable personal leader
ship, such as he evidently possess
es in such an amazing quantity. In
Russia, Butcher" Book continues
to hurl living walls Of flesh against
the SoYiets, carrying position after
position regardless of the loss. 1t
is amazing to this writer that the
German high command continues
in; active command this wretch,
who seems to delight in seeing
thousands Of his own countrymen
slaughtered. Book has always been
a sadist, and on several occasions
incurred the wrath of Hitler for his
caEsless use of men. There is a
story to the effect that Book eau
tions his generals and other Off
GERS to use the machines of de-
struction with care, as they are
irreplacable, while man power, be-
ing mass produced by Germany's
womanhood, should be expended
freely to make room for the next
generation of heroes.
feLs/
A headline in one of the metro
politan newspapers screams the
fact that the Allies are considering
the seizure Of the Yichy feet in
Egypt, to prevent its fall to Rom
mel, should the Nazi marshal sue
, coed in winning through, to the
great British naval base at AIexan-
dria. A sub-heading gently mur-
mgrs that Laval is reported reject
ing the proposal that the warships
be removed to a U. S. port. Since
s;Scummy" Laval succeeded the
aged -Petain to power in Vichy this
writer has begged the State De-
partment to clean up Martinique,
and seize or smash the rest of the
French fleet. We maintained then
and we have had no reason, to feel
differently, that Vichy is merely
waiting for the most opportune
time to use the remainder OF the
feet to aid Hitler. am not say
ing that the French sailors would
eountenance such action, but i do
say that the French officers have
sworn allegiance to Vichy, and 1t is
no secret that thousands of Ger
man sailors and marines are in
Italy undoubtedly waiting for the
ferry to take them over to man
these ships. included in which are
a battleship, three modern cruis-
ers, a squadron of destroyers and
numerous submarines. This is no
time to argue with rats like Laval,
the entire future of the democratic
world is at stake, and these vessels
in the hands of the United Nations
might spell the difference between
success and failure. In the pos
session of the Axis, they will be
used to send more Allied shipping
to the bottom with the resultant
loss of precious lives and ma
terial.
z /e/e/ r
A long Sundays rest in bed at
home-if you can get it's just as
good as a weeks rest in a strange
bed in a strange town a thousand
miles from home. Who can get it,
pR/
Nobody ever accomplished any
thing who was half-hearted, and
that's why 1t was so heartening
when this nation threw its full
might, without a single reservation,
into this war. The rubber drive, SO
far, has only been three-quarters
heated!
Ns sIsle/
Our friend, Bill Feather, writes
the following to give us something
to think about: ...-,
Inevitably new sources will be
found in this hemisphere for ma
terials. heretofore secured in the
Far East. This applies to tin, rub
ber, tung oil and many other raw
materials.
Very probably production of Bo-
livian tin, Brazilian rubber and
Florida tung oil will reach respect
able proportions about the time
that the war ends. and supplies
from the East Indies, Malaysia and
China are released. ..
Then will come the dilemma be-
tween sticking to new friends or
returning to former buying habits
"a problem for postwar states
manship."
It"ts