The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1942-07-09
Newsgrams
From V-rited States News)

on how to take advantage Oh
any war opportunities.
It's not an inspiring scene, not one
to lend confidence.
Farm leaders are putting on
squeeze; are demanding new sub
sides. new price guarantees, new
opportunities for profit at the ex-
pense of other groups. -.
LABOR leaders are demanding DIS
new wage increases; are resisting
n limit on wages, any taxes OF
controls that would restrict laoorS
chance for a killing.
Taxpayer groups are fighting FOL
special privileges; are trying to 1lg-
IRE new ways for the other fellow
to paw the tax; are baking at loop
hole closing.
Politicians are catering to the gal
leries; are catering to auto users, 10
farmers, to workers, to housewives;
are showing a theoretical interest 1
needed war controls, in price con-
troll and rationing.
To be nor specific -.
In taxes: House voted taxes that
will Weld under $40, 900 ,000, 900 900 to
paw s73. O0O, O00, 900 900 in war bills for
the year started July 1. That's a
dangerous kind of situation. 1t Is
barely % percent revenue cover. yet:
Nobody worries.
In rationing: Idea seems to be
to dodge problems. Public is
burning up rubber that is ire
pIaceabIe and vital to war. And:
Nobody dares interfere.
In price control: The theory is &C
cepted. But White House balks at
wage control, farmers balk at farm
ceilings. congress balkS at enforce
ment. So: The price ceilings begin
to be punctured 80 days after their
establishment.
In subsidies: Farmers Cor some
pressure groups) aren't satisfied with
the highest purchasing power in his
tory. So Congress acts to boost loan
values, to block effective controls.
In wages: Wal labor board orders
increase for anybody who asks. And
it is set to touch off a whole new
wage raise spiral by a raise in steel
wages.
Big prevailing ideas seem to be
two: ~ That the war can be
suspended till after election; ~
that the war is a good thing for
everybody except those who are
unIucky enough to be drafted to
do the fighting at $50 a month.
But there are signs of rude shocks
ahead.
Huge numbers of Americans are
moving toward the fighting areas,
II of these days are going into
action. Big losses inevitably are
ahead.
VERY large numbers of Americans
are beginning to be drafted. Monthly
quotas are being stepped up; are at
levels that will cut deeply into fam
lilies.
There can be a violent reversal
of sentiment when the fighting
starts. And fighting may start in a
a big way before November.
In a time of fighting and losses,
selfishness may not pay the political
dividends expected of it. There may
be a kickback.
Something more to keep in
mind. winston Churchill says OF
Britain had loo, 1000 men against
$4,000 Germans, 10000 Italians.
The British had 7-to-5 superiority
in tanks. 8-to-5 in artillery.
Britain had air superiority, Short
err communication lines, more re-
serves.
Yet: The British were routed, were
chased 800 miles in IL days, lost
OOOO men, most of their tanks,
much equipment. 1t was Malaga all
over again, only worse.
The meaning? Simply this:
L. 5. is inheriting this war, out
side Russia. This country is
getting the job of handling
Hitler, as well as Japan.
There's nothing to be gained by
covering up, by giving a false pic
ture. -
been saying 80. British leadership
is in1bued with a defense psychol-
ogy: is thinking in terms OF how to
hold on, not in terms of how to win
a war by offensive action.
British soldiers are brave and good
fighters. But: They don't take ma
to mechanical equipment.
THEY'VE had trouble handling u.
tanks and big bombers.
British army is still pretty much
a caste affair, except for the air
force. There were signs in Malaga,
in Burma. in Egypt that men didn't
have confidence in leadership; that
constant defeats are having their
All this is important because:
Time is fast approaching when
an effort must be made to in
wade Europe, decision is in the
making as to leadership of land
forces, there's a chance this
Ieadship might go to a British
officer and, if so, Americans
will want to make sure that any
choice is the best.