The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-10
Listening Post
Beers Land
Revolt Job
For Army
Monnsd by
ALBERT ~. ltAAN

NEW YORK - News from
South Africa has been muzzled
by censorship hence It Will star
tie most people to know that
dissatisfied groups in the land Of
the Beers have rsvolted and only
svift military action put down
the outbreak.
Shops. factories homes and
10 power lines from Victoria
Falls to the mining district were
smashed in explosions set BY
saboteurs. Numerous Rand po-
hcemen were arrested and bombs
were found in their homes.
They gave testimony duplicating
several hundred other civilian
plotters who formed . we'll
organized movement with hidden
stores of dynamite.
Subversive activities have been
seething throughout the area.
Telephone and telegraph wires
were cut in the Transyaal.
Prime Minister General SHUTS
held parliament loyal to Britain,
but a recent motion by DR.. Ma
Ian, calling for secession and the
establishment of an indepedent
republic. WAS defeated by 90 to
IS an especially high protest
vote.
The causes Of unrest are: The
feeling against sending troops TO
a European or Asiastic battle
field. pride in the gallantry
Of their Springboks in Ethiopia
and somaliland, is one OF the
factors still holding the shaky
empire together) The public Is
critical because the unions
forces are not led by their own
generals. White flour 10 nom
existent. although cooked cereal
of larger cargo bulk still is be-
ing shipped. Dependents OF
Negro and Indian soldiers serv-
ing in the north are compelled
through red tape to stand in line
for hours after long journeys 10
get their subsistence money.
Farmers win require at least
half a million more hands than
they did in 1929, the peak year
of our food production, but
there are several complications
not readily appreciated.
Asa rule. the rural districts
do not welcome the idea of col
lege boys and city folks, either
men or women, who do not
know beet from burdock.
During the height Of the spring
planting season there will he
little time to instruct these
greenhorns.
The agriculturslists plan 10
work themselves and their fami-
lies longer hours, to arrange for
the exchange of experienced la
Dor, and to pool machinery.
Tractors are being equipped with
headlights for night blowing.
Already many schools are run
ming six days weekly, in sntici-
patton Of closing from four to
six weeks earlier TO allow high
school students TO help in the
fields. One community has can
vassed nearby towns among
doctors clerks. merchants and
other trades, to get recruits for
the harvest.
In city near the berry
patches housewives are being
listed for picking during the sea
son. Some country districts are
trying to arrange with urban
garages to take over mechanics
who will be laid off because OF
the curtailment Of passenger
cars. and use them to keep farm
machinery in repair, for many OF
the soldiers now driving the
teeps and tanks were the boys
who kept the harvesters ana
harrows fit to travel the fur
rows.
The devastating attacks made
BY daring Dutch and American
warships on japanese trans
ports around Java have doomed
80 prominently in the news that
other problems of the navy in
these critical zones have been
overshs bowed.
Our sailors must contend with
navigation hazards and tickle
monsoon weather, as well as
with the enemy, explain New
York captains familiar with the
region. In the defense Of the
few remaining islands Of the
Netherlands East Indies and
Australia nature for once is on
our side. Treacherous coral bar
riers - often poorly charied -
shelter the Antipodes from far
range bsttleship action.
Our submarines can operate
off Port Darwin because the
area is shallow. Further 10 the
north. however the Jap U-bosts
would be less successful sspe-
eislly near Guam, where the
Nero deep is over SIX miles down
the greatest known depth in
the world. The diving limit Of