The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-17
Jap Chiefs
Eye Fort
Knox
NV YORK

A. 4Sn N0lA
NEW YoRk Economists
who have probed Nipponese
secrets have discovered that
which points 10 a startling role
for a defeated United States in
Tokyo's blueprint for self
sufficient empire. We are Ia he
forced To pay an indemnit, with
all the gold now stored In Fort
Knox.
fmhued with the Hidevoshi
tradition, Japanese expansion
lists. from Baron Tanaka down TO
Admiral Too. have set goals for
resources and have methodieally
plotted the manner in which
they shall be seized.
Some dreams already have
come true: First. railroads 10
old Manchuria to exploit timber.
coal, iron. wool. and food. and
next invasiaon Of Malaga. the
East Indies and the Philippines
to secure tin. oil. rubber. hemp.
copra. sugar, chromite, manga
nese. spices and other natural
bounties. And then Australia
for wool, cattle and grain.
Finally. gold for foreign trade
And tn place silver nations of the
Orient on n precious metal basis.
Already rich mines have been
captured in Luzon.
But the big stake - the great
est pile in the world - Is the
bullion in our kentuek strong
box. San Franchises earthquake
proof safe. minis and assay Of
fees. Our assets are twenty
three billion dollars of the
withdrawing mineral. most Of
which is at Knox and. although
exact statistics are censored,
federal reports list over nine
billion dollars added last year
To the fort treasure. Tokyo's
own reserve Is one hundred and
sixty-four million dollars.
An invaded Pacific Coast. with
men. women. and children held
as hostages, would be key
which might open even our close
ly locked vaults.
Washington's inability to CO.
ordinate its efforts has prevent
ed the use OF available factories
on a round-the-clock schedule,
according to New York business
men acquainted with the prob
lem.
The aircraft situation Is typi-
cal. Ample aluminium for the
moment exists for fuselages,
but planes bodies are piling up
In eastern and western work.
shops for lack of engines.
One division of General Mo-
tors now is in the process of
ripping out its old machinery.
Production in some eight of ten
Of its units will not be in full
swing until December and then
must face famine of skilled
workers. In a Midwestern air
craft center several thousand
machine guns are accommodating
because elsewhere planes are
awaiting motors. The company
figures that soon IL will over
flow its protective storage space.
Another headache is one east
ern plant. which is trying TO
supply the war birds for Of
fensive campaigning, is that Ger
tain wing panels sent by sub
contractors failed to measure up
10 tests. Construction In SOM
cases was so faulty that much Of
the shipment was returned.
A different firm representing
poorly finished materials was
obliged to organize an indie
pendent staff of 200 mechanics
to rework the farmed-out goods.
Four times as many girls
worked in munitions factories
during the first World war as
now are In our arsenals. Only
half a million of the five mil
lion assembly line soldiers are
women.
Official estimates forecast
fifteen million toiiers before the
end Of the year. II the ratios
of the former conflict prevail.
there will be three million five
hundred thousand feminine en-
ployes.
Russian amazons la Dor In flelds,
plants. serve as Interpreters for
the army and even have taken
over production in the Caucasian
oil centers In Chungking Ma
dame Chao. Generslissimo Chi
ang's number one recruiting Of
ficer. has enlisted $4,000 sol
diers in an all-weman division
The less husky Ming Hoys
serve on farms. in factories and
hospitals. or care for China
endless stream Of orphans.
British young ladies replace
men as oarsmen in the lifesasing
service, ferry airplanes, man
antiaircraff guns. operate buses
and trolley cars, and serve
aboard troopships and merchant
marine vessels.
Perhaps the most unique en-
ployment Is that Of frauielns
from the Reich. VINO broadcast
over the BIC. in German tell
ing their compstriots how 70 an
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