Nogales international., 1942-07-24
We Mince No Words

It seems to us that this is no time to be mncing
words about the most critical situation that faces the
people of North America with regard to the war.
The submarine menace the East and Gull
coasts is not abated. The German campaign against
our coasts began in desultory fashion, increased to
two day and of late has grown until it is not unusual
for four cargo boats or tankerS to be SUNK
Not onlv has the menace not abated, it has in
creased The methods taken to combat the submarines
are not adequate. The threat has increased dlspro-
po1tionately Ultimately if the situation is not met
an acute condition will develop and it is conceivable
that Americas war effort would slow down to
trickle
There is no reason to believe that although the
condition is discreditable, the Navy has not made
accurate reports Of sinkings on the Gulf and East
coasts and in the Caribbean. No one pretends that
similarly accurate reports have been made OF snkmgs
in other areas The latter information would be
valuable to the enemy. Convoy losses particularly
would be information of incaculable value The Navy
is to be commended for withholding the latter IN the
same way as it is to be commended for having MADE
public the information of sinkings in American
waters.
It is to be presumed that the Navy is doing all it
can to meet and surmount the menace, but what the
Navv has done has not been enough DeSultOry sink
ings increased to an average OF one day; from one
to two; and now to four. 1t requires no mathemah-
clan or scientist to note this trend Nor does 1t re-
quire military strategist to know that we can not
win war with such an atritiOn Of friendly shipping
What is to be done!
We do not know we civilians. All we know is
that measures adequate to meet the menace nave not
been taken. We hear that the services OF the Army
with its bombers Of great range and accuracy are not
being employed by the Navy. We have the somewhat
well grounded suspicion that the old devastating
jealousy between the two services has prevented the
necessary cooperation. We do not especially care
who may be at fault We do not believe the Navy
would knowingly permit the loss of the war because
of it's siff-necked belief that eventually it alone
would have the credit for the smashing victory that
must come if not to lose the war on this front
We respect the Navy but this respect will deteorate
rapidly if it does not avail itself of all the services
that can be placed at the command Of the country III
this ever more desperate battle.
The forces that have prevented congressional
investigation of this situation must be formidable,
more formidable than we know. For although the
people know that the is being lost on that 'front.'
occasional threats of such investigation such as
Senator Brewster recently made have been promptly
and effectively squelched and we mean equelched'
no other would effectively describe the process
Public opinion the court of the last resort, must
be brought to bear the critical situation the Navys
policy has produced. Public opinion, the strongest
force against which vested interest, no stiff
pecked false, though perhaps pardonable pride, can
prevail eventually will have it's way. If pride pre-
vents the Navy from accepting the Army service, the
Navy must realize that eventually it will be humbled
if it does not react logically and promptly. While
vet there is time to prevent undue humiliation OF this
great honorable and worthy military arm, some
force-and this exists-should force a revision OF
policy such policy as will meet the menace, regard
less of who gets the credit or whatever reaction
otherwise might be produced
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