The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-17


 These give the key to the Rus sians' rapid retreats and the possible effect on dhe U. s. A.
 FIRST in the battle of KharkoV where Marshal Tlmoshenko took the offensive last spring to head off a Nazi offensive, it now de- velops that Russian losses were serious especially in tanks and airplancg. The gamble was worth taking, because If 1t had succeeded wedge would have been driven between the German armies. How ever, 1t failed. and the Russians have been feeling the loss of tanks and material ever since.
 SECOND, 1t now develops that there were heavier losses of ma terials than generally realized during the fighting last winter. when the Russians were trying to re-cstablish their lines.
 THIRD, it ig now no secret that losses of U. $. supplies sent around Norway to Russia have been seri- ous indeed. An American seaman on one of these ships recently re- vcalcd that his ship was attacked every day of the voyage except on Hitlcrg birthday. Added to this, the port of Murmansk has now been bombed 10 a ghamblcs.
 So, the key tO Russian re. treats k lack of tanks, planes, artillery. AIaO, with the long hours of daylight, obviously it
 will be increasingly difficult, If not impossible to get large con v0ys through to Russia.
 Naturally this leads 10 only one conclusion: If heavy shipments cannot be sent direct to Russia, the next best strategy is to use those supplies in the hands Of U. S.-Britlsh troops over shorter, safer sea route namely, for second front. And since the Itus- slams long have wanted a second front, 1t Is not surprising that they want it more than ever to- day. Such il front may be the only way 10 prevent Hitler from taking the Caucasus and most of Russia.
 This is the biggest, most Im- mediate and crucial problem the President and his military chiefs now have to face.
 COMPLICATED RUBBER
 WPBoSs Donald Nelson got a sharp going over from the Senate Appropriations Committee when he testified regarding his annual budget requirements, especially on synthetic rubber and failure to make use of the quickest rubber processes. Nelson tried to ex- plain that synthetic rubber was complicated business.
 You're supposed to be com pIicatcd enough Co deal with complicated problems" snapped Senator McKelIar of Tennessee.
 NOTE; Nelson expressed doubt about the wisdom of developing sponge iron. was told thnt 1t was necessary to take chances in war time in order to win battles. CONGRESSIONAL PATRIOTS"
 One. reaeon millions of young Americans are serving in the arfhcd forces is to protect our democratic right to vote. Yet, t is an ironical fact that a great many men in the Army frd Ne"a will themselves be denied the right to vote this year because oI l.ls obstructive antics Of A group of politics as- usual-bOys on Capitol Hill.
 A bloc of poll state con gresSmen. led by noisy Gene Cox of Georgia, 50 far has been able tO prevent action OFT bill, sponsored by Hep. Robert l.. Ramsey Of West Virginia, which would make bt possible for Serv- Ice meD tO vote. This bloc puts the polI-tax by which a part of the south in effect is disfran- chIsed, ahead of votes for service men.
 Rarnaay's bill would waive regis tration requirements for soldiers. sailors and marines and hold special "abeentec" elections in camps and naval bases 2i days