The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-05

Poor Rail Connections
Menace TO Hitler
United Nations Ahead
On AirpIsne Building
U. S. Assembly Lines
Produce Most
Framing New 0eal-0OP
Alliance in House
By RAY TUCKER

railroad map Of middle Europe,
particularly the transportation
systems Of France and Germany.
demonstrates the wisdom of the
Roosevelt Churchill decision to
choose North Africa as the spring.
board for an eventual offensive
against the Hitler-eontrolled con-
tinent.
Historical enmity impelled Paris
and Berlin to construct their in
ternal lines in an east-west direc-
ton. The same considerations
governed when they built canals,
military highways and feeders.
Since 1870 both nations have laid
tracks with the fear of future war
rather than the thought OF free
exchange Of goods dominating
their blueprints and influencing
their foreign offices. AS q result
Of this martial versus engineer
ing complex, there is only one
worthwhile French line running
from north TO south; namely. the
Paris-Marseilles route.
The lack Of links between In
dustrial France and Germany and
the soft side" Of vichy's erst-
while provinces makes it extreme
ly difficult for Der Fuehrer to
prepare against an Allied attack
from this area. He cannot rush
supplies and troops there in vol
ume and he cannot maneuver
quickly to meet shifty United
Nations onslaught. That single
ribbon of steel will undoubtedly
become the main target of Anglo
American bombers when the Axis
forces in Tunisia have been Dun
kirked.
Confidential figures on United
Nations against Axis output of
planes underlie our leaders pri-
vate beliefs that it won't be long
now. 1t is generally recognized
here that Roosevelt Churchill
warnings against overconfidence
and expectations of a quick VIC
tory are designed to prevent a
letdown in the factories, in the
homes and on the battlefield.
With aerial superiority becom-
ing the principal factor in the
struggle, there is no gainsaying
the following authentic data:
The United States manufacture
ed more than five thousand bomb
ers, pursuits and trainers last
month. We have three new for
midable models coming into large
scale production, but only one
type. the Mustang. has been identi-
fled. England rolled out twenty
eight hundred, Russia twenty
three hundred, while Canada and
Australia kicked through with q
combined total of almost a thou
sand. That makes total of more
than eleven thousand.
Hitler's capacity slumped from
twenty-three hundred in June to
only twelve hundred in September
because of obsolescence and the
need for retooling. 1t is believed
here that the monthly turnout Of
Germany and Italy does not ex-
coed three thousand, possibly less,
and that Japan is lucky to place
a thousand new machines in the
air every thirty days.
Anglo-American experts dis
count predictions that Der Fuehr-
er will be liquidated through in
ternal and external troubles by
next spring or summer. although
bets on that basis are being free
ly made in high quarters. The
latest date for the big windup of
European and Oriental affairs is
May 1914.
An unofficial, bipartisan cola
ton in the House has framed a
acknowledgements scheme to force
the Democratic management to
permit a large Republican repre-
sentation on key committees.
Minority Leader Joseph w.
Martin (R.) has not yet convinced
Speaker Sam Rayburn CD that
his demands should be granted. In
view Of the increased enrolment
on his side of the aisle. Joe"
insists that units consisting of
twenty-five members should have
thirteen Rayburnites to twelve
lG.O.P.-ers, whereas the existing
ratio spproximates fifteen to ten.
The Texan believes that his Bay
State colleague is altogether too
grasping.
But Mr.. Martins crowd has
strong majority support for its
program, and anti-New Deal
Southerners plan 10 do something
about IL. Unless the speaker
yields, the alliance will vote down
vital bills reported to the chamber
by the leadership through the
Rules committee. II figures that
few singing defeats of this sort
viii obtain its objective.
Note: Underlying motive Of the
proposed parliamentary filibuster
is 10 lodge control Of the lower
body in the hands of the couserya-