Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-06
Sub Sinkings
Reveal Naval,
Air Shortages
Seoboard Is Sacrificed
to Save Conveys
BY PAUL MALLON

along our Atlantic Coast are at
tribuied by some naval authori-
ties mot officials 10 shortage
of ships, and, presumably. also
patrol planes.
Our more important line OF
communications is across the
North Atlantic 10 Russia just
now, and TO Britain. where food
is far from plentiful.
As Hitler we'll knows. every
tank or plane we can get to the
front Red line before spring will
count most heavily in the deter
mination of this war. Hitler IS
attacking that line, but not with
the conspicuous public success
he has encountered in easier (for
HIM Coastwise waters.
Repeated individual ship dis
asters, day after day. are bad
news for us. but what would be
far worse would be news that
Hitler had been successful in
causing our navy to withdraw
fighting ships and planes from
the northern supply route to de-
fend our coastal shipping.
All naval men here are follow
ing the line of Admiral King.
saying they are doing the best
they can with what they have,
and that seems to be the case.
NEW JERSEY shore residents
~ are always surprised TO see
survivors from ship sinkings
brought ashore by fishermen
and not by the coast guard or
navy. Sometimes, they say,
they wonder if a patrol is out
there.
Fact is, the coast guard and
naval patrols dare not leave
their positions, always secure
the assistance of fishermen to
land survivors.
COME business men are look
~ ing askance at Mr.. Nelson's
new idea of creating 'oint labor
management committees to con-
slider means of increasing pro-
duction. 1t sounds 10 them
family like Phil Murray's scheme
TO which the last Go conven-
ton pledged its annual con-
tinuouS endeavors-a voice in
management for labor.
Certain it is the Nelson people
do not want that. Labor has
wisely fought encroachment by
management upon its side of the
fence. 1t. does not let manage
ment sit in with the union. There
is even a law against it. Man
agement would naturally re-
gard the invasion of its field by
labor with similar horror.
Adherence TO the Nelson plan
may go slowly until all man.
ayers are clear that the WPB
plan is only what Nelson says
II is. temporary cooperative
measure 10 boost production and
not TO enable labor TO edge to-
ward the business of directing
company policy.
FORTHCOMING Jap attacks
upon Alaska, the Panama
Canal, the West Coast and
Hawaii are constantly being pre-
dicted-the last time in the jap
spy data published by the Dies
committee.
1t is said the Alaska attack
is waiting for spring weather.
But the weather will not be a
controlling military factor. Fogs
interfere along the coast more
AT some season than at others.
but seldom TO a negative eX-
tent.
An attack from Carricr-based
planes could come any time. In
vasion would require the Japs
10 bring up their fleet and pro-
vide a great naval fight first.
The same considerations hold
true Of Hawaii. the West Coast
and the canal. but the last two
points are deep within the pro-
tective arc of Alaska and
Hawaii. They are equally liable
10 carrier-based air attack, but
should be safer from invasion
until the Japs do something
about Alaska and Hawaii.
SPfRIT Of the people in Wash
~ ington was inSpirinCly demon
strated in the second test
blackout. Not a flicker Of light
could he seen from houses. block
after block, mile after mile
except IN government depart
ments.
Bureau OF engraving, com
merce department and others
(Somc not working at nichU
were lit up like liquor cmpor-
iums. Only buildings In in Alex
andrla across the river were the
post office and railroad stations
Cost Of special lights and
blaCkout equipment for the 100.
900 government windows here
and for federal buildings
throughout the country is un.
officially estimated al S23 600.
600 and some delays have thus
been encountered in getting the
government ready-although the
people certainly are.
Distributed hy King Features synd Inc
Reproduction IN whole or IN part
strictly prohibited.
~ NEAnc Arn rnnAn.