The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-21

S~ SN1
 The answer to this question is of greatest moment to both sides. Russian participation in the Pa cific would mean many vital strategic advantages to the United States. The spectacular U. s. bombing raid from Australia to Manila could be duplicated on Tokyo if U. S. planes could use Vladivostok as a landing base.
 For Hitler, a Jap attack on the Russian rear would offer the hope of easing Russian pressure on the western front, where Nazi plans for spring offensive have been seriously disrupted. For the Japs, striking while the Red Army is straining every nerve to overcome the Nazis would offer the possi- bility of crippling the Russians before they are in question to throw their full weight against the Japs.
 Allied strategistS believe that Jap warlords now are weighing the question of an early attack on Russia. This belief is based on certain significant Intelligence in- formation, such as: ~"
 1. The Premier of the Jap-.
 puppet government in Manchu-
 kuo was summoned to Tokyo to
 make. plars for raising new
 levies of native troops to rein
 force the Jap army on the So-
 viet border. Apparently Japan
 has no reserves 10 send to Man
 chukuo, so she is taking a leaf
 from the NaZis and proposes to
 use vassal manpower for mili-
 tary operations.
 2. Berlin has been putting
 the heaviest pressure on the
 Japs to attack Russia. The re-
 cent mysterious return to Tokyo
 of the Jap Ambassador to Ger
 many is credited with being
 connected with this matter
 NOTE: U. s. radio monitors re- port that Jap broadcasts of the Russian statement bluntly warn- ing Japan against attacking the Soviets made no reference to the caustic denunciation of "babbling Fascist warlOrdS." The Jap broad casters carefully withheld from their listeners any hint of these blasts at Jap military rulers.
 The radio monitors also report that the Japanese people have no inkling of the heavy Jap naval, merchant marine and army losses. No word of the Manila bombing and the devastating surprise at- tacks on Jap-heM islands has been allowed on the Jap radio. The Japs are fed only exagger- ated an doften fictitious accounts of Jap victories.
 NORMANDIE REPORT
 Tn its report on the Normandie fire, the House Naval Affairs Com mittee sharply censured the Navy for negligence. However, the re- port would have been much hot ter if two members of the sub committee which drafted 1t had had their way.
 Isolationist Representatives Nell Maas of Minnesota and James w. Mott of oregon did their utmost to pin the chief blame for the conflagration on President Roose- welt. Further, Representative Pat. rick Drewry of Virginia, Old Guard Democratic chairman of the subcommittee, almost let them get away with 1t.
 The man who blocked the po- litical scheme was Representative Ed Izac of California, decorated World War Navy hero. Before the report was finally agreed on, a meeting of the subcommittee almost broke up in a riot when Izac and Maas exchanged violent verbal punches.
 During the investigation it was brought out that orders had been issued for the NOrmandie to sail Feb. 14 with troops for an unannOunced destination. Conversion of the vessel was to be rushed to completion by this date. On Feb. 6, Admiral Har- old R. Stark, then chief Of Naval Operations, cancelled the order when informed that the Normanale would not he ready. Inc next aays however, hb Gele-