Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-04

~ oANIA VI dllN huNlollty iitit
~ had ever claimed Java
could he held. The narrow island
is more than SEQ miles long, a
greater Air line distance than
from New York 10 Florida. Each
rat hole in that eXpanse could
not possibly he protected with
the forces at hand.
The only thing that could have
broken up the Jap attack was
counter-attaCk on the bases
from which ii was launched, or
upon Japan proper, and our
forces were apparently inSuffi-
cient or unready. Here again
was demonstrated the superior
value Of offensive action as the
only feasible defense.
While the news of Jap sue
CesSes there has been bad. how
ever. IT cannot be classed as UNI
expected.
Liveher hopes are iustifiably
held for India and Australia.
In truth. there is some rea-
son 10 expect. after Java. Japan
may turn her thoughts and her
force in another direction-pos-
sibly Vladivostok. There. hang
inc over the head Of Toxic. is a
base for joint Russian and Amer
lean bombing operations that
cannot have escaped the atten-
ton of the Jap miltarists.
If our flying fortresSes went
TO work on Japanese factory dis
tricts from there. the damage 10
their war effort might be seri-
Gus.
What could they get in Aus
tralia~or India by pursuing their
present conquest? They might
reasonably take Darwin, merely
to prevent its use as a port or
air base by the United Nations.
But Australia proper. and India,
are bigger game than they have
sought previously and their
armies are already strung out
one-thlrd Of the distance from
pole 10 pole.
Hence they may wisely begin
to think of home protection and
fixing up the oil wells. rice fields
and rubber plantations they have
amaSsed.
OVERWHELMING defeat of
~ the Smith 60 hour extern
slon) amendment was a great
surprise 10 the leaders. AS late
as four hours before the vote
Speaker Rayburn and Floor
Leader Mccormack privately
said they thought. 1t would pass.
A combination of sudden po-
litlCal circumstances was re-
SponSible. Republicans sat back
at first as the debate developed
INTO a quarrel between south
crn Democrats and northern
New Dealers.
This fact inclined the Repub-
Leans 10 let the Democrats take
the responsibility of majority
power. Many Republicans whose
records placed them in favor of
the amendment. voted the OPP
poSlte way.
Strong overnight lobbying by
labor Cchiefly the railroad
hrOtherhoOdSD took advantage
of this internal political situa-
ton. Mr.. RooSevclts opposition
did not make much difference.
His position had long been
known.
In closed session Of the
Senate labor committee. Chair
man Davis Of RooSevelt's latest
labor board, dropped the I'M
preston that a stronger stand
against strikes and inflationary
wage demands was going TO he
taken. lie left the notion this
government would not tolerate
strikes while soldiers are dying.
Also he said fatty he would
follow the Henderson policy in
the price control law and pre-
vent constant edging of union
wages upward.
Next morning after his ap-
pearance. his board failed TO ap-
ply those policies 10 the Cen
eral Motors wage increase de
mandS II sent the dispute back
10 negotiation by the company
and the union
pistuhu'sa ny Klrg Fsstur. s,nd Inc.
Reproduction IN phol, or IN psrt