The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-18
. New York
Listening Post
Nonned ~
ALBERT ~. ltAAN
Australians
Worried by
Axis Aliens

Axis Aliens
NEW YORK - Censorship 30
far has concealed Australian
alarm concerning an enemy alien
problem not altogether unlike
our own Pacific Coast troubles.
With the advancing Jsps in
New Guinea Just across narrow
TORRES strait the folks down
under have suddenly realized
they have a potential fifth COL
umn breeding ground in the
northern Queensland area, where
Italian farmers are clustered.
IN Victoria are others living
near the Laverton and Point
Cook R.AA.F. airfields.
Twenty-six thousand foreign
horn enemy nationals packed IN
10 strategic areas are a very
large segment Of a nation with
only seven million people scat
tered through three million
square miles.
But the Anzacs are more anx-
ious about their is 900 German
born residents, found chiefly in
the southern wine districts and
near the Adelaide munitions fac
tories, motor plants and iron
works. Many of these newcom-
ers are refugees, but the govern
ment is aware that Axis secret
agents are among them posing as
innocent fugitives.
During the last war the
Eaiser's unassimilsted subjects
caused considerable disturbance
and the Australians informed
many of them.
So far Canberra has been-
like all the other democracies-
very gentle with Its guests.
Numerous Fascist prisoners cap
tured by the Diggers in Libya
have been shipped to the Anti
podes for work on construction
jobs. Earlier Nszi aviators
caught in England also were
sent there. The nations 500
Japs were rounded up immedl-
ately in December.
Washington is playing down
reports from the field that la
Dor unrest is increasing, but fear
Ia expressed in New York bust
ness circles that the situation IL
growing worse despite the ehast-
ly news from the fighting front.
Strikes in 43 war industries
simmered in January, but in
February the figure scared to rs.
More than $4,000 men were in
volved during the first month
and 10000 in the second.
in 1910 when we were build
ing planes for our Philippine de-
lenses, walkouts squandered S.
600 man hours in aircraft plants
alone. Final official records,
exclusive of November and De-
cember last year, jumped the
number of irretrievable man
hours to 81 900.
In February. 1912, when
couple hundred planes might
have rescued Macarthur or
saved either Singapore or Java.
the equivalent Of 200-four-en-
gined bombers never was built
because men with huff or a
just grievance tried TO settle
It through stoppages which con-
sumed over a million working
hours.
This has not leaked out yet.
but another labor row is IN the
offing If General Motors persists
In its claim that wage scales
based on old pacts are no longer
valid because the former agree
ment with auto production,
craft entirely different from
plane manufacturing. The east
ern leaders of United Automo-
bile Workers union. CLIO, will
warn that they consider GIN. in
sistence upon this position an
abrogation of their contract.
Although not much n known
about II on this side Of the
water. bitter class struggle mas
been stirred up in the British
Isles over the food situation.
The illegal traffic. known az the
black market. has aroused social
snmity because the wealthy can
purchase goods denied the poor.
The unlawful profits Of trades
men, according 70 secret esn-
mates. are more than 5000. 900
pounds a year. Edibles are feat
ured first on the outlawed list
with liquor. clothing. gasoline
and textiles close behind. All
kinds Of subterfugs. forgery sno
theft have been resorteo 10 IN
this racket Sir William 5o"-
III. solicitor general, is 10 m
eensed he has suggested me
death penalty, and another group
Of officials has advocated Hog
ging as punishment.
One of the most recent scan
esls concerns the diversion Of
raoIasses needed for the manu-
fsoture of explosives and Tor
cattle feed. Two men were Jsii-
ed and 81 other culprits were
fined 10000 pounds. sufficient 70
purchase q CRUSADER type tank
which will be christened the NO
lssses."
Eggs from the United STATE
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