The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-07-17

The other commodity was high oc-
tame gasoline, without which the cur
rent bombing raids could not take
place. One bomber takes about
1000 gallons Of gasoline to fly from
England to Germany and back, SO
with 1000 bombers staging a raid,
1000, 900 gallons Of fuel is used up
in one night.
U. s. PRISONERS IN BATAAN
Ex-Undersecretary Of the Interior
Jack Dempsey has taken up with
the American Red Cross the prob
lem of getting Red Cross repre-
sentative in Manila to look out for
U. S. prisoners from Bataan and
Corregidor.
So far, the Japs have not permit
ted Swiss Red Cross representa-
tive in Manila, though they have adj
mitted Swiss representatives to
Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
No excuse has been given by the
Japs for not permitting a Swiss
representative in Manila, but u. S.
officials presume it is because they
don't want anyone from the outside
world to see what is going on there.
Meanwhile, however, the treat
ment of u. S. prisoners in Japan
and China is reported to be good.
The Swiss representatives make
regular reports, state that Ameri-
can prisoners have no complaints,
that sheets on the beds are changed
frequently, and that married men
are allowed to go to see their wives
every weekend.
\ ROYAL PRESS CONFERENCE
At King Peters conference with
the press, the Jugoslav monarch
was completely poised, though adj
hitting the camera men faxed him
a bit. With characteristic zeal they
monopolized the proceedings with
popping f1ash-bulbs.
A reporter asked Peter what his
outstanding impressions were Of the
U. S.
"One that stands out is your
friendliness," he answered prompt
ly.r Everywhere have gone I have
noticed that"
"Does that include photogra-
phers?"
) s'Well, they are persistent, aren't
they?. ! wouldn't mind if they didn't
keep shooting off things in my face"
TANKER-SAVING PIPELINE
American automobile owners don't
know it, but indirectly they had the
British to thank for the final deci-
sion to build new pipeline from the
South to the Middle West.
Secretary Ickes had been urging
construction of this pipeline for
more than a year-always being
rebuffed by the War Production
board.
Part of Ickes' argument was that
it was foolish to waste American
tankers by having them carry oil
all the way to England from the
Gulf Of Mexico. If, on the other
hand, tankers could load oil and
gasoline at a Middle Atlantic port,
they could save 1000 miles of
travel and reduce the exposure to
submarine attack. Tankers are get
ting scarce these days, and the
shorter the distance they have to
steam, the more trips they can
make.
Ickes put forth this argument en-
phatically at the last hearing before
the War Production board, but was
rebutted by Lieut.. Gen. Brehon SOM
ervell, head of the army's service Of
supplies. Somervell pooh-poohed the
idea that England was hard up for
oil or gasoline, said he had just re-
turned from there, and that Ickes'
argument was pure poppycock.
Ickes made no immediate reply,
but cabled the British government.
The British We're boiling mad, and
the reply he received clinched the
matter. The War Production board
decided Somervell didn't know much
about British oil supplies. The pipe
line was ordered built.
MERBX-(1O-kUUN
q Capitol insiders are betting that
before the tax bill finally energies
from congress it win contain some
kind of provision for compulsory
war savings as an anti-infiation
measure. Secretary Morgenthau has
been opposed to this, but recently
seems willing to shift his view.
q Former OPM boss William Knud-
sen, in his new role as lieutenant
general in the army, has inspected
285 war plants and in many of them
he has recommended changes which
have increased production.