The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-11-23
. Clapper
Iend-Lesse-Subsiifuis
For American Lives
Puts Guns in Hands OF
AL Who Fight the Ans
Backbone OF Campaign
Against Rommel
Policy Nov Strongly
Established
Nv RAYMOND cLAPPER

WASHINGTON - Lend-leAse n
now being put to a nev use - a
method Of reconstruction In hoer-
atea places In North Africa.
The policy is even broader than
that. President Roosevelt. in an
nouncing his decision the other
day. said lend-lease help would be
given to peoples in any territory
where the axis is driven out. They
viii be supplied not only with food
ard clothing. but with arms. where
they organize 10 fight the axis.
That means that II We get into
Italy and France, and any other
places. the people can count on
immediate help and also on a
chance to earn their freedom by
resuming the fight
Lend-lease is one Of the major
inventions Of this war. Some peo-
pie have thought Of IL as a grandi-
ose piece Of charity. But 1t il
nothing Of the kind II Is a realis-
tic substitute for American lives.
II Is a method Of enabling other
people to do their part in defeat
ing the axis, the common enemy.
Before Ne went into the war
we knew that an axis victory
would endanger America and We
used lend-lease to supply the Brit
ish. who then were carrying on
the fight alone. When Russia went
to war we applied lend-lesse to
Russia.
After Pearl Harbor lend-lease
ran into trouble. Some in the
army thought we should send little
or nothing abroad. but should hold
il to build up our own army.
President Roosevelt was absorbed
in immediate war measures. and
this idea of an all-American war.
fought by US while allies stood
around for lack Of weapons, gained
some Roadway.
There was some neglect of Rus
sian lend-lease. Russia needed
gasoline refining equipment, and
nothing was done here about it for
months. But the president is back
again, boots and saddle. riding
lend-lease. The whole organiza-
ton has been lacked up. Dean
Acheson, assistant secretary OF
state, is deyoting great deal %
time 10 expediting lend lease TO
Russia Paul Appleby, undersec-
rotary Of agriculture, is devoting
a great deal of his time TO lend
lease administration, and probably
is preparing for the use Of lend
lease food and supplies to rehabili-
tate liberated populations so that
they can begin producing and
fighting for our side.
More definitely than ever, lend
lease is now regarded by the adj
ministration as a means of using
our production and resources to
enable the Russians, the British
and the Chinese to fight harder.
1t also takes on the new usefulness
of Strengthening liberated terri
tory.
Even though somewhat frowned
on by some in the army, lend-lease
has contributed vast amount of
help. President Roosevelt listed
recently more than $500. 900, 900 in
equipment and supplies that went
into Egypt to prepare for the pres
ent victorious campaign against
Rommel. That included more than
1000 planes. 10000 trucks and
many hundreds of tanks and pieces
OF artillery. Mr.. Roosevelt said
that in giving those tools TO our
allies We were aiding ourselves
just as surely as if those tools
were in the hands OF American
soldiers. The only difference is
that British soldiers instead of
American soldiers fought the tanks
in Egypt.
In October we sent more than
$500, 600 600 worth Of lend-lease
supplies to our allies. By far the
top record. In the last four
months. while we were equipping
our North African expedition, we
sent out nearly three billion dol
lars worth OF lend-lease-or rath-
er transferred it Shipping diff
culties did not enable all OF 1t to
get through. At the same time
We have had the assistance Of the
allies in reciprocal supplies-such
az fighters for our bomber expe-
diaons. and patrol craft to fight
submarines.
In spite Of some army efforts 10
check lend-lease volume. il should
be pointed out that General Mar
shall, chief Of staff. took the initi-
alive and threw American equip
ment 10 the British when they
we're beaten back by Rommel last
summer and were in danger Of
losing Alexandra and suez We
even stripped some outfits TO re-
place lost equipment-because We
figured rightly that it dida't mat
ter whether British or American
sosclers used our equipment, 50
long as II went 70 work against
RonmeL That spirit is now DOM
mating lend lease policy more
strongly than ever.