Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-02
Other Islands
Than Wake
Vital to Y. S.
Pacific March t4inqes on
MarshaIIs, Morionas
BY PAUL MALLON

WASHiNrloN' July Inc
w smashing army bomber at
tack upon Wake Island does
not necessarily forecaSt-the
opening of our eounter-march
westward across the Pacific 10
Japan.
True, when we get ready for
that march we may soften up
Wake and other advance Jap
bases with heavy bombing. But
we will not be ready until we
are prepared to 60 beyond Wake
into the Marshall and Marianas
islands.
Wake is within land-based
bomber range of Jap bases in
the Marshalls and Marianas.
hence can be held only with
difficulty. unless they are also
taken. In fact, Wake should fall
into the lap of whoever can
hold these two groups, so we
might take them first.
Meanwhile. we can make il
as uncomfortable for Japs there
as they could make il for us, if
we tried to seize it alone.
DRIVATE government figures
Il on the probable future of
motor-riding Americans are al
most unbelievably dismal.
When Mr.. Ickes whispered in
Mr.. Roosevelt's ear urging
rubber collection campaign. he
submitted certain figures which
were not made public.
These showed that if the war
lasted three years more, hardly
an American private car would
be left on the road, even if mile
age was reduced IS per cent and
a 40-mile speed limit enforced.
They predicted 100000 cars
would go off the road this year,
100000 next. 100000 in 1914,
leaving only 100000 cars rid
ing in 1915; 100000 riding in
1916 and none in 1947.
If a program for recapping go
per cent of civilian tires could
be effected as result of this
rubber drive, the situation would
become fairly satisfactory. Less
than half as many cars would
have to be abandoned-only
about 100000 a year.
To support such a program,
the United States would have to
provide 5000 tons of crude rub
Der annually and collect $4,000
, tons of scrap this year; II 200
in 1943, $500 in 1914, $1,000
in 1915.
While the current drive is
officially being called deficient,
il shows enough scrap rubber is
being obtained 10 run practically
that whole period if the crude
rubber could be spared.
DOLITICAL potentialities of
Il gas rationing are not being
overlooked.
Republican Represent tive
Stevenson of Wisconsin wrote
Rationer Leon Henderson ask
ing that gas allowances be made
for rural voters to 60 to the
polls in the East on election day.
He got a letter back promising
only that if Mr.. Roosevelt de-
cides on national gas rationing,
provision would be made.
No allowances will be made
for primaries.
The rural sections of the
East are generally Republican,
the cities generally Democratic.
A close election could be de-
cided if gas rationing or any
other cause kept farmers from
the polls in considerable num-
bers.
CKITTISH citizens have been
~ dering why Messrs.
Roosevelt and Churchill have
been telling Hitler they will
start a second front, if they
really intended TO do it. The
element of surprise has been
lost. they fear,
Not at all. Hitler has been
able 10 observe the preparations
in Britain. just as Holland, Bel
GUM and France were able to
observe his preparations for the
invasion that struck them as
surprise when IL fell.
Some things cannot be kept
secret in war. Collection of
hundreds of thousands of troops
is one.
But Hitler. you will recall,
staged fake alarms and other
wise confused his foes by crisis
crossing rumors to such an
extent, they hardly believed the
final alarm when ii came.
The current confusion as 10
whether or not there will be a
second front this year is al
ready serving a similar purpose
o. for us.
Most Washingtonians are even
now betting there will not be
second front this year. To
them. certainly it will come as
a surprise.
TIIE front row Of officialdom
Il here had been expecting
bad news from Russia. but was
wholly unprepared for the ex-