The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-06
Observations
Patton Incident
Proves Upsetting
TO Owl
BY Helen ESIsry

called Patton incident the war
Departments Withholding OF the
news for over three months.
As result, Owl officials be
lie,e, the ease was played by the
press out OF its true proportions
and a tremendous furore raised
Owl says twas not apprised OF the
incident until the public in general
heard the story over the radio.
Owl officials believe the public
cot wrong impression as a result
Of the way the story leaked out
and one representative Of the
agency expressed belief that Gen.
Dwight ., Eisenhower bad gotten
some bad public relations advice.
Incidentally. one OF the best re-
marks in Washington came from a
reporter following Secretary Of
War Henri. l. Stimson's press con
ference in which be announced that
he would ask for full eIPlana-
ton Of the incident from Eisen.
hover.
REPORTERS we're gathered in the
news room following the confer
suce discussing the ramificau tons OF
the incident in which Patton had
slapped a shell-shocked soldier in
A Sicilisn field hospital One OF the
uewsmep remarked
Everybody IN Washington IS cat.
ing turkey today and the War De
nartmert is eating CROW.
stimson admitted TO reporters
that the War Department had been
informed generally" about the
Shaping. but had taken no action
then.
ALREADY CROWDED VEST
COAST CITIES are going to be
buster than ever from now on as
the Pacific campaign 10 crush the
laps gains momentum. The Navy
is trying to prepare for the situa-
ton by transferring some construc-
ton work on varships and other
craft to the Atlantic Coast, but
this will be only a drop IN the
bucket
As the months 20 by, civilians
will md II more and more dlflcult
10 get accommods on trains
and planes heading FOR California
Personnel of the armed forces. OF
course. will have priority. The
West Coast will then get taste OF
what the East has been going
through since the opening OF the
North African campaign
What makes the situation worse
Is the fact that the West Coast
does not have the port facilities
available to the Atlantic Coast.
That means that the good ports
out West can expect jams unequal
ed to date anywhere else
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
MILITARY AFFAIRS aviation sub
committee returned from their
two-veek aerial inspection tour Of
South American air bases much i'm
pressed by what they bad seen.
But pending an officisl committee
report. they we're not talking for
publication.
The conEressmen went as far
south as Rio de Janeiro, looking
over air transport command bases,
including the Jump OF aerial
port at Natal.
The best thing about the trip.
said one, was the fact that We all
got along so we'll together during
two weeks OF travelling in the same
plane. There was no grumbliug or
gripping about having TO roll
out at q. N some mornings,
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR
HAROLD ICKEs, who earned the
wrath OF the War Labor Be. I'd
for signing a contract with the
United Nine Workers while the
miners we're on strike. also has
the OPA angry for the easy man.
ner 10 which be promised price in
crssses TO the operators.
The thing that happened is just
what you could expect when YOU
turn price control over TO a guy
who is interested only in produc-
ton" one high OPA Official snort
ed
Ickes. interested only in mining
coal, provided the miners with
$3.50 a day more pay and then
started battling for steep coal
price increase TO compensate the
operator.
OPA baked and trimmed lcke7
price boost suggestion more than
10 cents ton The agency also
knocked down Icke's glowing pre-
dictiou Of the increase In produc-