The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1943-01-28
A WEEK OF THE war

January l941 and May 1912, when
the President. announced his seven
point anti-inflation program, the
cost Of living had gone up to is
percent. During that time, about
two-thirds of all manufacturing
wages had also risen at least is per-
cent. Therefore, in ruling on wage
increases, the Board felt that those
whose wages had already risen high
enough to cover the cost of living
increase should not be granted fur
Their general increases, but that all
others were entitled to have their
average straight-time rates brought
up to a point ID percent above the
January 1941 level.
The War Front.
Japanese pockets of resistance in
the Sanananda Area of Papuan New
Guinea all that is left of the Japa-
nese Papuan Army of $4,000 shock
troops--are rapidly dissolving before
American and Australian troops.
The American position on Guadal-
canal has improved much in the past
week, since the capture by U. S.
troops Of Mount Austen, last Japa-
nese position dominating Henderson
Field, and the United Nations posi-
ton in the Pacific war is now more
favorable than at any time since the
Marines first landed on Guadalcanal
in August 1912. Incidentally al
though for several months the Ma
rines have been operating jointly
with army troops in the Solomons
Area, most of the Marines have now
been replaced by army personnel.
This week Maj. Gen. Alexander M
Patch, U. S. Army, took command
of American forces on Guadalcanal,
relieving Maj. Gen. Alexander A.
Vandergrift, U. S. Marine Corps.
During the five-day period OF
January Is to II inclusive, our
forces killed over 1000 japanese in
various actions on Guadalcanal
Even in the air, japanese strength
in the Solomons is growing steadily
weaker. Maj. Gen. Willard Harmon,
Commander of allied air and ground
troops in New Zealand. pointing to
the enemys dwindling supplies OF
all categories of combat aircraft and
lack of pilots said the Japanese are
definitely short in meeting the re-
ouirements of their air forces.
From North Africa the Middle
Eastern Command, reporting the
progress of the British eighth army
toward and into Tripoli, said Amer
lean and British planes are keeping
up their relentless attacks against
Tripoli and against Castel Benito
,Airdrome The raids on Tripoli
Harbor have been aimed at facilities
the Axis might try to use for evac-
uation. Air activity in Tunisia con-
tinues.
CtZe III armed
According to Under Secretary OF
War Patterson, the size of the arm
ed forces is a military problem that
should be left to the military lead
ers to work out. Citing President
Roosevelt's figure of z "a million IN
the army of 1914 and estimates OF
more than 2 million in the Navy and
Coast Guard, Mr.. Patterson said II
million men in the Army and Navy
il less than one out of every l3 OF
our population. Germany has one
out Of every 10 under arms, Britain
has one out of every 10, and Rus
sia's proportion is fully as high
s'To say that we Americans cannot
maintain one in thirteen Is -. note
Of defeatism We cannot leave
the hard work of fighting to the
british, the Russians and the Chi
sese. And war like the one can
net be fought, certainly it cannos
BE won, without an army and navy
Of size adequate to the task
Agriculture
To help farmers increase produc-
zion in 1943, Agriculture Secretary
Wnkard has made available through
the Food Production Administration
. new source of credit for the pro-
Suction of essential wartime food
and fiber Between $200,000,000
and 1925, 100000 of additional
fsnds will become Immediately avail
able at the county level, and the
loans (shorttime loans at five per-
cent INTEREST,", which will be made
through the Regional Agriculture
Credit Corporation, win be limitee
only by the amount needed to 10
the production job.
Cost OF Food
ALTHOUGH admitting that tho f"rri
er's share of the consumers food
dollar is now larger than II ha
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