The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-08-24
Observations
Island TO Island
Plan Near End in
Pacific Theater
BY Helen Essary

Allied forces capture or knock OUT
tn big Jap base at Rabaul. New
Britain. Although the American
forces have been moving slowly
rom island to island for more than
year. Secretary OF the Navy
Frank Knox and his naval leaders
have denied repeatedly that Amerl.
can strategy called for such a slow
costly campaign all the way to ia
pan.
However this type OF warfare
was forced on Americans by the
Japs when the enemy moved within
striking distance OF Australia. The
current offensive on New Guinea
and in the central Solomons has
virtually secured the supply line
to Australia and our forces are
now within range of Rabaul by me-
dunn bombers and even fighter
planes.
Once Rabaul is knocked out or
taken, the best opinion in official
quarters is that the expanding
American forces may strike deep
into enemy territory, possibly into
the inundated islands and then
back to the Philippines. A foothold
there would cut off Japanese occu-
patton forces in the East Indies.
Burma and lndo-China from their
home base and pave the way for a
knockout blow against Japan.
There is also the possibility that
the recent bombings of the north
ern japanese Kurile Islands will be
followed eventually by a landing
there. which would place American
airmen within 1900 miles OF Tokyo.
Summed UP, recent successes by
American and Allied forces mean
that bigger developments should be
forthcoming in the Pacific soon.
For those will-end.in-a-year"
optimists whom President Roose-
welt and other Administration lead
ers are repeatedly cautioning. the
War Department had this signif-
cant announcement the day Canta-
mia. Belgorod and Munda fell TO
Allied forces
The Army wants and needs TO-.
900 additional doctors by January
!, 1914"
To realistic observers this came
as further indication that the
toughest fighting. the heaviest cas-
ualties for American troops are yet
10 come
Don't be surprised II meat point
values are decreased-possibly in
September thus allowing you
more meat for your ration stamps
At any rate, meat supplies are in
creasing at an encouraging rate,
with federal food experts agreeing
that things should get even better
IN the next few months. OPA
spokesman are cautious about pre-
dieting more generous meat ration
ing right away, but admit "it would
be fair guess that il supplies con-
tinue TO 20 higher, point require
ments will go down
From the U, S. Public Health Ser
vice comes warning the present
minor" infantile paralysis cpl
demic will grow worse during Au-
gust. reaching a peak sometime in
September. expected to equal or
surpass the disastrous 1884 rate.
this years cases already (the first
seven months) have more than dou.
bled those in 1912. More than 5000
cases have been reported this year,
with the most serious totals in Cali
tornia and Texas.
Yielding to heavy pressure by
the Senate wheat bloc, OPA IS
expected soon to announce adjust
ments in the price ceiling on -four.
The move will NOT, 1t is believed,
bring bread price increases because
OPA plans to have the government
pay a subsidy-probably to the mill
ers-to absorb the rise. The wheat
senators. led by Sen. Clyde Reed
(R) Kan, have demanded that
VIA Administrator Marvin Jones
and Price Chief Prentiss Brown al
low a rise in the -four ceiling to en-
courage wheat production. Wheat
goal for next year-6s,000,000
acres; about 100000 acres high
er than for 1913.
Look for a tougher War Labor
Board now that II has police pow
ers. Wise ones say John L. Lewis,
bushy-browed mine union head.
and Sewall Avery. head OF L. s.
Gymsum, both Of whom have BAT
tied the board. may be the first 20
feel the might OF the new power.