The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1943-01-07
AWeek Of The War

New Years day 1943 marked the
first anniversary Of the formation
Of the United Nations. In his first
press conference of the New Year,
President Roosevelt recalled the
world situation that existed one year
ago when 26 nations, bound togeth-
or by the universal ideals Of the
Atlantic Charter, signed the United
Nations declaration and thus Great
ed "the mightiest coalition in his
tory Three other nations have
since Joined this coalition.)
Today the unity achieved by these
20 signatory powers is bearing rich
fruit. The United Nations, said the
President, are passing from the de-
fensive TO the offensive, ever con-
scious, however Of the supreme ne
cessity Of planning what is to come
after. of carrying forward into peace
the common effort which will have
brought them victory in the war.
Our task on this New Years day
is three-fold, Mr.. Roosevelt said -
first, to crush completely the pres
ent bandit assault" upon civiliza-
ton; second, so to organize rela-
tons among nations that forces OF
barbarian can never again break
loose; and third, to cooperate to the
end "that mankind may enjoy in
in peace and in freedom the unpre-
aented blessings which divine provi-
dence through the progress of civi.
lzation has put within our reach
Axis economic strength and weak
ness was outlined in a beginning OF
1913" balance sheet issued by Milo
Perkins, Executive Director of the
Board of Economic Warfare. Ger
many, said Mr.. Perkins, has passed
her production peak but is still &c
onomically formidable, with little
| likelihood of economic collapse II
Germany in 1913. Japan, however
is much stronger in raw materials
than she was year ago, and except
for a major weakness in shipping is
now within reach of powerful and
intrenched economic position. The
ability of the Axis powers to support
defense warfare is especially mark
ed, he said, out as both economies
are strained, inflicting bombing
damage on Germany and attacking
Japanese shipping will have immedi-
ate effects on these countries wal
production.
| PRODUCTION
As for U. S. war production,
Chairman Nelson said that in 194S
this country expects to produce
about twice as many arms as were
produced in 1912, spending bettes
than $50, 1000, OOO, 100000 for war, al
compared to 1942's $52,000,OOO,O0O
November armament production
showed the greatest monthly gair
since the U. S. began to rearm IN
the summer of 1910 - four anc
one third times more war materla
turned out than in the month before
the Jap attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr.
Nelson gave the box score of No
Vember war production lover octo
ber): Airplanes, up 1873 per cent
ordnance, UP 13 per cent; army ane
naval vessels, up 9 per cent; mer
chant vessels, up 26 per cent .ant
other munitions, up 9 per cent.
| Special attention has been givel
to the items most needed in the type
of warfare now being waged il
North Africa, with outstanding gain
recorded in. thA output Of single
engine pursuit planes, medium
bombers, smaller transport planes
navy fighters, and in production o
the selfLpropelled guns used In TAM
, warfare ,ss
Right now the U. S. is turning gu
enough rifle and machine gun am
munition each month to fire 8
rounds at each individual soldier i
the Axis armies. In one year Q
war, production of small arms an
munition has increased $50 per Ger
md il is slil going up.
Backing up our production OF III
ished war material is our prodnctio
6 OF metals and minerals. A year-en
) report from the Bureau of Mines al
I nounces that in 1912 we produce
: more metals and minerals than
2 lyear in our history.
RATIONlNC
Agriculture Secretary Wickard d
rected OPA to begin rationing abol