The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-27

- N4AAVA UebAA4os
vessel. Production Of these is
being rushed.
Meanwhile, 1t is no longer a
military secret that sinkings by
U-boats have reached their high
est peak SO far. When news to
this effect was cabled from Lon
don, giving the tonnage sunk as
around 100000 per month, 1t
was officially denied by Secre-
tary of the Navy Knox.
Since then Lord Cranborne,
British government leader in the
House of Lords, has officially
stated that since Allied landing
in Africa sinkings by U-boats
had achieved their highest rate.
Lord Cranborne also warned that
the rate was increasing and the
peak probably had not been
reached.
Presumably the American
public Is to decide which to be-
lieve-LOrd Cranborne or Secre-
taFy Knox.
NOTE: When the Under Secre.
tary Of Navy complained to SEN
ator Brewster of Maine that the
American public was not awake,
Brewster replied: "How can they
be when the Army and Navy keep
them in state of ignorance re-
ton. 5 y
SUBS LEAVE ATLANTIC COAST
One favorable phase of the sub
marine situation is along the At
lantic Coast of the U. s. A., which
Is becoming almost as dangerous
a hunting ground for subs as the
waters around England. O.. 80.
This is because Of the Nays
recent speeded-up production Of
patrol ships, which police the
coast. These ships, smaller than
escort vessels, are not built for
transatlantic crossings, but are
doing avery effective job at home.
Another effective factor Is the
blimp, which can hover over an
enemy sub, drop depth bombs
more easily than q plane, and
stay in the area until surface
ships arrive. A blimp can even
listen for subs, as well as sight
them.
The Navy also has adopted the
policy of arming to the teeth
every kind of ship in Atlantic wa
tiers, especially with depth charg-
es. The policy is to let the
Nazis know that whenever subs
attack any kind Of ship they will
find a sting in its tail.
This policy seems to be working
along the Atlantic Coast, though
its success may be due in part
to the fact that African waters
now provide better pickings, with
a shorter trip back to Germany.
p. She MADE THE SALE
Two men deserve chief credit
for the long delayed Chilean
break with the Axis. They are
patient Under Secretary of State
Sumner Welles and persevering
Chilean Ambassador Michels.
Only his friends knew it, but
Michels had warned his. govern
ment that he woulC resign If
Chile did not line up 100 per-
cent with the U. s. A. In Chile,
his strong U. s. friendship was the
subject of considerable comment,
even kidding. One newspaper
cartoon shows Michels as the
proprietor of a hat store selling
imported sombreros, and wearing
the star-spangled high silk top
per of Uncle Sam. The ambas-
sador Is. trying to sell an Uncle
Sam topper to Chilean President
Rios.
II haven't quite decided 70
take this hat" ID the Chilean
Presidents reply.
"So0ner or later you win have
10 wear It," says Ambassador
AIicheIs. I..r., w,
Last week. MicheIs finally made
the sale.
UNCLE SAM ON THE JOB
This column sometimes has been
critical OF Jesse Jones delays on
war materials. However, here "
one where Uncle Jesse was right
on the ball, pushing other offlclals
10 act.
ms Defense Plant Corporation
has been working on O plan %
bring oil into the East N steel
can or drums. This has the
advantage OF saving tank ears,
which are scarce, since drums can
b loaded into b0xcnTs.
The PoiF0lenm Administration
Tor War oFlginnily proposed TINS
plan. and Ihen nlIonfo Plant
fu1n1f InIo|lHh q reulfaFI HilfIes