Evening star., 1943-03-29

progressing so slowly in Tunisia.
What is meant, of course, is that
the great United States, most pow
erful of all nations in the world in
materials and mechanical capacity,
has failed thus far to produce and
transport the armament needed to
equip the millions of Chinese man.
power who can be used against
Japan and to carry across the seas
the weapons, munitions and supplies
needed to invade the continent of
Europe and subdue the Fascist
enemy.
1t means also that the great
United States Government, which
knew as late as September, 1899,
that World War II was here, didn't
bestir itself that year or in 1910
or In l94l or in 1912 sufficiently or
adequately.
Means Longer War.
1t means, furthermore, that this
Is to be a long war and that tens
Of thousands of American soldiers
and sailors and marines will be
killed before it's over-the biggest
casualty list in all American history.
The American people are not
being prepared for the idea of a
prolonged war They are being fed
discussions and debates about post
war planning as If the end of the
war were just around the corner,
They are being given the idea that
the air bombings over Germany are
more significant and of more mil
itary importance than is really the
case.
The sad truth is that not an
Allied soldier has as yet been landed
on the continent of Europe to
acquire and Hold territory since the
fall of France in June, 1910, and
1t will soon be three years since
that fateful defeat.
The sad truth also is that German
morale Is being bolstered by the
argument that the United Nations
will be kept so busy in North Africa
this summer and in the Atlantic by
an intensified submarine war that
the war will have its fourth ami
versaly next September without a
decision having been reached.
Japs Consolidate Positions.
The sad truth, too, is that Japan
has consolidated her position and
has now fortified herself behind a
series of airfields stretching for
1000 miles or more from the tip
OF Sumatra to the eastern end of
Timor and that Japanese inva-
sion of Australia by way of Darwin
Is considered by military experts
to be a possibility this year unless
the United States can take the
offensive in the East Indies.
But the United States cannot
take the offensive on major scale
In the South Pacific because Gen.
Macarthur and 1t. Gen. Kenney
cannot be given the airplanes they
want and the United States Navy
can't have the auxiliary ships and
tonnage it needs to maintain such
an offensive once it is begun.
The statement, There is just not
enough to go round is absolutely
true, and the Churchill speech of
last Sunday, indicating that the
Pacific war must be subordinated
for some time to come and perhaps
not won until long after Hitler is
beaten, Is an authoritative predic-
ton.
Production Program Drifted.
The tragedy of it all is that atten-
tion has been repeatedly called in
the press to the failure of our war
production program to get going.
AL through 1889 the cry was on for
greater haste and preparedness. All
through 1910, while we INDUCED IN
a political campaign, the war pro-
duction program drifted. And all
through 1941 the inefficiency at the
top In managing the war produc-
ton program, the chickering's be-
tween officials. the strikes and quar-
rels over wages and the debates
over whether the work week should
be heightened from 40 to 48 hours
and the failure of the President to
fire the incompetents and put real
production men in charge have
now added up to q gigantic delay
In materials.
ingredients and components that
should have been withheld from
civilian use in 1910 and l94l are
scarce today. America is paying
the price in 1943 for the inefhciency
Of its ofiicials in 1942, 1s41 and 1910
A convenient censorship hides the