The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-17

cent natural rubber and 70 per- cent synthetic. Though this for mula uses more synthetic than the Germans use, U. s. experts de- clare they now know more than the Germans and can produce better stuff.
 However, civilian passenger tires, unlike combat tires, will carry almost no natural rubber, except for trucks.
 VICTOR MATURE
 Coast Guard officials shake their heads in wonderment and admit that matinee idol from Hollywood is really doing a vali- ant job as @ bosun's mate on Coast Guard Cutter. The name is Victor Mature.
 His ship operates in north Att lantic waters, and was active in the rescue of the two survivors from the Escanaba.
 There is no hair gloss or finger-nail polish on this man. He knows how to handle a ships gear, ard how to give orders and take them. But when the ship comes to New York, Mature lines up his shipmates, divides them into squads, and leads them, one squad at a time, up town to meet movie actresses who might be in the city.
 Natures first act when he stepped aboard ship was what put him right with the crustier members of the crew. He stuck out his hand and said: "Just call me Manure!"
 Best minds in Washington, con- bining appraisals of both military and political factors, are defin- itely optimistic about an early ending of the war in Europe.
 The big worry, however, is that the nation will be too over confident. Over-confidence, cOu- pied with decreased production and slOwed-up military moves, CdH wal otilhS OuS for months. Already the slow up in Sicily, as a result of de-
 termined Axis resistance and the few days breather given BadOglio, missed psychOlogi- calu moment.
 Military minds in Washington are not so optimistic. Their job is to reckon on the toughest pos sible resistance. Gen. Eisten how ever, for instance, figured on 300O0 casualties in Sicily, got around 5000.
 But those whose job it is to guage the steaming political cauldrOn of Europe are much more optimistic. They iemem- Der that 22 days before Germany sued for an armistice, in No vember, 1915, Field Marshal Haig told Lloyd George it would take we'll into another year to defeat Germany.
 RESUME OF OPINIONS
 Here is a brief summary of Washington's political observers:
 l. The rumorer reshuffling of German hig hcommand is not im- portant. So far as the German army is concerner, 1t will fight as hard, or hardr without Hit Ter.
 2. But the collapse of Italy will be important. It will take 20 Italian divisions out of the Bal- kans, which the Germans must replace with their own men.
 B.. Most important of all, how ever, is the caseless pounding on Germany from the air. Britain was much nearer the end than anyone realized in the tall of 1940, and she was not pounded fraction as hard as Germany.
 4. The final factor in the col- lapse of Germany will be break down of the civilian front. When railroads, factories. workmen cease to function, the army will have to surrender. This was what finished the German army in 1918 and what will finish 1t in the opinion of many shrewd observers-this winter.
 NOTE: Until the time comes however, here is sound advice from Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty given to Ike Marcosson in 1917: "Give up h'p- ing that this can be a short war Plan and provide for an ever re- ceding duration of at least two years more. If we all do this, peace may one day surprise us." SMALL BUSINESS BLOW-UP
 The governments program fol the relief of small business is headed for trouble when Con.