The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-08
FLIGHT
Hitler BIunder Seen
In North Africa Deal
Had q Good Idea But
Waited Too Long
hcNutf Has Own Plans
About Msnpower
Army Precedent rsvors
Armchair Generals
BY RAY TUCKER

BY RAY TUCKER
WASHINGTON -Evi encs
from inside the Reich that the
Americans and British stole
North Africa from under Hiuers
nose at the very moment he was
planning to exploit its rich re-
sources has been received IN
Washington. The document also
testifies to the fact that Der
Fuehrer was caught mapping by
the Eisenhower offensive.
On November End. only a week
before the Allied forces landed.
DIR. Hans Schuermann of the
German Colonial Union declared
that Berlin would transform the
Dark Continent into a granary
for hungry Nazis. The Anglo
American troops were already
heading for the Mediterranean
when he held out these bright
hopes to his people:
Germany has never abandoned
its colonial revindications. and
Africa must complement Europe
economically. German colonial
revindications are now based en-
tirely ON the new European order
and its requirements. While
newly conquered eastern terrific
ries can furnish us with cereals,
textiles, fats, oils and other raw
materials, colonies are needed in
order to supply tropical materials.
Germany foresees the constitu-
ton of European colonial league
for Africa which will serve the
interests common to all Europe.
On the African question Germany
has reasonable ideas, and the
black races will be partners in
the future development Of that
continent"
Thus our success appears to be
one of the most raucous and re-
sounding Oh, Yeah's! in modern
history.
Freshly published charts enum-
Grating and pictorializing the
powers and functions of the War
Manpower Commission demon
strste-again-that Paul V. Nc
Mutt is a hard man to put down
or keep down. In the opinion of
some military lawyers, the
Hoosier's blueprints amount to
deliberate defiance of the White
House order setting up this
j agency.
The Presidential decree pro-
vides that the functions, powers,
duties, personnel, records, pro-
perty and funds" of the Selectivs
Service System should be trans
ferred TO the WAR Manpower
Commission in the Office for
Emergency Management of the
Executive Office of the President. I"
It also declares that VINO orders
should be administered under
the supervision and direction of
the chairman" AS originally
framed by Mr.. McNutt's legal
lights. all authority was to be
vested in him rather than in the
larger body.
But the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
map lists the Chairman" as the
all-important, topside person and
allocates TO the VINO itself a
humble position out in left field.
The name of Brigadier General
Hanford MacNider has recently
begun TO figure in Republican
leaders back room conversations
as a prospective surprise entry
IN the 1914 Presidential race. In
the opinion Of influential politics
looking over the scene, the lanky
Iowan now serving brilliantly on
Guadalcanal may become q for
nidable figure-war or no war
when nominating time returns.
Nobody can predict yet whether
a military figure will appeal 70
the nominators or electors when
June 1914 rolls round. The people
may have become 50 weary OF
fighting that they will turn 10 q
homespun type who doesn't know
the butt from the barrel Of Z
rifle.
stffneeked army medioos ar,
resisting plans Of the all-highesi
military for replacing able
bodied. swivel chair officers II
the Capital with substitutes ca
psble of handling desk assign
ments but physically disqualified
for posts in the field. II wal
their unrelenting attitude on thii
issue which was bssicslly respon
sible for abolition Of the Arm,
Specialist Corps
In backstage arguments Secre
tary Stimson and members Of III
General staff have contended tina
men not quite up 10 par coul'
discharge duties now performe
by colonies, majors. captains an
heutenants fit for service wit
the line" They have on file n
names Of thousands Of FRS
World War veterans who coul
and would be glad 70 enroll in
somewhate sedentary capacity.
But the examining boards r,
fuse 10 lower the qualification
They snswer-and they may
right-thst not eyeA~1ministrs
tive functions Of vast importsnc
can be entrusted 10 q man who
apt 10 crack under the strain I
a critical moment And. slthoug
II "a not generally known, u
docs" are law unto tnemsely'
..-fa.. ~. president cnOoaRa