Evening star., 1943-04-23

leaked OUT from @l9& - 8$S
Aus stralian David Lawrence.
sources and from Gen. Macarthur
and 1t. Gen. George c. Kenney
that there are not enough weapons
being made available to engage in
a large-scale offensive against the
Japanese.
The American people did not
have the benefit of an tnquisitive-
minded press at Casablanca, SO it
is not known to what extent the
President yielded to the British
request for more shipping to sus-
tain the British Isles. 1t is
question whether what was agreed
on at Casablanca has been told to
the Senate and House Military and
Naval Committees.
II it has been disclosed to them,
the American people have a right
to present for the consideration of
those who know the inside of the
secret diplomacy the thought that
perhaps it would be better to divert
some of the ships allocated to main
tain the British civilian and military
setup and to ask our British ally
to make even further sacrifices so
that we may begin to clean up the
Pacific situation.
Shipping Is Crucial.
Shipping is the crucial factor in
the war. There is squabbling among
the governmental agencies con-
cerned with it. The question may
we'll be asked whether the military
men are being given the ships they
need for their overseas tasks. 1t is
being contended that some ships
are not being properly loaded, but
it is also true that lack of dis
embarkation facilities and the time
element prevents a peacetime effici-
ency.
What is more important is that
the British seemed to have argued
very persuasively for the use of
more tonnage and that there are
certain elements on this side which
feel that, even if it means tighten
ing the British belt, more ships
should be allocated to American
military and naval forces.
1t would seem to be desirable to
let the facts come into possession
Of the committees of Congress
charged with responsibility for
watching over war operations. It
isn't necessary to disclose to the
public the military secrets. If the
people can feel that they have
representatives in Washington who
know the inside, they will be in
clined to accept what is being done
with our ships sas necessary. But
the people do not like the idea of
one man keeping all these secret
agreements and arrangements in
his own head. There is always the
possibility that decisions reached
on one set Of circumstances may
have to be revised later on.
Did the joint chiefs of staff of
the United States propose the allo-
cation OF shipping that was made at
Casablanca? Was their own plan
rejected, and did the President side
with the British chiefs of staff and
the Prime Minister against the
Judgment Of his own military ad-
risers? The answer to that ouestio,
= need not be given to the public, even
II the implication be true, for there
may be sound reasons for such a
decision. But do the members of
congressional committees know what
happened at Casablanca and why we
cannot fight the war against the
Japanese more intensively than we
are fighting it?
Tonnage Available to Beat Japs.
Senator Chandler of the Military
Affairs Committee has spoken pub
lfcly in favor Of more aid to the Pa
cff1c theater of war. He says the
British have pledged their help when
Hitler Is beaten and he feels that
the government then in power will
sincerely try to carry out that policy,
but that once rehabilitation starts,
no British cabinet will be able to
stem the tide of disorganization that
will ensue
a. The tonnage is available to beat
the japanese in less than two years
even before Hitler. Maybe the
British plan calls for a slower war
than our authorities have heretofore
sSisualized-a sort of slow strangula-
ton of Hitler. If that be the case,
ssit would appear that the American
desire to get at Japan can be harmo-
:, nized with the reported British con-