Evening star., 1943-09-17
Roosevelt
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difficult fight" he warned. The
power of Japan will not collapse
until it has been literally pounded
into the dust. 1t would be the ut
most folly for us to try to pretend
otherwise"
Balkan Invas sion Hinted.
In discussing the European phase
of the conflict Mr. Roosevelt gave
possible hint that the Balkans may
be the scene of one new thrust-and
that in the immediate future. Re-
porting definite information" of
unrest and a growing desire for
peace in Rumania, Hungary and
Bulgaria, as we'll as in Finland in
Northern Europe, he said:
I'VE hope that IN these nations
the spirit of revolt against Nazi
dominance which commenced in
Italy will burst into flame and be-
come consuming FIRE"
In view of the battle now waging
in Congress over the drafting of
prewar fathers after October /, and
OF the discussion being given to a
national service act, it had been
expected that Mr.. Roosevelt would
touch on those issues and throw
his strength behind his military
leaders who are fighting against
any draft curbs. The message how
ever, was silent on this.
The nearest reference to it was
at the windup of the 6,500-Word
message when he said:
'As the war grows tougher and
as new problems constantly arise
in our domestic economy, changes
in methods and changes in legisla-
ton may become, necessary .
Production Figures Given.
In disclosing that our war plants
had produced $4,000 airplanes.
$4,000 tanks. 1,23300O. trucks, 1880
naval vessels and $4,000 landing
barges from May, 1910, to Septem-
ber /, MI. Roosevelt admitted there
had been mistakes made, but pointed
out that fair-minded Americans
realize the production effort has
been remarkable.
The President said there had been
a Worrisome decrease in production
in June and July, but that the in
crease was resumed in August, and
in this month of September it is
even better"
The Chief Executive in his lengthy
message withheld any specific
recommendations for congressional
action to further the progress of
the war or help solidify the peace
to follow.
He confined himself largely to
analyzing what has been accom-
plished on the fighting fronts and
on the production front at home.
Mr.. Roosevelt praised Russias
sledge-hammer blows against the
Nazis and at the same time gave
what appeared to be his answer to
some Russian complaints that the
Allied operations in the Mediter-
ranean have not drawn off enough
German strength from the Russian
front.
He said it was certain that the
campaign in North Africa, Sicily
and Italy, plus the engaging of large
numbers of German planes in the
skies over Western Europe, have
given important help to the Russian
armies along their advancing front
from Leningrad to the Black Sea-"
Threat to Australia Ended.
AS result of the Mediterranean
victory the one serious gap in Allied
seapoWer, between Northwest Aus
tralia and Ceylon, now can be closed,
the President said, adding that the
threat to Australia and New Zea-
land across the Coral Sea had been
practically dissipated" by Allied
seizure of air bases in the Solomon
Islands. In fact, he said, the Allies
now offer threat of their own
against the japanese in the seas
north of the Solomons and New
Guinea.
The President reiterated that the
forces responsible for the war must
be rooted out" before a permanent
peace can be thought of, but he
went bit further than he has in
previous utterances on the postwar
| treatment of Japan
1t goes almost without saying. "