The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-23
Observations
Finland Seen as
Victim of NaZi's
Fatal Blunder
BY Helen Essery

pOlitlcS mas swung 10 rlnlduu 10
the United States and other ma
tions additionally friendly to the
little Scandinavian republic seek
10 have her withdrawn from her
hopeless war with the L. S. S. r
That United States warnings
have struck a responsive chord is
obvious from editorial comment IN
Finnish papers which have begun
an open editorial campaign TO take
that nation out OF the NaIi sphere
OF influence.
When little Finland entered the
war against Russia, her cause re-
cciyed the sympathy OF official
Washington, as well as OF the 9th
or nations aligned against the
Axis. However, subsequent events
have completely upheld Russia's
position and her territorial claims
against the sub.arctic country.
These claims included buffer ter
ritory 10 protect her major port
city of Leningrad and strengthen
the entire Russian front against a
German attack. Thus, Russian
foresight lat least in the north, was
undoubtedly one OF the factors
which made Hitler's Baltic thrust
one of the worst military fiascos
In all history-the mistake that is
now costing him the entire war.
BLUNDERS MADE BY THE
JAPANESE high command are be-
ginning to pile up as the Ameri-
can and Allied offensive in the Pa.
cifc gathers momentum. The lat
est mistake was uncovered in the
Marshalls where japanese defenses
we're found TO be OF World War
] vintage.
American forces landing In the
Marshalls found field pieces and
pillboxes that permitted the Japs
10 fire in only one direction. thus
enabling opposing forces to out
fank them.
The Jap high command looks
particularly bad in the Pacific be-
cause it has spent 20 years in
building defenses and forward
bases only to lose the initiative to
the Allies in eight months and
give up the Marshalls in a week.
AMID THE POLITICAL CON-
STELLATION formed by the Re
publican boom of a Dewey and
Warren ticket, a dark star is gain
ing power.
The dark star Is Gov. John n.
Bricker Of Ohio, whose candidacy
has the backing OF Senator Rob-
ert A Taft. and numerous mid
western COP groups The odds
still favor a COP ticket OF Gov.
Thomas E. Dewey of New York and
Gov. Earl Warren OF California,
but midwestern Republicans are
prepared to boom Bricker should
a rift appear in the ranks Of the
favored candidates.
THERE WILL BE LESS MEAT
IN the coming months, but govern
ment authorities scoff at meat in
dustry representatives who cry
famine. Federal officials point
out that the decline is seasonal aud
insist that there is no basis for
claims that beef will disappear
. from civilian tables and that pork
will shift from a feast 10 a fam
inc basis in the next 80 days.
Government men point out that
OPA Administrator Chester Bowles
warned of the seasonal meat short
age, and add that meat industry
contentious are inspired by a pos
sible desire TO break OPA price
ceilings on beef.
CONGRESS MAY HAVE GOOD
NEWS for farmers who want the
federal crop insurance program re-
vived With bipartisan support,
hackers of the program, which has
been approved by Congress, are at
tempting to talk the seven-man
House agriculture appropriation
subcommittee into appropriating
funds.
A delegation OF Pennsylvania
farmers recently appeared in
Washington to urge reconsidera-
ton OF the three-year program.
They pointed out that in many
areas It means the difference be-
tween about food production and
greatly curtailed output.
Both Republicans and Democrats
are giving the idea their support
and considerable pressure from all
sides is being exerted on the sub
committee.
ADULT AMERICANS can be
sure Of about one more pair OF
shoes this year-that's all. Mill.
tary demands are still so high that
the civilian shoe picture remains
tight
Despite replacement OF leather
by other materials, the armed ser.
vices took 10000 900 pairs OF shoes
from the civilian pool last year.
To aid both civilians and the mill.
tary, WPB experts are now urging
greater use OF pigskin for pro.
cessing into leather.