The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-03-17
Observations
England Becomes
Target of Weak
Nazi Luftwaffe
By Helen Essary

Look out for a gradual shitt In
the European air war with the Ger
man Luftwsffe marshaling its
dwindling. hard.pressed air force
for about small scale nuisance
raids on the Allied invasion ports
in Britain.
Thus far. German air attacks
have been limited to approximate
ly 100 planes, and most Of their
bombs have smashed residential
areas. But military observers are
apprehensive about the amount OF
damage that can be done TO vital
military installations.
They point out that the Allies will
not he deferred in their plans for
an about invasion OF western Eur
ope. but that Nazi nuisance raids
might create a certain amount of
confusion and delay.
As the weather improves, the
LuftWaffe is becoming holder in its
night sweeps over the British Isles.
in recent raids, British night fight
ers and anti-aircraft gunners have
ut been too successful in "bagging'
enemy planes.
one reported reason is that Nazi
pilots are dropping strips of tinfoil
as they fly over the English chan
mel 10 disrupt radar aircraft de-
tecting equipment Competent mill
tary officials point out that German
air attacks on the Allied invasion
base are extremely small compared
with the huge 1,000-plane Raj. and
United States Air Force raids on
the continent, but they add that
Hitler has o reached the point Of
desperation where he must hus-
band his aircraft on three fronts TO
be used where they will do the most
harm. And this happens to be in
the close.packed British Isles.
B. E. Braden. House OF Repre-
sentatives barber for the past 40
years. says that faces on Capitol
Hill have changed greatly since he
was a ''"35-year-old kid" cutting
Speaker Joe Csnnon's hair. The rs
year-old barber asserted that he had
always been strictly non.partisan
and had given every member wheth-
er Democrat or Republican the
"best trim he knew how.
But faces keep changing" ne
said. Il miss the old heads"
Asked which member in his 30
years experience had the best bar.
Der chair profile. Braden pondered.
What about Representative
Clare Luce?' the reporter suggest
ed.
II don't believe | know him." the
old.timer smiled.
Will Clayton, Texas.born Surplus
Property administrator, sees no
need for legislation to enable him
TO carry out his job-one OF the
toughest postwar assignments.
Clayton asserted that the post
primarily is a policy-making job
with actual operating functions to
be performed through existing war
agencies. Moreover, It is under
stood the Texan agrees with Ber-
nard Baruch that no additional
agencies are needed.
Baruch has opposed the Senate
proposal for an office OF Demobil-
ization. Clayton admits he has a
headache on his hands and II may
prove a job that will make him Of
break him.
81 almost had my ticket bought
for Houston" he said wryly.
Somewhere in the Pacific is hid
den Japan's main fieet-bolstered
by new ba%ttleships, aircraft carriers
and cruisers.
Elsewhere. mighty American
fleets prowl millions OF square
miles OF water hoping for contact
that may prove to be the greatest
naval battle the world has ever
seen. or may ever see again.
The question in the minds OF the
navy's high command is when-and
where-will the clash occur.
Naval officers will toll you that
the Japs have been playing a wise
game. They are refusing TO risk
their main fleet in battle unless
they are sure OF victory. They may
also be waiting for the United
States TO extend her lines until they
are SO long the fleet will be kept
busy protecting them.
Spreading the American fleet
over a wider and wider area re-
duces its size. Japan hopes it will
be reduced to a size the Nips can
master. However. British. French
and Italian ships are expected to
join the Pacific war soon.
Before that time arrives there Is
a possibility that the Japs will
launch an about attack on some OF
the weaker points in the American
Allied Pacific front 10 gain a face
saving victory.