The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-07-28
Observations
Saipan Gives U. S.
Strange Hold on
japanese Shipping
BY Helen Essary

"
Full effect OF the American cap
ture OF Saipan in the Marianas may
not be noticeable for months, but
its main value is a base from which
the United States can tighten its
blockade around the Japanese
mainland.
Reconnaissance planes can cover
Pacific as far as Japanese waters
and within reach OF the Philip
pines, and submarines will be able
10 increase their attacks on ship
ping because they will have
much shorter distance to travel
than they did when Midway was
the nearest American base TO ia
pan.
Japan already is beginning to feel
the lack OF shipping 10 move raw
materials from the south to the
homeland and 10 move war sup
plies and men TO the outlying
bases.
Now United States forces in the
Marianas are astride the direct
route over which japan used 20
ferry planes and ship-borne sup
plies southwark. ..
The new pinch on Japanese sup
ply lines will be imposed gradually
at first until supplies in large guam
titles turn Saipan into major
air and sea base.
Saipan is considered by some
naval experts as the key 10 domi-
nation OF most OF the Pacific be-
tween Truk and the Philippines.
The once-mighty BONN Islands.
500 miles from Tokyo, will be vir-
tually useless as a base 10 the
Japs as soon as American bomb
ers begin 70 shuttle from Saipan
on their lethal runs.
Some Japanese shipping stu may
slip through the blockade, but now
there is little hope for the enemy
OF sending planes 10 reinforce his
flying fields southeast and south
west OF Saipan.
GEN. CHARGLES DE GAULLE.
head OF the French National Com
mittee. while in Washington achiev-
ed virtual recognition from Presi-
dent Roosevelt OF the authority OF
his group in civilian affairs OF lib
Grated France.
However, as the President point
ed out, the Acknowledgement OF
authority is only until the French
people. totally liberated. are able
10 pick their own government.
But that may be De Gaulle-and
the way TO the liberation OF all
OF France is long and hard.
The general charmed the Presi-
dent and the President charmed
the general. and the fog was dis
PEELED during the White House
conferences, II indeed, it ever ex-
listed.
De Gaulle did not prove as formal
and austere as he had been pic
tured. He was gracious. He won
friends. and now he and the Presi-
dent understand each other.
The general left for France on
the closest Of terms with the Unit
ed States.
LOOK FOR CONGRESS TO APP.
PROVE legislation requiring the
government and private shippers
10 pay equal rates on the nation 8
railroads, thus paving the way for
the financial betterment OF the car
riers in the postwar period when
competition with airlines and 9TH
er means Of transportation is like
~ 10 assume cut-throat proper
tions.
a bill, sponsored by Representa-
tive Lyle H. Boren CD OF Oklaho-
ma, provides that the inequalities
in rates TO the government and pri-
vate shippers on land-grant roads
shall be erased The measure al
ready has passed the House by an
overwhelming vote.
The legislation. which has been
hanging fire in Congress for sew
eral decades. is also scheduled for
passage in the Senate when Con-
gress reconyenes in the fall.
TREASURY SOURCES REVEAL
that wartime spending brought
a situation in mechanical account
ing in which available business
machines didn't have places
enough to add up the staggering
modern day totals.
So IL was disclosed. II became
necessary TO have several ma
chimes especially built, capable OF
handling figures that add up to
more than 100 billion dollars.