The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-04-26
Observations
German Aircraft
Production Now
But One Fourth
BY Helen EsSary

As tue NllllNdl NV dSiou pt4lOu ~
Western Europe approaches, Allied
military observers are strainng
every resource to obtain latest data
on two vital German problems
armed manpower and aircraft pro-
duction
Rouudthe-clock British and Am
erican air raids on Germanys key
industries have whitfield vital air
craft output from 1900 to 500
planes per month.
The huge Allied air armadas
which now shuttle over the contin-
ent will suher progressively fewer
losses as the Luftwaffe power is
depleted. But military sources
point out that as long as the Nszl
air force decides TO make an all
out air battle. the Allies must eN-
pect 10 suffer a correspondingly
higher toll.
American and British losses on
these gigantic assaults is much
higher than the German loss The
reason is that Allied heavy bono
ers are now carrying a 10 or H.
man crew, while NaZi planes sell
dom rate more than three men.
Fighting defensive battles, the Ger
mans are now restricting their air
force to one-man fighters
With Russia knocking at Killers
back door in Rumania, Germany is
also faced with the dire prospect OF
insufficient manpower 10 resist
western thrust from Britain. If the
intu!tiye Hitler decides 10 defend
the vital Ploesti oil fields. in Ru-
mania-source OF one-third OF his
oil-he will need an estimated 20
divisions. Where will they come
from
At present he has an estimated
80 TO 50 divisions in reserve along
the West Wall This is his chief
source, and his most pressing
problem.
POLITICAL OBSERVERS on
Capitol Hin are predicting private
L. that the November election may
see general pitted against general
in a nip-and-tuck race for the
presidency.
Their predictions. OF course, are
based on the possibility that Pres'-
dent Roosevelt will not run for a
E. nth term and that somehow or
other, New Works Governor Tho
mas E. Dewey either will not be
nominated or will refuse TO accept
the COP candidacy.
Ennb aJyaittoH.
" remote, would leave the field
open for draft Macarthur" Repub-
lean forces to nominate the South
west Pacific commander and for
the Democrats TO counter with a
military leader OF their own.
Present chances OF Macarthur
are regarded as none too good. de-
spite the tremendous popular ap-
peal OF the general. who would be
a potent popular vote-getter.
In the Democratic picture, there
is forecasting that Mr.. Roosevelt,
recuperating from general fatigue,
may decide he cannot win and
therefore will not run.
Senator Burton X. Wheeler (D)
Of Montana. arch foreign policy
foe OF the president, has made this
prediction. and at least two Re-
publicans-Senators Arthur Capper
Of Kansas and Gerald Nye OF North
Dakota. have taken the same view.
Nye. speaking for himself and a
handful OF his followers. already
has declared the Democrats may
turn, in desperation, to a general
10 offset the Republican tide IL the
President decides to step down.
CHAIRMAN SOL BLOOM I'D
OF New York OF the House Foreign
Affairs Committee popped up with
the idea that there is nothing In
the law TO prevent appointment OF
a girl 10 West Point Military AGA
denny.
Delvinz into the realm OF pure
speculation, Bloom maintains that
a WAC could be named to the
Army's hallowed West Point by
congressional patronage.
Checking up with Congresswom-
an win" Stanley (R), OF New
York, who, by the way. is a gradu-
ate attorney. reporter received
lot OF laughs from the attractive
House member. Miss Stanley, who
like all lawyers goes TO the books
for an answer, hasn't turned UP
with a solution yet.
She is. however, intrigued" BY
the idea.
Meanwhile, observers ventured a
female West Point candidate might
be turned down on technicalities
during the physical check-up given
all would-be officer candidates
As for Representative Bloom, a
noted authority on the Constitu-
ton. he holds resolutely to his
premise. There's nothing in the
law TO prevent IT," the congressman