The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-07-15
Observations
Jap Drive TO Cut
China in Two Seen
as Formidable
BY Helen Essary

BY Helen Essary
Washington-Despite Americas
recent successes in the Far Pacific,
military and naval observers are
perturbed over the Japanese drive
designed TO split |unoccupied China
in two. The recent heavy fighting
and stiff casualties suffered by
American forces in the Saipan inya'
sion indicates what is in store for
the Allies as they drive closer and
closer TO the Philippines and China.
Once American forces get within
striking distance OF Formosa or
China proper, violent counter-ac-
ton is expected from the japanese
10 prevent the United States from
getting a foothold through which
she can pour in supplies 10 poorly
equipped Chinese fighting men.
The Jap high command apparent
" is banking or the possibility that
the United States will become
weary OF a war so far from home
and will be ripe for a peace which
still would leave Japan many OF the
gains made since she launched the
Far Eastern invasion.
Even when the systematic bomb
ing OF the Jap mainland begins.
American military and naval lead
ers do not expect Japan TO collapse
quickly. partly because she now IS
getting some OF her wal supplies
from factories in the interior OF
Manchukuo.
Japan's naval and air forces have
been beaten everywhere in the Pa
cific, but her huge land armies are
intact on the Asiatic mainland and
IN Japan.
One OF the problems Of the Navy
medical department is the rehabili-
tation Of men who lose their hear
ing in action. Delicate eardrums
cannot stand up without some in
Jury under the terrific blasts aboard
a man-of-war when all guns are
going TO repel an air attack.
Vice Admiral Ross T, Mclntire,
surgeon general OF the Navy. says
men deafened by the guns are diff
cult to rehabilitate because they are
suspicious OF everything around
them. since they live in a world that
has no sound.
Naval medical men, however, be-
lieve they can do something for
these cases provided they are treat
ed quickly and made TO understand
that their cases are not hopeless.
C~uriously enough, Mcintyre be-
lieves men blinded in battle are
easier TO rehabilitate. He says they
are more optimistic about the fu-
ture. although they live in a world
OF darkness.
There are comparatively few
cases Of blindness in the Navy.
The question OF converting the
automobile industry to peace-time
production will receive another
~threshing out when the nations au-
tomobile makers meet with the War
Production Board in washington to
discuss plans. The meeting will con-
slider reports sent in TO WPB by
each company on the particular diff
ficulties which will be encountered
IN switching over from war work TO
car making when the time comes.
WPB Chairman Donald NJ. Nell
son previously has announced that
he sees no chance OF making pas
senger automobiles this year and
that only a let-down OF war manu-
featuring will permit such manu-
facture mex year. Nevertheless,
WPB and the industry are getting
plans into shape.
When President Roosevelt signed
a bill permitting American-born
Japanese 10 renounce their United
States citizenship there was enact
ed a law much touchdown from
the original desire OF the West
Coast.
For the law merely facilitates
citizenship remuneration in time OF
war, thus allowing the Japanese
American to make the statement
and get ex~patriation 10 Japan in
the future.
But what the West Coast had
wanted was a law that could be
used as a basis for deportation OF
10000 japanese who told the
Army and relocation authorities
they would not iorswear allegiance
TO the Emperor OF Japan.
Rep. Leroy Johnson (R.) OF Cali
tornia, voicing the Far Western
view, introduced an amendment
that would permit the use Of the
earlier statement OF the japanese
in the expatriation procedure.
However, this amendment was
defeated by a narrow margin. Now
officials doubt II many will declare
their allegiance 10 Nippon, know
ing II means certain deportation.