The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-18
Observations
Russia Finally
Backs Plans For
Full Surrender
BY Helen Essary

BY Helen Essary
President Roosevelt's momentous
statement at Pearl Harbor reiterat.
ing Premier Stains endorsement
OF the Casablanca unconditional
surrender" terms may 20 a long
way toward allaying fears that the
Soviets are playing a lone hand in
. the European diplomatic game.
For many wekes. Russia has been
endorsing and sponsoring Free
German" movement in Moscow,
with the avowed purpose OF point.
ing out TO the German people that
they can expect lenient treatment
in an armistice with the Red gov
eminent. They need, so the Rus
slams say, only 10 rid themselves OF
Nazi party control. No mention was
made OF unconditional surrender.
Sixteen captured German gener-
ais in Russia only recently signed a
statement urging the German PEG.
pie 10 revolt against Nazi domino
ton and TO throw out Herr Hitler.
All this led TO speculation that
Stain didn't really disapprove OF
the German Junker military caste
and that Russia vas playing her
own game with the Germans in
eastern Europe.
Now President Roosevelt gives
assurance that the unconditional
surrender terms which he and
Prime Minister Churchill agreed
upon at Casablanca have the sup
port OF Soviet Russia, too.
Democratic politicos are basing
their election calculations on belief
that Germany will fold up we'll in
advance of the November elections.
As a result, more emphasis Is ex-
pected TO be p laced or the Pacific
theater in speeches between now
and the end OF the political cam
paign.
The idea OF the Democrats is 10
tuild up Mr.. Roosevelt as comman-
der.in-chief In the Pacific war as
well as in the war in Europe, so
that il the battle with Germany
terminates there will still be sup
port for their contention that FDR
must be retained in office for mill
tary reasons.
The Presidents trip TO Pearl Har-
Dor already Is seen as emphasizing
increased Importance OF the Japan
csc war and will do no harm TO the
Democratic campaign strategy.
nApaAnrotfn - 1aaAnra
nize that too early collapse OF Ger
many. from a political point Of view.
will affect the Roosevelt-Truman
ticket adversely and nothing can
be done about 1t but 10 build up the
Japanese angle.
II Germany should collapse in the
next few weeks, the war against
Japan will receive new impetus. as
will plans for the peace and tor
postwar security.
Information reaching washing
ton indicates that the situation in
Germany is worse than most re-
ports indicate and that II Hitler sue.
ceeds in keeping the lid on the
seething cauldron much lonser 1t
will be a superhuman achievement.
Military men in washington be-
lieve that the Russian advance
against the Nazis on the eastern
front could not have been swifter
had the Soviets been engaged mere
~ in field maneuvers instead OF ac'
tual combat.
But, they hasten to add. much
OF the Russian success was due TO
two and one-half
ton trucks now replacing rail trans
portation in conquered areas which
the Nazis destroyed.
Because OF production difficult
ties affecting the heavy-heavy
trucks, War Mobilizer James
Byrnes included them among the
top priority items under his new
labor directive TO spur tagging mu-
nitions output.
More high ranking Army and
Navy officers have been lost In
World War II than in an war in this
nations history. Twelve admirals
and IL generals have lost their
lives since Peal Harbor from ',l-
ness, combat, plane crasnes or 9TH
er causes.
In World war no admirals were
killed in action or died rom other
causes. Only one general was Ia
tality. He was Brig. Gen. Edward
Siegerfoos, who died OF wounds SUI
fered in action In France.
The first American admiral OF
flag rank TO be killed In action was
Rear Admiral Isaac c. Kidd. 81.
who lost his life aboard the U.S.s.
Arizona during the Japanese attack
on Pearl Harbor.
According 10 Navy statistics, no
scmirals were lost Ii World war
]. the Spanish-American war or the
Civil war.
eECk p2lHE CONTROL