The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-04-25
Observations
Navy Fortunate
TO Have no High
Pacific Losses
BY Helen Esssry

ing their fingers crossed over the
unexpected run of luck in sea.air
operations against the Japanese
since the gigantic Central Pacific
offensive began last Noven Der.
our plane losses have been very
light and only one warship has
been lost. while damage to import
ant combatant ships has been
minor. The escort carrier Liscombe
Bay was lost as the result Of al
enemy submarine attack during op.
erations in the Gilberts.
Heavy losses we're expected
when the powerful task force hit
Truk. yet only minor damage was
sustained by warships in that his
torie assault. When the fleet hit
Saipan there was virtually no dam
age. and when the fleet moved
against Palau, the ships escaped
without damage and only % United
States planes were lost
Conservative naval officers are
afraid that these successes may re-
suit in epercussions II the United
States should get into a terrific sea
air battle and lose several warships
sometime in the future. Such losses
are not unlikely since Japan still
has powerful fleet units al her dis
posal.
Meanwhile. the fact that We have
not lost any ships is putting us
ahead OF schedule in the Pacific be-
cause we do not need 10 replace
seasoned crews lost as We did when
our losses were heavy in the battles
around Guadalcanal
The Administration Is all set 10
oppose granting Comptroller Gener.
al Lindsay c. Warren veto power
over settlements OF Cancelled war
contracts. Several influential DEM
ocratic conservatives in the Senate
will support the move.
The odds are that Warren will
receive only the authority to make
post-audits TO discover whether
fraud was committed and 10 report
10 Congress evidence OF extrava-
gance in settlements. The admin.
istration feels that thorough scru-
tiny of. each settlement by War
ren's office would delay payments
and plunge industry into bankrupt.
cy.
A somewhat different situation
exists in the House. where a bill
has been reported by the Military
Affairs Commute giving the Gener.
al Accounting Office, headed by
Warren, power to veto settlements
within six months after they have
been made. Senator Murray CD
OF Montana, who with Senator Wal.
ter George Cd Of Georgia, is shap-
ing contract settlement legislation,
is undertaking some missionary
work TO bring House leaders to his
point OF view, however.
One OF the capitals best known
but least .publicized, iuter-agency
teuds has been settled. The OPA
and War Food, virtually at daggers'
points for many months, now have
reached a harmonious understand
ing.
oPA-WFA sniping and disagree
ments on food policies was largely
a matter Of inter.agency jealousy
and the tendency OF older Agricul-
ture Department men TO look down
on the comparative upstart OPA.
II showed up in lots OF little
ways that coused no major out
breaks in the public prints, but
were annoying TO members OF the
two agencies.
OPA Administrator Chester
BoTles and his rationing reputy.
Col. Bryan Houston. are credited
with bringing harmony. Both made
II point TO become personally &C.
Quainted with VIA Chief Marvin
Jones and work from the top to
eliminate ill-teeling, Bowles and
Jones became firm friends and the
two agencies now work hand-in-
glove.
Look for an income tax simpliti-
cation bill 10 emerge within a week
IN the House. The drafting experts
have just about completed their
task.
That still does not make the bill
law, however. Some members OF
the Ways and Means Committee
want 70 hold public hea rings on Il.
which would make II about June ].
before the bill passes the House
and gets over TO the Senate.
Moreover. Congress is thinking OF
recess from about June o4-tvo
days before the COP national con.
Fention until Labor Day. So final
action on the simplification meas
ure appears to be several months
away.