The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-20

y SNSS~ of the most carefully kept s,
 Here are the only reliable facts that have been pieced together. It has been established that Hitler did go to Vienna for a throat operation about two months ago. He suffers from a chronic throat ailment, somewhat like Secretary Hull's, and he has had several of these operations.
 Prior to this Vienna operation, it was known that Hitler had be- come more and more domineer- ing, more unbalanced, more in- clined to shout down anyone who tried to talk to him. He was al- ways inclined to be this way, but word leaking out to neutral coun- tries is that he was much more so this past summer.
 The SuppOsitiOn is, therefore, that Hitler has been quietly put away by Himmler and the party leaders, probably confined to 8 Sanitarium.
 It has been noticeable to Allied military men for some time that Hitler was not at the helm. Ger man military operations have been too well directed. There have been no eccentric moves such as when Hitler was muddling up the command.
 It is not believed that Hitler was seriously injured by last July's attempted assassination. The hand grenade which exploded was in a priefcase in the middle of the room, while Hitler was at one side. Only a splinter of shrapnel is reported to have en- tered his hand.
 As far as more skilful military operations are concerned, Hitler's absence will helip the N&lis. Otherwise, it will be more ser1- ous blow to Germany than most people here realize, for the lower ranks of the German Army wor- shipped Hitler. Prisoners inter- viewed after capture have lndl- cated that they were fighting for Hitler, not so much for Germany. FDR AS COMMANER IN CHIEF
 One of the most controversial issues during the late lamented campaign was whether F. U. Roosevelt really exercised much influence as Commander i'll Ch1e1, or whether the war was run sole ly by the military. An interest ing letter in this connection, ln which Roosevelt in effect over ruled the military regarding food supplies in Italy, has just leaked out.
 His letetr, dated Oct. 31, 1944- the very climax of the campaign was addressed to Secretary of War Stimson, and read:
 "T have had before me the shipping difficulties in getting supplieis to the civilian pOpula- ton of Italy and I note that we have been building up some re- serve for use when Northern Italy cOllapses. ....
 "Tn the meantime, it seems to me that the situation IS so acute. from the point of view particularly of food in Southern Italy, that some risks must pc taken regarding supplies at tne time of the collapse in North ern Italy. That collapse may we'll not come until Germany
 itself coIlapses, in case the sh;uninO situation will be much less acute.
 "Under the circumstances, l have determined to assume the responsibility for asking Gen. eral Wilson to increase the ra- tiOn to 300 grams throughout all of Italy that our forces oc- cupy.
 CAPITAL CHAFF
 Commuters between Washing ton and Baltimore the other day may have wondered why ther train stopped just west of Laurel until two other trains Whlzzeo past. Reason: The safety of the President Railroads stop all trains travelling in the opposite direction from the Presidents Special until he has passed. A two-car pilot train also goes just ahead of the Presidents Special to crash any explosives which may have bene planted on the tracks Congresman-elect Bill Gallagher, one-time Minneapolis street cleaner, is being advised that he may find the implements of his former profession useful at times, in the halls of Congress. After Texas unpopular Sena- tor "Pappy" O'Daniel was drowned out wiht boos at Houston so that he couldn't speak. extreme pre- cautions were taken at Dallas. Admission to the first dozen rows ot the auditorium was by invita-