The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-01

operation report shortages on re- serves for future operations.
 Currently the list contains around 135 items, which isn't much when contrasted with the approximately one million items which have to be supplied by the million to keep big armies in the field.
 Some of the items are in short re- serve at the fronts, and the quanti- ties short, can't be mentioned for reasons of military security. But the deficiencies in reserves that can be written about without giving in- formation to the enemy show how complicated this crazy war has be- come and they give some light on present drives for more manpower, more raw materials, production.
 ENOUGH FOOD,
 BUT FEW DISHES
 There are no apparent shortages of food outside the yeast item, you can be thankful but of things tc eat the food with, or out of, there are still sizable reserve shortages Canteens, cups, knives, forks, spoons, and even field ranges, for instance. Equipment that has been lost at thrown away to tighten battle pack' must be replaced. That accounts for most of the shortage here.
 The Army is shy on some items in stocks of clothing. The reason for the shortage of 18 million service bars is that in combat the soldiers don't wear these decorations. But as soon as the war Is over, every G. is going to want his Sleeveful on every uniform, and up will go the demand. Ditto for the officers cap insignia, and chevrons for the non- coms. All like to look like privates in battle. Supply stocks of shoes, overshoes, field jackets, trousers are also depleted. Wear and tear in the hard winter have been higher than anticipated, but current needs on ali fronts are being met, says General LuteS.
 Many of the towns in Europe be- ing so shot-up they do not provide adequate billets, and the war in the Pacific moving faster than had been anticipated, there is a shortage of Shelter-half tents, mattress covers and cots. All items of cotton duck have, of course, been short since the start of the war. The services just for camouIaging nets, too.
 This being also talking wal: many items of Signal Corps equip ment are in chronic demand. Half a dozen types of radio sets, batteries by the hundreds of thousand and wire by the thousands of miles.
 Incidentally, radio communica- tion has not replaced land line con- munication by long shot. German monitoring system being exception ally efficient. any message that must be kept secret has to go by wire. II the line is broken there often is not time to find the break and make 6 repair, so new line is strung. TRUCK REPAIR PARTS
 NEEDED
 To haul all this stuff to the sup ply dumps and the front takes transport. While the tire and truck shortages are still critical, the real need is for repair parts. Piston rings. cylinders, complete engines. axles, trailers, caterpillar tracks. For rail- way equipment it is again axles, headlights. air hose, journals. For shops to keep all equipment in oper- ation, welding and tool sets.
 All these accessories to warfare do not mean that the shortages are confined to the stuff General George Washington never had to worry about. There is plenty of fighting equipment on the reserve list, too, from rifles to machine guns and tripods, mortars, howitZers, and all types of tanks. And ammunition for them all.
 It's the shootin'est. as well as the fanciest war that was ever fought.