The Ypsilanti daily press., 1945-07-13
Observations
Sleepers For Use
of Civilians Will
Become Rarer

II you have to travel west, you
had better be prepared to sleep in
a sitting or standing position.
Sleepers for civilians will be a
rarity for some time 10 come. The
Army is taking over most OF the
Pullmans to move millions OF sol.
diers to the Pacific. Already eivili-
an sleeper service between points
less than $50 miles apart has been
banned.
The pinch will hurt most on lines
west OF Chicago, but II is not go
ing TO be any picnic on lines else
where, either, because OF move
ment TO and from homes in every
state on 30-day furloughs.
Best estimates are that by late
this summer and fall some $4,000
soldiers. will be in transit daily.
And in many cases wives and chill
dren will be travelling with them.
The once OF Defense Transpor.
tation has warned civilians 10 cease
travelling except when It is abso-
lutely necessary, but naturally
many persons will not heed the
warning.
Thus you will see more and more
people stranded in railroad sta
tions, and the airlines are expect
ing an increasingly heavy load. so
they will not be able to help the
public very much.
Wise people will take their vAcs-
tions near home. II may be tough
on people with plenty OF money
and itchy feet, but that is the way
II is going TO be for some time to
come.
The trouble is there will not be
much relief IN sight until six
months or so after the Japanese
war ends because the Army will
be busy then bringing the boys
back home.
DESPITE THE GROWING
SHORTAGE Of poultry and large
black market operations in that
food. watch for the civilian supply
to increase within the next month
or so, particularly in the eastern
seaboard states.
Reason: Clinton p. Anderson, the
new agriculture secretary and
food boss. He will urge the Army
TO buy its chickens from the sur
plus Midwest area where there is
plenty of meat and poultry, instead
of from the meat-hungry eastern
states OF Delaware, Maryland and
Virginia which supply the bunk OF
poultry to New York City and
other metropolitan areas.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT
HOPES (privately. Of course) that
other Latin American nations will
follow the lead set by tiny Costa
Rica and donate land for the con.
struction Of new embassies and
legations.
Even In countries where facilities
have been adequate increased Ac-
tivities have placed q premium on
available building space. In view
Of the general hope around the de-
partment that the postwar era
will bring increased business, inn
Since the United States has con-
tributed heavily TO the welfare and
prosperity Of the good neighbors
countries. q gesture such as Costa
Rica made might help the depart
ment wher IL goes before Congress
for additional funds.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST HEAD
ACHES facing the Allied leaders
is what TO do with German indus
try. Countless factories remained
in working condition despite the
terrific aerial pounding. And they |
are geared mostly TO turn out wea.
pons or other materials useful only |
in war.
Some leaders are worried that |
unless these factories are destroy.
ed or moved out of Germany,
schemers in the Reich will begin |
arming secretly for another war
perhaps 20 or 80 years hence.
Solving that problem will just
bring on another one, however
German factory workers OF the
present generation can't learn to. be
farmers overnight.
Some workable economy will
have to be inaugurated to prevent
the millions of Germans from
starving. Italy is in bad shape.
too. Looks like the leaders OF Rus. |
sia. Great Britain and the United |
States have some sleepless nights
ahead.