The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-09-13
Observations
Army Silent on
Quiries About
Surplus Goods
By HELEN EssARY

By HELEN ESSARY
With the war over, some military
secrets" are still unreyealed by
the Army. During the war the
public generally was denied infor-
nation on the size OF the foodstocks
accumulated by the quartermaster
general for the armed forces and
some Of the civilian elements.
The explanation given them was
that disclosure OF the size OF the
food pile might enable the enemy
20 estimate the size OF the military
establishment. Now, however, the
Germans and Japs are defeated.
The office Of censorship is out OF
existence. But two weeks after the
war was over, an inquiry to the
War Department on the size Of its
butter stocks ELECTED the reply,
Sorry. Can't give you that infor-
nation. II is restricted"
While II is likely that the Army
had more food on hand than abso-
lutely essential to supply the armed
forces. 1t is also true that a certain
margin OF surplus was allowed due
10 the possibility OF loss or Interrupt
ton of the supply line.
II the Army fails to divulge the
information, however, there is the
possibility that Congress. pressur-
ed by still rationed constituents,
may insist on an investigation.
PRESIDENT TRUMAN, despite
his early start as a haberdasher,
has not, until recently, been notab-
ly distinguished for his dress.
When in the Senate, he looked like
a simple businessman, or possibly
a lawyer, as he made his way to his
Capitol Hill office.
He never assumed the eccentric
marks OF the old time legislator
the Windsor tie, the cutaway coat
or the broadbrimmed hat. Obsery-
ers of his appearance since he emf
cred the White House, however,
see a notable change.
II is neither TO a conservative
nor extreme style. He simply
seems to pay more attention to the
ensemble-the tien shirt, socks,
shoes and hat become "a symphony
toned to whatever suit he is wear
ing. Incidentally, he seems to pre-
fer gray suits. 1t is a preference
he holds in common with the Duke
OF Windsor. once an arbiter OF
mems fashions.
On recent appearance one by
stander remarked OF the presidents
improved dress, "Just the haber-
dasher in him coming out"
PART OF THE DEMAND for the
courtmartial OF Adm. Husband f.
Kimmel and 1t. Gen. Walter G.
Short stems from Kimmel himself
He has been active in this cam
paign ever since Pearl Harbor, &C.
cording to informed congressional
sources to whom Kimmel has car
ried his plea.
Short has been less urgent in
pleas for q trial but It is believed
that he, too, will Join with Kim
mel in pressing for an open hear
ing.
REP. CLAUDE RANKIN (D) OF
Mississippi, chairman OF the House
Veterans Affairs Committee, is rea-
dy and anxious to press his fight for
his bill to exempt veterans seeking
employment from union closed shop
agreements. II he succeeds In fore
ing his measure to the House floor.
a bitter battle is likely to ensue.
Opponents call the bill union
busting" measure.
Rankin. never friendly TO unions,
argues that II merely insures to
returning servicemen their right to
a job.
NAVY PLANS FOR MAINTAIN
ING PEACE call for fast, far rang.
ing carrier task forces that can
sweep with an observing eye the
vast expanses OF the Pacific and the
Atlantic.
The only thing that can upset
this plan would be congressional
action which would dispose OF all
but a skeleton OF the Nays pres
ent strength OF 1,200 vessels. Top
ranking Navy officials envisage
three or more task forces for the
Pacific and two for the Atlantic.
II would remain a two-ocean Navy.
They do not believe that the
development OF the atomic bomb
or other seemingly fantastic de-
velopments will eliminate the need
for a sea striking force able to
blockade an enemy homeland and
TO destroy the surface power which
must, inevitably. pave the way for
land force. They note that wher.
ever employed in the past war, the
carrier task force has been able TO
neutralize landbased craft wher.
ever and whenever It wished.