Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 September 1942 — Page 17

Visiting Notables—Like Charlie .- MoCarthy-Oight to

‘See That Americans in

Aleutians: Were Not Sur-

“prised and That Japs. Won No Vigtory,

BY B. J.

McQUAID

‘Copyright. 1943, by The Indianapolis Times snd The Chisago Daily News, Inc.

AN ALASKAN BASE,

Aug.,

Aleutian tourist season approaches its climax with the arrival of Charlie McCarthy. As I write, Mr. McCarthy is en route to Dutch Harbor in a PBY, accompanied by Bergen, Ophelia

and the indefatigable military Mortimer Snerd.

critic and naval strategist, Mr.

Charlie was ‘having a good time in Alaska, until word got round that a critical shortage of raw materials was go-

ing to necessitate shaving him down to veneer and meaking|

plastic airplanes out of him. He got here in the wake of assorted delegations of congressmen, senators and attending dignitaries... For a while this kind of traffic ‘was| thicker than the fog, which is

a bad simile because the most amazing phenomenon of Aleutian weather is the way the fog lifts for the benefit of various. visiting com.mittees, including the Truman committee. “Senatorial weather,” we .inh&bitants now: call it, whenever the sun breaks through for a few ‘minutes. »

* Setback, Not a Loss

But as soon as the boys go home that ofd devil fog sets in again, thicker than ever, and not only here but back home, too, apparently. One hopes that such statements as Charlie makes to the press when he gets back — everyone reserves their statements until they get back —will bear more than a coincidental resemblance to the actual situation. Since Charlie is a hard-head-ed realist, and not a candidate for anything, chances are they will. He might, for instance, after a good first-hand look, say something like this: Quotes. Don't get so excited, folks. We haven't lost Alaska yet, and probably aren't going tp. It may be true, as another visiting fireman said, that we suffered a serious “setback’ up here. We did lose two or three hunks of rock-studded, cloud-shrouded American soil, and that is not only hurtful to our pride but potentially damaging to our ‘cause and our security. The most alarming possibilities have been repeatedly stressed, ineluding the threats to Russo-American routes, to the Alaskan mainland, and even to the states themselves. Nobody is minimizing any of this.

Costly to Japs

But to set the situation in proper perspective it ought to be pointed out that the Japs have suffered a setback up here, too, which was probably closely allied with their Midway setback and which has cost them infinitely more—so far—in ships, planes, men and effort than "their Aleutian sally has cost us. The first thing to remember is

rms yn

*AYRES

SHIRT GIRL Pigtail Sine!

5 Felt Beret ceavaenas iil 00 2

Back k - to - school classics, 2 dear to the heart of the Jelly Bean Crowd-many-Sed atv flannel

They just walked up on the beach and made themselves at home. Second, there is every reason to sup-

those particular places was a third, or even fourth or fifth choice on

going, when they showed up outside Dutch Harbor early in June with troop transports and two separate large forces of warships, including carriers, nobody knows. But there are plenty of military and naval people who think they might ‘have been going to Dutch Harbor. They didn't get Dutch ‘Harbor. They didn’t come close to getting it. Despite criticism printed back home of the army and navy for the Dutch Harbor business, the simple fact is that the Japs were beaten off from the Dutch Harbor occupation effort—if that's what it was—with heavy losses and a badly disrupted program.

Damage Is Slight

Not all their losses were direct results of blows struck by our airmen, though many of them were. The same weather which made it difficult for our fliers to find and bomb their ships also cost them a painful slice of their carrier plane complement—at least a third, in the opinion of competent and conservative military judges. Nor did they, contrary again to an opinion that seems prevalent in the states, do very much damage to Dutch Harbor, They killed a few of our people, which was the most regrettable feature of the attack, and busted up a couple of ail tanks. They set back the progress of our installations by a couple of days maybe, But another way to look at that is that since the bombing, engineer battalions at Dutch Harbor have voluntarily, and enormously, speeded up their efforts.

No Surprise to Men

It is an insult to a band of gallant people some of whom are now dead, to liken the Dutch Harbor episode to the Pearl Harbor attack, as did one nationally read United States publication. Far from being surprised, the Dutch Harbor crowd was thoroughly on the alert for 'just such an assault, as they had been every day since Dec. 7. One testimony to this is the amount of anti-

\

aircraft fire which greeted the visi-

tors, and astonished and panicked

them. They were just as surprised

by the number of airplanes which showed up from bases they evidently had known nothing about. Neither is it true, as some accounts have it, that the army and navy: up here have been “un-co-ordinating” like cats and dogs. During the heat of the early engagements and searches, unfortunate remarks were made by certain officers which were quickly and mutually forgotten and forgiven. They had been based .on simple misunderstanding of each other's funcSions, particularly us as concerns aviaon.

Need Joint Operations

This is not primarily an indictment of leaders on the scene, but of a system of flight training and aviation preparedness that: has failed utterly to install in our army and navy fliers a proper appreciation of each other's methods, doctrines and equipment. A few days, even hours, of joint operational and| familiarization training would have been sufficient to iron out the worst of these matters. As it was, our lads many of whom were utterly green to such joint tactics as the situation required, had to get their experience the hard way, under combat conditions, and some of them paid for it with their lives. Nevertheless, both our army and navy pilots and crews distinguished themselves by the manner in which thiey overcame nearly insuperable handicaps, including the weather, and inflicted telling blows on the enemy. Aviators ‘of both services agree that lacking bases nearer than any we now have we shall never get the Japs out of Kiska with bombing raids. Kiska is. one place where the “man in the hole with a gun” still remains supreme in warfare. Just how, or if, we plan to remove him is a subject that would scarcely bear discussion, even if known. A congressman who recently re-

| turned to the states and predicted

flatly that the United States would soon move in on Kiska with troops was indulging in speculation of a character which would have serious

dummy, or even a news correspond-

] ig for a ventriloquist’s ‘jjent. Conceivably, it might be a

much better idea to let the Japs | Just sit there, pouring more and more effort into the place, while |we tear it down as fast as they || use it up—Ena quotes trom nas, McCarthy, Esq.

oe wn |

that the Japs never “invaded” ori “conquered” Attu, Agatti or Kiska. |

pose that the Jap occupation of |

their part. Just where they were].

| CLASSES SPONSORED

are oil fields for the thirsty Nazi

Recent German attacks in Egypt linked with the Nazi pounding at Stalingrad shape the pattern of axis aims of joining forces in the Near East by thrusting from one major objective fo the next. Goals

centers and bases like Sues Canal, Stalingrad and Alexhndria.

=

war machine and communications $

HOOSIERS SEE 6. 0, P. VICTORY

Congressmen Back View of Senator Willis; Springer Warns of Inflation. -

By DANIEL M. KIDNEY Times Special Writer WASHINGTON, Sept. 10—Hoosier Republican congressmen returning here today backed up the report of Senator Raymond E. Willis (R. Ind.) that “things never looked better for a G. O. P. victory in the state, particularly in the rural areas.”

The senator returned last week after a month in Indiana and the congressmen began arriving yesterday. All are expected to be on hand by Monday. Those here expressed the general view that the failure of President Roosevelt to couple wage freezing with the farm price ceilings requested of congress in his message will increase the Republican farm vote throughout the Midwest this fall. Rep. Raymond 8S. Springer (R. Ind), who was twice his party's nominee for governor, said he was all-out for stopping inflation and asked why the administration hasn't done so before this time. “I am id full accord with the president when he states that inflation must be stopped,” Representative Springer said in commenting on the presidential message and speech.

Fears Inflation Peril

“Inflation in this country would cause disaster. The president desired the price control bill which was passed by the congress and signed by him and now is public law. When that law failed to accomplish its intended purpose, and although the president has the full power to act under the unlimited authority which he possesses by reason of being the commander-in-chief of the army and navy, he now tries to cast the onus upon the congress. “The president has obtained Just what he asked for and since it has failed in accomplishment he tries to cast the responsibility of such failure upon those who ‘gave him exactly what he requested. “If the president is undecided or confused then he should take counsel, and act. crisis is fatal. Rep. Louis Ludlow (D. Ind.) declared that -he was pleased with the fact that the president, asked congress to act. “There were so ie stories going around about his trying to circumvent congress, I was very pleased when they proved untrue,” Rep. Ludlow said.

FOR RADIO STUDENTS

. Code and theory classes for amateur radio operators will open next Monday, Leroy T. Waggoner, president of the Indianapolis Radio Club, Inc, announced today. The. classes will be held at the club rooms at Olney and St. Clair sts, and the first one will be set aside for registration and to allow students to become acquainted. The classes are intended to prepare students for passing examinations in transmission and receiving. The war emergency radio service, now organized here for protection in case of emergencies, requires its operators to have an amateur or other FCC license to be eligible to participate in the work. =

This Soldier Wants a Letter

milftary police battalion at Pt.

Indecision® in this

THIS 1S the second World war | for Corp. Victor Moore of the |

Harrison. He was only 17 when | he went to France in the first | f

W hat the French Think of Raids

VICHY, Sept. 10 (U.P) ~The Rouen Journal, published under German dominance, revealed today that there had been at least one public clash over the American flying fortress raids on that city. ! was violently set upon by a do lt van ielted a shal Petain,” said the newspaper. “To the great astonishment of the crowd the patriot (the veteran) was marched off to jail while the de Gaullist was not molested.” :

CITRINE CAUSES LABOR SENSATION

BLACKPOOL, England, Sept. 10 (U.P.).—Sir Walter Citrine caused a sensation at the meeting of the Trade Union Congress today with the revelation that the British government had intervened in the controversy arising from the T. U. Cs affiliation with the American Federation of Labor. Citrine, general secretary of the T. U, C, said the government had suggested postponement of a scheduled meeting of the Anglo-American trade union committee, to which the C. 1.:0. and the American Rail-

Permits. Penalty for Tth. Consecutive Day.

President Roosevelt, in a sweeping| executive order that will affect the weekly paychecks of thousands of workers, has prohibited the payment of “penalty” double-time” pay for work on Sundays, Saturdays and holidays. While eliminating the extra premium pay—the White House said this. provision in some cases interfered with “around-the-clock” opera-| tions—the order ‘permits payment of double time for the seventh day of

age, “in the interest of efficiency,

i lone day -of rest in seven.”

Payment of time and a half for all overtime work after 40 hours “as provided in the fair labor standards act and in some union agreements”

|also is permitted.

Makes Practice “Universal”

The White House said in announcing the order that many unions already have modified’ their contracts to put this pledge in effect, and the president’s action was taken “in order to make the practice universal.” : “Penalty double-time pay” refers to contracts in which employers are required to pay workers double time—a “penalty”—for work on

these days fall within the regular five-day work week. It also applies to a contract clause requiring double-time pay instead of time and a half for the sixth consecutive work day if it falls on a Sunday or holiday.

; . Results From Rivalry

The order, it said, was in line with pledges given Mr. Roosevelt by President William Green of the American Federation of Labor a President Philip Murray of the Congress of Iodustrial Orgahizations. It was-issued in midst of growing friction between the rival C. I. O. and «A. F. of L. United Automobile Workers and non-union shops in Detroit, growing out of the U. A. W.-C. I. O's waiver last April of demands for double time for Sunday and holiday work. The C.I. O. union subsequently voted to withdraw the waiver today unless the competing A. F. of L. and nonunion shops discontinued doubletime for such work.

WOMEN PROMISED JOBS | SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 10 (U.

work were promised regular jobs today despite refusal of the A. F. of L. boilermakers union to admit them to membership. “We must build ships and we must employ women,” William Hopkins, regional

way Brotherhoods do not belong.

‘Things you need

S oo d-looking, water-re-

pellant, leather-strap

oxlrot reeeenes 100

school bag — big enough’ even for a geography book: outside pockets for

ooo but definitely!

for going back—

THE thitg for your desk—a smooth writing fountain pen set on a genuine onyx

’ base. sees 1.00 4 Study lamp with a

sturdy bakelite base, an. djustable metal

. Set includes a fountain pen, Ee. LE

FOR. Standardizes Rile, so

mn IAS hak hens: their bases throughout the north-

| western section of the group. WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 . P.).—| American

New Georgia group of the Solo-’ mons, the . navy announced : last night. Although no mention was made of the amount of damage, the fact that “no resistance was encountered” indicated that it must | have been extensive. Gizo island—only 5% miles long long—lies about half-way between American-held Guadalcanal and site of an important enemy base at

3. Kleta. 3 ta tn some ime |recent Japanese ‘activity, possesses|n good anchorages for warships and| Tt

sea planes, and could be used by

the Japanese as a base for & coun-| 1. the

ter-attack on Guadalcanal. . . The attack on Gizos: was an= nounced in a naval communique la night which also revealed that Saturday a huge four-motored Japanese flying boat was shot down by a navy patrol plane northeast : of}. the Solomons, and that. marines. on} Guadalcanal are continuing to “mop| up” scattered Japanese soldiers that| fled to the jungles in the interior after the original American attack on Aug. 7. The navy also reported that the Japanese soldiers in the interior of ‘Guadalcanal may have been reinforced recently by small

ican planes have engaged in defens sive work. It marked the deepest known American penetration of f ’ Solomons since the marines’ the United States’ first offensiy e

Toy wavy dd ot. entity the

presumed to mean docks and other similar facilities. Gizo’s anchorage consists of a small bay at the southe eastern end of the island where ships may ajehor in 96 feet of Water

numbers of troops landed “from

work for any individual to encour-||

Saturdays or holidays even though

P.).—Women trained for shipyard|

director of the war manpower com={}’ mission, said.

Sr

L. S. AYRES '& COMPANY

200 ©3Y

Tip-Topper

s « « That will go to your head . , « In younge

lovely styles that you'll take to your heartl

Superlative Investment Fashions

4

Soft Wool Suit

“Timmy Taft” Coat

29.95 - :

3

Two young diraiica minded: fashions that will . solve your daytime wardrobe problem—take you surly and smarty sight through the fal

Ayres' Hat Bar, Street Flooe