WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS
Victorious Red Army Continues Drive
As Nazi Winter Line Fails to Hold;
Establishment of 48-Hour Work Week
Expected to Release New Labor Supply
(EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions nro repressed in those column*, they are those of
Westorn Newspaper Union's news analysts and not necessarily of this newspaper.)
____________ Released by Western Newspaper Union. . —.
Picture shows (I. to r.) Maj. Gen. S. M. Chu, military attache of
the Chinese embassy; Mme. T. V. Noong, wife of the Chinese foreign
minister; Vice President Henry A. Wallace; Edward C. Carter, Secre
tary General of the Institute of Pacific Relations and Maj. Gen. Dai
Fnng King, member of the Chinese military mission to the United States.
This photo was taken at a Washington luncheon as the Institute of Pacific
Relations met to celebrate the renunciation of extra territorial rights in
China by the United States.
RUSSIA’S GAIN:
And the ‘Experts'
When the Germans surrendered
Kursk before the Russians captured
Rostov the Red army again crossed
up the military experts who for
weeks had been predicting the oppo
site. But the fact that Kursk was
the major anchor point on the Nazi
winter line to fail only added to the
importance of this strategic victory
for Russia.
It is a city of 60,000 and a railway
Junction of vital importance to the
Nazis. It was one of three points
(Rostov and Kharkov were the other
two) which the German radio once
said must be held at any price “of
German blood." Germany had held
the town since November 11, 1941,
and its loss meant that the Russians
had breached the Nazi winter line
running from Bryansk, Orel and
Kursk to Kharkov, Voroshilovgrad
and Rostov.
Fall of the latter point meant the
entrapment of the entire Nazi force
in the Caucasus but even the Rus
sians admitted that some of the
200,000 soldiers caught there were
escaping across the Kerch peninsula
and through Rostov itself.
All along the line the advancing
Russians gained mile after mile and
with the territory gained vast quan
tities of military supplies and hun
dreds of Nazi and Rumanian prison
ers.
48-HOUR WEEK:
For Industry
Approximately 1,500,000 men and
women ultimately are expected to be
released for more essential work as
the result of President Roosevelt’s
order establishing a minimum war
time work week of 48 hours.
The order, which coincided with a
warning by James F. Byrnes, direc
tor of economic stabilization, that
the government intends to hold
wages and prices at present levels,
rflfcde it clear that workers will be
paid for all hours over 40 at time
and a half, as provided by the
Fair Labor Standards act. The ini
tial order took effect immediately
in 82 designated “labor shortage’’
areas. The order will be extended
from time to time.
The shift to the 48-hour work week
by employers now working on a
shorter week would result in the
necessity of releasing certain num
bers of workers. These workers will
be used in other vital jobs.
Stern Program
In his speech. OES Director
Byrnes explained the 48-hour week
ruling and listed the following pro
gram which the government intends
to follow:
1. No further increase in hourly
wage rates beyond those allowed by
the Little Steel formula, which per
mits a 15 per cent rise since January
1, 1841.
2. Draft of civilians for jobs where
they can do the most good.
8. Effective control of food prices
and other prices influencing the
basic cost of living.
4. Incentive payments to farmers
to Increase basic food production.
9. Higher taxes to close the esti
mated 14 billion dollar gap between
consumer income and available
goods.
NORTH AFRICA:
New Air Blows
American air forces continued to
strike telling blows at Axis North
African supply and communications
lines while neutral dispatches re
ported hectic preparations for a gi
gantic Allied offensive in Tunisia.
U. S. bombers, lashing at Mar
shal Rommel’s forces, blasted the
airdrome at Gabes and the docks at
Sousse, starting heavy fires among
buildings.
Dispatches from Algiers said the
Allies were expected to strike from
the west at the moment Lieut. Gen.
Bernard L. Montgomery’s British
Eighth army resumed its pursuit
in force of the Africa Corps. The
Eighth army was said to be poised
along the Tripolitanian - Tunisian
frontier, with forward elements
reaching within eight miles of the
Mareth line, inside Tunisia.
It was believed the Allied pincers
movement was being held for bet
ter weather or until all prepara
tions were definitely complete.
GUADALCANAL:
American Victory
When six months of bitter warfare
ended with the Japanese evacuation
of Guadalcanal island in the Solo
mons, the enemy’s desperate, futile
investment was estimated to have
cost them 50,000 men, about 800
planes and a considerable fleet of
ships.
For the first time the tenacious
Japs were forced to give up an im
portant position completely, thus
paving the way — in the words of
Navy Secretary Knox—-for blows by
the United States against “some of
the most important bases of the Jap
anese." The enemy had relinquished
hope for a stronghold there from
I which they could blast shipping
lanes to Australia.
Knox expressed the opinion that
widespread recent sea and air activ
ity in the Solomons might have been
"a demonstration to cover their
withdrawal.” He added that "The
story of the Southwest Pacific would
have been a vastly different story
for the last three or four months
had we not established our positions
in the Solomons.”
PANIC BUYING:
Held Un necessary
As shoe rationing went into effect
a wave of "panic buying” of cloth
ing swept some parts of the country
and immediate efforts were extend
ed by government officials to halt
this trend. Donald Nelson. War
Production board chairman, and
Prentiss Brown, price administra
tor, issued a joint statement pointing
out that no shortage of clothing ex
ists and no plans have been made
for its rationing.
Part of the statement read:
“WPB has not asked OPA to under
take rationing of clothing and no
machinery has been set up for such
a program . . . shoe rationing ap
pears to have stimulated scare buy
ing in some parts of the country . . .
such buying is unnecessary.”
Supplies of wool were said to be
larger by several hundred million
pounds than they were at the out
break of the war.
I BRIEFS • • • by Bauhhage
Peace Move: Count Ciano’s ap
pointment as Italian ambassador to
the Vatican might be the harbinger
of Axie peace moves. Not only has
(he pope been known to be in sup
port of feasible peace formulas but
(ha Holy See remains one of the few
neutral localities of Europe with a
wide representation of diplomats
from the Allied as well as Axis
countries.
Red Tape: There has been talk
that the War Labor board might
decentralize its operations and vest
final authority in all regional dis
putes in its regional units. The pres
ent practice of referring all regional
decisions to the main office in Wash
ington for approval has resulted in
many delays, it is said, with subse
quent dissatisfaction to employer
and employee alike.
LITTLE STEEL:
Formula Upheld
The War Labor board reaffirmed
its determination to stabilize gen
eral wage rates at present levels
when members stood by the Little
Steel wage formula and denied high
er pay for 180.000 employees of the
“Big Four" meat packing compa
nies.
Voting 7 to 4—the labor member
dissenting—the board voted to pre
vent "another tragic race between
prices and wages." The formula al
lows increases not to exceed 15 per
cent since January 1. 1941. The
three unions involved (CIO, AF of L
and Independent) have asked in
creases of #rom 10 to 20 cents an
hour, far in excess of the limit.
On the heels of the WLB deci
sion came a warning from Patrick
J. Gorman, secretary-treasurer of
the AF of L meat cutters union, that
sporadic strikes probably will re
suit all over the country.
BATTLE FORECAST:
Over Labor Draft
There were plenty of predictions
about a rough and tumble legislative
battle over the draft-labor bill de
signed to allow the government to
assign men between 18 and 65 and
women between 18 and 50 to war
jobs.
Now before the military affairs
committees of the house and senate,
the bill w’as introduced by Senator
Austin (Rep., Vt.) and Representa
tive Wadsworth (Rep., N. Y.) and is
backed by the same group of legis
lators who supported the selective
service act.
Controversy is expected to arise
over problems of compulsory labor,
migration of labor, expansion of the
armed forces to 11,000.000 without
relegating production to a very mi
nor role and over a proposal made
by some that all labor-draftees be
given free choice as to whether or
not they would join a union upon
going into war industry.
THREE PAIRS:
If If e re Lucky
Although initial plans calling for
a ration of three pairs of shoes per
year per person caused little con
sternation to the buying public, later
developments indicated that new re
strictions are not impossible. The
OPA announced that "three-pairs-a
year ration must not be taken as a
definite commitment by the OPA.”
So far the OPA has decreed only one
pair of shoes may be purchased
between now and June 15 What
happens then depends upon produc
tion.
PAY MARCH IS:
That's for Sure
There was still plenty of confu
sion about what form the almost
certain "pay-as-you-go” income tax
would take but one fact stood crys
tal clear through all the conversa
tion and controversy—income tax
returns for 1942 must be filed by
March 15 and at least one-quarter of
the amount owed must be payed by
that time. Taxpayers were warned
about this by Randolph Paul, U. S
Pictured here in his New York of
fice is Beardsley Ruml, the man
who made America “Pay-as-you-go”
conscious. Mr. Ruml is treasurer of
Macy’s New York department store
and is also chairman of the New
York Federal Reserve bank. His
plan calls for wiping out 1942 income
taxes and paying on 1943 income in
1943.
treasury general counsel, and by
Harold D. Smith, director of the
federal budget, as well as by mem
bers of the house ways and means
committee, now giving consideration
to the new tax plans.
These range all the way from the
“Ruml plan,” which would “for
give" all of the 1942 tax, to “no for
giveness" plans which would put in
come tax on a “pay-as-you-go”
basis but would also collect the 1942
tax.
There was no organized resistance
to the principle of pay-as-you-go in
come taxes but what method was to
be used for collecting last year's
payments troubled most thinkers on
the subject. In the meantime, tax
payers were cautioned to be sure
and -file their returns
PACIFIC CONTROL:
While indications continued to in
crease that the U. S. victory at
Guadalcanal was just the first step
in the broad strategy of the war
against Japan, Secretary of the
Navy Frank Knox declared that ne
gotiations should begin as soon as
possible for naval bases with which
we might control the entire Pacific
after the war.
Answering questions asked by
members of the house foreign af
fairs committee he agreed that it
would be necessary to disarm Japan,
Changes Scheduled for
Manpower Commission
English System Seen as Successful Model;
McNutt Unable to Obtain Efficient and
Experienced Force of Experts.
By BAUKHAGE
Neus Analyst and Commentator.
WNU Service, 622 Union Trust Bldg.
Washington. D. C.
Two days before the Office of War
Information announced the now fa
mous "work-or-fight order” I wrote:
Strange sounds are coming through
the keyhole of the wide door of the
office of the federal security admin
istrator, Paul McNutt. They have
nothing to do with federal security
but they have a lot to do with that
other function of the administrator,
on whose broad shoulders rests
heavily the chairmanship of the
manpower commission.
The noises I refer to are the pre
liminaries to a bigger noise.
"The manpower commission is
just about to blow up,” said a cer
tain official to me, one who has fol
lowed its operations very closely but
because of some strange premoni
tion refused to get entangled with
them. He is entirely sympathetic
with the effort but like others
whose duties arc affected by the
ramifications of the manpower situ
ation. he is chagrined and confused
by what is happening and still more
by what hasn’t happened.
When the manpower situation was
first turned over to McNutt, who is
known as a good administrator, there
was a long and patient wait for
something to happen. Nothing did.
"No wonder," said neutral observ
ers, “he has no authority."
Then he got the authority by presi
dential ukase. Earlier, it is true,
he had made it plain that he felt that
there should be passed by congress,
a national service act which would
lay upon all civilians the similar
obligations placed upon the young
men of military age. So many peo
ple, who thoroughly disliked the idea
of a draft of labor of any kind nev
ertheless declared such a step was
inevitable that I was positive that it
was coming and so reported. Now
it seems far away.
The substitute was supposed to be
the setup under McNutt which would
work through theCJnited States Em
ployment service. Selective service
was even made a part of McNutt’s
organization and General Hershey,
who had seen that institution through
from its inception, with better grace
than many would have shown, ac
cepted the subordination of his func
tions like the good soldier that he is.
More Authority
But many a week has passed since
that step was taken, various direc
tives have been sent to the draft
boards, enlarging the scope of defer
ment for essential farm and indus
trial occupations. But still the sys
tem doesn’t click. It is now report
ed that McNutt feels that he needs
still more presidential authority con
ferred upon him.
It was thought when the last re
organization of the manpower agen
cy was made that the United States
Employment service would work
side by side with the Selective serv
ice, the one recruiting labor, the
other recruiting fighters and the
question would be settled between
them under a single head. Then,
according to one of the members of
the commission, without informing
anyone in advance, he did what
many feel was a direct violation of
the key policy—turned over the ques
tion of deferment to the department
of agriculture.
This is the step which those who
opposed it feel is going to force a
change in the setup once more. Ad
ministration of manpower recruit
ment was supposed to be centered
in the commission.
Naturally members of the depart
ment of labor who felt that recruit
ment of workers should be handled
by that agency, consider that no suc
cessful solution will be reached until
the entire manpower question is put
under a single person of cabinet
rank and administered by that head
right down to the local setups. They
point to what has been done in Eng
land where the system seems to be
working successfully under the Brit
ish labor minister. A system has
been worked out there where the lo
cal administration has wide author^
ity under a firm general policy.
The reason why a similar plan
was not followed here is possibly
because of the feeling against Sec
retary of Labor Perkins. Too many
people would object if the work were
turned over to her and it was be
lieved that the President was about
to cut the Gordian knot when the
plan was announced whereby Miss
Perkins was to be transferred to the
head of the Federal Security admin
istration; McNutt would go to inte
rior and Secretary of Interior Ickes
would head the labor department.
Ickes’ Refusal
That scheme fell through because
Ickes didn't want to make the shift.
The result is that McNutt has been
left to struggle with a problem for
which some of his most sympathetic
critics say he is not fitted. He has
been unable to obtain an efficient
and experienced staff—some posts
are still vacant—others are said to
lack the technical knowledge neces
sary to McNutt or anyone in his po
sition. Such expert assistance would
be available in the labor department
for even those who speak least re
spectfully of "Madame Secretary”
admit that she has built up an ex
cellent force of experts in her de
partment.
As one veteran of the labor front
said to me: “If the war lasts long
enough, we may establish a work
able and efficient system like the
British. Look for at least one more
makeshift experiment. Meanwhile,
let's hope we can muddle through.”
That was the state of things up
until February 2, 1943. Then came
the announcement of the list of "non
deferrable jobs." The cynical may
still look upon it as a “make-shift
experiment”—by April 1 we’ll know
whether McNutt has cracked the
hardest nut in Washington or wheth
er we still have to muddle through.
• • *
Nazi Communiques
Indicate New Status
When Hitler failed to appear or
even to speak to his unseen audience
on the tenth anniversary of his ac
cession to power, it was only natural
that many people felt that this was
part of the peace offensive which
it was known the Reich w’as prepar
ing. The “unconditional surrender
conference” at Casablanca was sup
posed to have pretty well quashed
the Nazi peace drive but apparently
the Reich still has hopes.
When I learned that Goering and j
not Hitler was delivering the oration
of the day, two pictures flashed
vividly into my mind—one I wit- |
nessed personally in September. :
1939, from the Press Gallery of i
Reichstag and the other was de
scribed to me. The latter is said
to have taken place in the famous
hunting lodge of Goering, outside of
Berlin. A millionaire American
manufacturer sat with him. It was
not long before Pearl Harbor. The
American had a peace drive of his
own. He outlined it to Goering. It
was this: Get rid of Hitler, set up
a more liberal government, agree to
get out of France if England will
make peace.
The man to do the job, Goering.
The fee, one million dollars.
According to my informant, Goer
ing was willing but the scheme was
never put through.
Names Goering, Hess
The other scene was the occasion
of Hitler’s announcement that he
had invaded Poland. It was then
that he declared that he was going
to the front and that if anything
happened to him, he had decided
that his successor would be his air
marshal, who sat at the Reichstag
president’s desk, resplendent in one
of his musical comedy uniforms.
And, said the fuehrer, if anything
happened to Goering, Hess would be
the second choice. The solemn and
lanky Hess, dressed in the brown
uniform of the party, rose and
saluted as had the grinning Goering.
Hess, when things didn't go ac
cording to his wishes, painted his
toenails, and took wings for England.
There has been comment in Wash
ington lately over the different tone
in the official communiques issued
by the German high command. Ex- ;
perts say they seem to indicate that
the generals have taken over.
Recently it was rumored that Hit
ler had fired his "intuition” which
he said directed his military strategy 1
and he was letting the professionals
run the army. It is just possible
that Hitler will some day meet the
same fate of the intuition which he
so unkindly purged. Even the most
thickheaded Nazi could hardly be
lieve that the Allies would ever
make peace with a government with
Hitler at the head.
B R I E F S • • • by Baukhage
For every egg laid last year we
need 13 eggs this year to feed our
selves and our allies.
• • *
Many Americans in the Pacific
coast states were as disappointed as
the Chinese in the failure to an
nounce an offensive in the Far East
in 1943. They say they feel as if
Washington was a lot further from
San Francisco than Australia.
There is talk again of an overall
agency having the last word on all
the problems affecting the civilian
population under war conditions.
James Byrnes, stabilization admin- j
istrator, would head it.
• • •
The war has shrunk the comics.
Syndicates are studying means of
compressing their humor and drama
into four instead of five columns.
‘Scrap’ Nitrogen
Now Is Salvagable
Its Loss Usually Due
To Lack of Management
"Scrap” nitrogen, ordinarily wast
ed through poor handling of manure
piles, can be effectively salvaged on
millions of farms to help take the
place of chemical nitrogen now be
ing extensively used for the manu
facture of war explosives.
While American agriculture will
receive almost as much nitrogen as
usual next spring, it will go mostly
to growers of vegetables, fruits, po
tatoes, sugar beets and other crops
considered of special value to the
This sailor, a former butcher from
Washington, is handling just a very
small part of the meat consumed at
a U. S. naval base. Despite the in
creased meat production by the farm
ers 2!6 pounds of meat a week re
striction will be the rule.
war program, according to Paul J.
Rood, extension specialist, soils de
partment, Michigan State college.
Thus the manure pile takes on
a new value, for manure is rich
in nitrogen. Almost two-thirds
of the total plant food value of
average farm manure is in the
nitrogen. Most of the nitrogen
value, however, is in the liquids
—usually lost because of lack of
care.
Surest method of saving this valu
able nitrogen supply is to change the
present methods of manure manage
ment on most farms. This means
stopping the practice of throwing the
manure out of the barn window or
door to stand out in the weather,
perhaps under the dripping eaves of
the building until spring. It means
saving the liquids which are ordinar
ily drained off or evaporated.
One pound of superphosphate
for each animal each day, placed
in the cow gutters and in the
horse stalls is effective in sav
ing nitrogen lost by passing into
the air. In the pen type barn or
in the cattle and sheep feeding
pens and in the pens of young
cattle, the same rule should be
followed—one pound of super
phosphate for each animal daily.
Long experience has proved it will
pay to apply this superphosphate to
the manure.
Agriculture
• in •
Industry
By FLORENCE C. WEED
Pine
The story of the pine forests of the
South is a tragedy which Science
changed into a romance of success.
In an earlier day, oil, later distilled
into turpentine, was sapped from
southern pines by cutting great
gashes in the bark which permanent
ly injured the trees. The scientist,
Charles Herty, revolutionized the in
dustry by showing growers how to
substitute shallow slashes in the
bark which would effectively draw
out the sap without killing the tree.
As a result, turpentine forests have
been saved for repeated crops, year
after year.
Today, pine oil is being extracted
from old stumps and being used in
the textile industry and in the manu
facture of perfumes. Camphor is
being made from turpentine and
pine oil, replacing oriental camphor
at lower cost.
Manufacture of wrapping paper,
corrugating board and insulation are
booming industries using four mil
lion cords of pine annually. Waste
sawdust and wood chips are now
going into plastics.
Farm Notes
The simplest way to avoid chick
losses during the first four weeks is
to buy them with a guarantee that
the chicks will live and grow for the
first month.
• • •
Pork can be made safe for human
consumption, so far as dangerous
trichinae are concerned, by proper
freezing, U. S. department of agri
culture scientists have determined
after many tests.
classified"
DEPARTMENT
Live Stock Commission
BYERS BROS & CO.
A Real Live Stock Com. Firm
At the Omaha Market
FARMS FOR SALE
GOOD IMPROVED VALI.EV FARMS AT
M5 to $75 per acre. Write for list. M. A.
Larson Agency. Central City, Nebraska.
As He Took It
An old actor was playing “Othel
lo” when he was struck on the
head by a melon.
“Dear me!” he said; "what
strange forms applause sometimes
takes!”
Definition of Golf—A game in
which you place a ball an inch m
and a half in diameter on a ball *
8,000 miles in diameter. Then you
try to hit the small ball without
hitting the big one.
Better Wait
Manager—Your salary will be
$15 a wreek to start and $20 after
six months.
Typist—Well, I’ll come back in
six months.
Consistent
“Did he furnish his whole house with
second-hand stuff?"
“\es, he even married a widow."
Out of Turn
“Where did you get that black
eye?”
“I wras talking when I should
I have been listening.”
Skating on thin ice usually gets
you into hot water.
To Fall Back On
"Then you believe in marrying
for money?”
“I wouldn’t say that exactly;
but when you marry a man it’s
just as well to know there’s some
thing about him you will always
like.”
NO ASPIRIN
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Easy Business ^
Nothing is easier than fault-find
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brains, no character are required
to set up in the grumbling busi
ness.—Robert West.
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| - -
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Ease Attracts
Most men are more willing to
indulge in easy vices than to prac
tice laborious virtues. — Dr. S.
Johnson.
^ MORE PATES ?
for girls who hasten healing
of externally caused pimples
flD by relieving irritation with
RESINOL. .