WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS_ FDR Tightens Living Cost Controls; Allies Push All-Tunisia Offensives As Rommel Speeds Retreat Northward; Draftees Status Altered in New Plan (EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions or* espressed In these columns they ore those of Western Newspaper Union's news analysts and not necessarily o» this newspaper.) __Released by Western Newspaper Union. , . ANTI-INFLATION: ‘Hold the Line President Roosevelt's "hold the line” anti-inflation order served blunt notice on all special economic groups that competition for higher prices and wages must end. because the resulting conflict would not only result in inflation but "breed dis unity when unity is essential." Banning further wage increases except to correct substandard liv ing conditions virtually freezing em ployees to their present jobs and ex tending price controls to all cost-of living commodities, the President’s order centered a four-pronged at tack on inflation. The order pro vided: 1—No further wage increases be yond the Little Steel formula of 15 per cent over rates on January 1, 1942; 2—Immediate ceilings on all commodities affecting the cost of living; 3—No hiring of new employ ees by employers, except in accord ance with War Manpower commis sion regulations, to prevent employ ment of workers at higher pay than they received in previous jobs; 4— Stabilization of rates of common carriers and public utilities. DRAFT: Classes Reshuffled As local draft boards speeded the reclassification of registrants, in ac cordance with new selective service regulations, the fathers of children born before September 14, 1942, found themselves the sole occupants of class 3-A. All other men of draft age were being placed in one of the following classes: 1-A—Subject to immediate induc tion; 2-A—Deferred because of oc cupation in activities directly sup porting the war effort, or vital to the maintenance of civilian health and welfare; 2-B—Deferred because of occupation in war plants; 2-C or 3- C—Deferred because of essential agricultural work; 3-D—Deferred because their induction would cause extreme hardship to dependants; 4- F—Mentally, morally, or physical ly unfit for service. PACIFIC FRONT: Air War Continues Aerial warfare on the north and east extremities of the Pacific battle front provided for weeks the only activity in this theater In the north American army bombers escorted by fighters con tinued their daily assaults on Jap positions in the Aleutians, bombing Kiska and blasting Attu. Largest scale action of all oc curred near Guadalcanal, where American airmen destroyed 37 out of 98 Jap planes and bombers which attacked U. S. shipping Americans lost seven of their own planes in the encounter. U. S. NAVY: Billions for Building Further evidence of the navy’s de termination to build itself into un matched global power was seen in President Roosevelt’s request of congress for a $24,551,070,000 appro priation for the fiscal year 1944— the largest amount ever sought for the nation's sea-fighting forces. The President asked for $6,230, 000.000 for new warships; $1,830,000, 000 for maintenance and repair of ADM. ERNEST J. KING .. .mart baltle-u-uxons jot him. •hips and $3,476,000,000 for gun*, ammunition and armament. While only $1,640,000,000 was requested for airplanes, a backlog of about $4,000, 000,000 in orders will provide ade quate numbers of fighting craft. RUSSIA: Quiet on Donets As reports had persisted that the Germans were moving many fresh divisions to the Russian front for a new offensive, the Red forces took the initiative in the Kharkov area and seized several favorable posi tions south of Izyum, thus widen ing the Soviet bridgehead on the south bank of the Donets river. Following their failure at Izyum, the Germans were reported massing strength in the Balakleya sector. A Moscow communique reported that quiet had again descended on the Smolensk front after a lightning Russian thrust that resulted in the capture of several strongly held vil lages northeast of the Axis strong hold. Engagements were but a prelude to bigger movements, for both sides were massing their forces for new major actions once the spring thawed ground became firm again. TUNISIA: Fox in the Open Rommel's retreating Afrika Korps had been faced by Allied armies on three sides after "The Fox” was up rooted from his El Akarit positions and chased into the open plains of Tunisia well north of Gabes The seriousness of the crisis for the Axis was reflected in Italian communiques which admitted that Italo - German forces were being GEN. BERNARD MONTGOMERY . . . outfoxes Rommel. steadily overpowered along the en tire Tunisian front. The long-hoped for junction of American and British forces had in tensified Rommel's plight, for now General Montgomery’s British Eighth army was not only pressing him from the south, but its advance units now joined directly with Gen eral Patton's Second American army corps were menacing his flanks from the east. To the north. General Anderson's British First army had moved to close oft Rom mel's movements for a possible un ion with the Axis forces of Gen. Von Arnim. In routing Rommel at El Akarit, General Montgomery took the Nazis by surprise with a night attack that blazed its way forward under the screen of 500 cannon and scores of tanks and reinforced by hundreds of planes overhead. In the first break-through the Eighth army had gathered in 6,000 Axis prisoners. As the battle picture became clearer, the contributions of General Patton's American forces emerged importantly. Prior to the historic junction with the British Eighth army after piercing the Axis ar mies' flanks, the Americans had held up most of Rommel’s armored forces in the El Guettar region, weakening his defenses and making easier the task of the British at El Akarit. BLOCK-BUSTERS: Work Well Done The penetrating eyes of British reconnaissance cameras confirmed reports of RAF bomber pilots that "block-busters'' have done their work well in laying waste Industrial areas of Berlin. Photographs taken after one re cent raid disclosed that 30 impor tant war factories had been de stroyed or damaged The devasta tion was concentrated mostly in areas south and southwest of the center of Hitler's capital, a report by the air ministry disclosed. Railway repair shops, freight yards and the Templehof airfield were among objectives damaged. HIGHLIGHTS . . in the week’s news NEW YORK: Secretary of Navy Frank Knox announced that salvage operations were progressing rapidly on the 83,000-ton former French lin er Normandie, now named the La Fayette, which burned and capsized at her pier here on February 9, 1942 He indicated that the vessel should be righted by midsummer. The giant liner is being refitted for naval service. LONDON: A shipment of 10.000 American alarm clocks win be used to replace those worn out in Britain since the war started, it was an nounced by Hugh Dalton, president of the board of trade, in a statement to the house of commons after a member complained that coal min ers were having a hard time waking up for their 2 a. m. shifts in British and Welsh collieries. 35 BILLION: U. S. Must Recapture _, I ■n-inr Ml >f- r —r -1 ■■~&r i HttM • CHESTER C. DAVIS . . . 'spending power a peril.’ The government will have to re capture $35,000,000,000 in surplus spending power if present price-and wage controls are to combat Infla tion effectively. Chester C. Davis, food administrator declared. A banker as well as an agricul tural leader, Mr. Davis recommend ed higher federal taxes and sharply increased investments in war bonds to relieve the strain of “too much purchasing power" on a declining supply of consumer goods, includ- ( ing food and other living items. "This is no 10 per cent war,” he declared, referring apparently to the treasury's campaign to get 10 per cent of salaries invested in war bonds. KEYNES' PLAN: To Sidetrack Gold Following closely on the heels of the United States treasury’s pro posal for a $5,000,000,000 postwar in ternational stabilization plan came Lord Keynes’ proposal for a world credit institution "designed to ex- j pand world trade and serve as a genuine organ of truly international government." Unlike the American plan, the British fiscal expert's program would subordinate gold as the post war international medium of ex change, The announcement of Keynes’ proposal made in a British white paper said "the purpose of the clearing union is to supplant gold as a governing factor, but not dispense with it." Financial observers viewed the Keynes' plan as a trial balloon. [ Their idea was that a compromise between the American and British viewpoints would be ultimately ar rived at. Under the Keynes’ plan the clear ing union would have executive of fices in New York and London. It would operate as a bank of nations, with creditor nations allowing their balances to accumulate as deposits, while the union would lend these deposits for short periods to debtor nations, just as a commercial bank operates. FRANCE: U. S.-Britain Agree When British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden announced he had in vited Secretary of State Cordell Hull to visit London and said he was sat isfied there is "complete agreement” between Britain and the United States on the "future policy toward France," he took a long step toward settling the troublesome North Afri can political situation. Seemingly on the point of settle ment, the problem had been intensi fied once more when the Fighting French took umbrage at Alljed Com mander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhow er’s request that Gen Charles De Gaulle delay his projected visit to Algiers for conferences with Gen. Henri Giraud. Military men had viewed the Eisenhower request as a perfectly logical action. With the battle for Tunisia at its height, the time was not right for political discussion, since the entire time of the French, British and American lenders in North Africa was occupied in win ning the campaign. BLACK MARKETS: Meat Supply Scarcer Black markets were blamed by the department of agriculture for the reduced marketing of livestock for slaughter in recent weeks. In recent weeks, a department re port noted, government buying agen cies and civilian consumers depend ent on federally inspected plants have experienced difficulty in obtain ing meat. While the report did not disclose how great a reduction in in spected meat supplies stemmed from the black market operations, it described it as “fairly large." Meanwhile seven meat packing firms operating in the East and Mid dle West were indicted by a federal grand Jury in Newark, N J„ on charges of conspiracy to violate meat price regulations and meat quota restrictions. EUROPE: Axis on Alert The defense of Europe against the forthcoming Allied invasion was in creasingly occupying ‘he attention of Axis leaders, reports from the con tinent indicated. The Germans were said to be undertaking anti-invasion maneuvers in Belgium and Holland. Intelligence reports reaching Allied governments aaid the German and Italian high commands had met at Brenner pass to discuss the defense of Italy. ■—-— ■ - - — ' United Nations' Parleys First Real Solidarity lest 4 Russia Seen as Vital Factor in World Organization; Mutual Understanding . Essential to Worth-While Peace. By BAUKHAGE News Analyst and Commentator. WNT Service, Union Trust Building. Washington, D. C. This month will witness the first test of how united the United Nations are. The first of the conferences of representatives of the countries al lied against the Axis are to meet and discuss food. On the success of that gathering, much will depend. It may be just as well that the governments linked together under the very general and very idealistic statement of principles, the Atlantic Charter, are going to begin with a very material, a very down-to-earth and likewise a very vital question— food. It would be too much to expect to begin at once to discuss the ab stract subjects which are bound to arise when the larger implications of the philosophy of government are considered. People have to eat to live. It seems reasonable to believe that the food question can be han dled. Of course, it can easily be disposed of if the United States sim ply agrees to continue a lend-lease operation indefinitely with no de mand for remuneration except vague promises. That, of course, is what the cynical say will happen. And that brings me to the crux of the whole question of America's role in world affairs. If we go on the assumption as the isolationists do, that heads you win, tails we lose, and that America is going to be played for a sucker, we might as well throw up the whole idea of in ternational co-operation now and put our heads back into the sand until the next Pearl Harbor. un the otner hand, tne sincere proponents of international co-opera tion believe that America is smart enough and strong enough and wise enough and unselfish enough to help build the machinery which will at least make the world’s wheels go around a little better than they have 60 far. We created a United States out of country with every geograph ical and political factor th^t exists anywhere. We welded into one a conglomerate people representing every race on the face of the globe. Difficulties Ahead However, it is only fair to look at some of the difficulties ahead. Russia, if not an obstacle, is at least a problem for several rea sons. With an Allied victory, Rus sia, both because of her contribu tion to the victory and because of her size, position and strength, is a vital factor in any world organi zation—or disorganization. She is not actually a member of the United Nations hut rather an associated power as the United States was in the last war. She has not made a clear statement of her war or peace aims. She is, at present, occupying ter ritory of what was once free and in dependent nations; a part of Fin land, all of the Baltic states, a part of Poland. Recently, Gardner Cowles, pre sumably speaking as a member of the Office of War Information, said: “If Americans don’t make an ef fort to understand Russia and the Russian place in the scheme of things to follow this war, I fail to see how we can possibly hope to build a worth-while peace." That, of course, is true. However, that is only half of the story. It is mutual understanding that is neces sary. Mr. Cowles might have said: "If the Russian government does not encourage the people to under stand America, we can’t build a worth-while peace." It is a two-handled jug. We do misunderstand much about Russia We are misinformed on some points. The Russian govern ment has failed to inform us on others For instance, few people in this country know and many are probably unwilling to believe what Cowles, who ought to know what he is talking about, says about privatt property under the Soviets. About Property "Workers may acquire any amount of consumer goods.” he tells us, “any amount of furniture, an auto, etc., for their own use The distinction from our economy is that in Russia, an individual may not own income-producing property.” Well, what of it. California never threatened to secede because of New England's blue laws or New York state because of the way they turn out divorces in Nevada. The important thing is, what are Russia’s intentions concerning other nations? On my desk, there is be ginning to accumulate the literature of the various little nations—Poland, Latvia, Finland, who are already starting to plead for the restoration of lost territory or sovereignty. Anti-Communistic feeling is strong in America. You will hear tales of how Stalin expects to make a deal with Germany, how he expects to turn France communist the mo ment the country is freed from Ger many. You will also hear the as surances of people like Mr. Cowles who say: "Stalin no longer feels that the survival and development of the Soviets depend on world revo lution.” That Russia wants to be allowed to go her own way, to work out her own salvation and once she has assurance that a combination of other nations will not arise against her, she will be only too content to live and let live. I was talking with a seasoned and pretty cynical observer who has seen the seamy side of foreign rela tions at close range for many ! ye^rs He is suspicious of Russia, [ equally suspicious of Britain. But even he said to me: “Before we talk too much about the obstacles in the way of an inter national understanding, let’s And out what the British and Russian and other statesmen really want.” The Goal That is all the gentlemen in the senate are asking, who are working so arduously to obtain the passage of the Ball resolution which would put the United States government on record as favoring the creation of an international organization to keep the peace, of assuring United States’ co-operation in policing the world against any aggressor. There were few people who, when this United Nation was born, be lieved that it could live. It did. Norman Angell, in that exceedingly cogent book of his, “Let the People Know," concludes one chapter with these words: “In the old days, we felt impelled to burn a man alive if he did not attend our church. Never, men were sure, could those of the true faith live at peace with heretics. But they found that men of different faiths could live together; that they could keep their differences, yet be loyal to each other in the achieve ment of their common purposes. Re ligion is not less than nationalism. What is possible in the one field is possible in the other.” Whether we agree with Mr. Angell or not, there seems to be no sensible reason why we shouldn't try to find out if he is right. Peace is worth the effort. ft ft ft Broadcaster's Diary The other day, I received a letter that shows that commentators are of some practical use in the world after all. It wa6 from a lady from Long Beach, Calif., who wrote: *7 wanted to phone for a plumber one day last week. Each time I tried to use the phone, two women were talking (about nothing) on the ‘3-party' line. I tried every five minutes for nearly half an hour, never saying anything, only picking up the phone and having to hang up ugain. “One of the times, I heard one of them say ‘some woman wants the line but I pay for it just as much as she does’! You, Mr, Baukhage, were just about to finish your regular broadcast,” my writer goes on, “and some imp of mischief from my youth returned to my 50-year-nld heart as I suddenly connect ed that remark with the closing words of your program. You had about two minutes yet to go, so I hurriedly plugged my portable garden radio into the electric socket which is near the phone table and iust at the right mo ment lifted the receiver off the phone. Yes , . . they were still talking . . . so —just as you said: ‘That’s all. and thanks very much,' I pul the phone mouthpiece right next to the radio— snapping the latter off at the right sec ond. Then, I listened on the phone und heard one woman sax in an actually meek voice, 7 guess u1' ■ t Susan Hayward, who did an army camp tour after she visited New York when “Reap the Wild Wind” was released nationally, has been given the feminine lead in "The Man in Half Moon Street’’ by Para mount. Susan’s on her way up, fast! :!■;_ Judy Garland is proudly wearing a pair of silver wings, sent her by the young paratroopers of Fort Ben ning, Ga., who recefttly dubbed her “The Parabelle.” You’ll see her wearing them for a scene in “Girl Crazy,” in .which she stars with Mickey Rooney. - Joan Thorsen, famous as a model after she appeared on the covers of six national magazines in rapid suc cession, has been given her first movie role by Metro. She’s beauti ful and glamorous—so she’ll portray a Russian girl guerrilla, and will make her screen debut wearing a peasant smock, and with her face blacked up. in “Russia,” the Rob ert Taylor picture. -* Mayo Methot — Mrs. Humphrey Bogart—is on location with her hus band tor “Somewhere in Sahara.’’ The other day when they unpacked their lunch kits she spied three kegs, which they used as chairs and a table till the powder man ap proached. “Sorry, Mr. Bogart," said he, “But I’ll have to move these dynamite kegs.’’ Whereupon the Bo garts moved, fast and without argu ment. Looks as if Helmut Dantine, who scored so heavily with his Nazi-avi ator performance in "Mrs. Mini ver,’’ is headed for stardom. Seems he's turned in another grand per formance in Warner’s “The Edge of Darkness,’’ and Jack L. Warner is looking for possible starring materi al for him. His fan mail has shown a 300 per cent increase during the past three months -* ODDS ANl) ENDS Allan Napier, British actor in “Ap pointment in Berlin,” has a speech that defends the late Neville Chamberlain— who nets his unde . . , Jeon Arthur’s spent more time in If ashington, D. C, on the screen than any other actress; in real life she's been there just a /etc hours . . , The happiest soldier at my canteen the other night teas a lad whn’d just led the band on Sammy Kaye’s pro gram . . . Bing Crosby’s showing up at a l.os Angeles broadcasting station before 7:00 a. m. some mornings, making rec ords for South American non-commer cial distribution . . . l.eslie Howard’s daughter is with him in “Spitfire.''