WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS, Jap Forces Smashed in Sea and Air As Allies Pound Main Supply Bases; Germans Fall Back to Massico Ridge; Higher Dependency Allotments Fixed (EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions ars expressed In these eolnmna, they are thoee of Western Newspaper Union's newe analyst* and not necessarily of this newspaper.) ____________ Released by Western Newspaper Union. . V. 8. army engineers clear path through rains of a large town in southern Italy, where hitter fighting has raged along the road to Rome. Picture shows streets piled high with rubble, against a background of blackened and hollow buildings, stripped to skeletons by bombings. ITALY: Tough Going Rooted from their Volturno river line, the Nazis fell back on pre pared positions along the Massico ridge, 2,500 feet high. Following their usual tactics, the Germans were expected to hold out until the Allies take the time to concentrate superior numbers along the different points in the mountains to overpower the rugged outposts. When driven from Massico ridge, the Nazis were expected to retire to the Garigliano river, some eight miles distant. Behind the Garigliano river, it was thought they might make a stand in the mountains, which dip almost into the sea in this sector. Although the Nazis' action is of a delaying nature, it involves bitter fighting, since German artillery planted on the mountain sides can fire down on Allied forces fighting their way up, and Nazi machine gunners and mortar batteries can hide in the rugged country and spray U. S. and British soldiers crawling forward in the open. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC: Netv Fight Following Gen. Douglas MacAr thur’s grand strategy of crippling the position of the enemy in a cer tain area by knocking out the main base from which it operates. Allied aircraft pc- '’ed the big Jap supply center of Rabaul on New Britain is land. Once the feeder point for Jap troops in the central areas of the Solomons and New Guinea, Rabaul has lost much of its strategic im portance with the enemy’s surren der of these territories. But it still is being used to supply the Japs in the northern areas of the Solo mons and New Guinea, and as a base for enemy shipping and air craft, can endanger any Allied move northward. Concentrating on Rabaul, Allied bombers sank more than 100 vessels lying in the harbor, and destroyed more than 200 aircraft. Striking close to Japan's home wa ters, U. S. U-boats have sunk 98 more enemy merchant ships, to bring to 460 the total bagged. DRAFT: Propose New Allotments Wives of American servicemen would continue to receive $50 month ly from the government, but pay ments for support of children would be raised to $30 for the first child and $20 for all others, according to new dependency allotments estab lished in congressional bills. Under the present system, wives receive $50 monthly, but only $12 is paid for the first child and $10 for every other one. The new allot ments also would boost payments in most cases to collateral depend ents. such as parents, grandchildren, brothers or sisters. Payment to one parent for chief support, for in stance, would be $50 monthly in stead of the current rate of $37. Under the new bills, regular de pendency allowances would be paid to the husbands and children of the WACs or WAVES, if they relied on them for chief support. The govern ment would make the whole of the first monthly payment, instead of waiting for the soldier’s contribution of $22. and payments would be ex panded to include the top three en listed grades in addition to the pres ent four lowest. ALLIES MEET: Talk in Moscow Swooping down over Moscow, two brown Liberator bombers finally came to rest on the Russian capi tal’s chief airdrome. From the planes stepped American Secretary of State Cordell Hull and British Foreign Minister Anthony Eden. Waiting to greet them was Russian Foreign Commissar Vyacheslav Mo lotov. Although the officials were ex pected to discuss the possibility of Hull, Eden and Molotov. the U. S. and Britain opening a sec ond front in France, it was antici pated that the chief consideration would revolve arounfl re-establish ment of European boundaries after the war, with emphasis on Russia's claim to the Baltic states and parts of Finland, Poland and Rumania. Meanwhile a new lend-lease agree ment signed in London, pledges the U. S., Britain and Canada to in crease supplies to Russia this win ter to help her avert famine and carry on the war against Germany. Dnieper Battle Rages The titanic struggle on the Dnieper river increased in violence as the Russians poured more troops across the broad waterway and the Nazis rushed reinforcements to bolster their sagging lines. Although apparently successful in stabilizing their lines in the north, the Germans found the going rough in the central and southern sectors. The Russians were successful in shifting their attacks from one point to another and keeping the Nazis oiT balance. These tactics were evident in the Kiev, Melitopol and Kremenchug re gions. After being held near Kiev, the Reds switched their attack to Melitopol to the south. When the Germans rushed reinforcements to the area, the Russians then shifted to heavy attacks on Kremenchug to the north. OL’ MAN RIVER: Bark in Business America’s inland waterway sys tem—once a principal artery for transportation and freight—has come back into its own in World War II. Addressing the 25th annual Mis sissippi Valley association conven tion in St. Louis, Mo., Defense Trans portation Director Joseph Eastman declared America's inland water ways will carry 157 billion ton-miles of freight in 1943, a ton-mile being the movement of a ton one mile. With 95 per cent of the freight on the Mississippi consisting of essen tial material, Eastman said the riv er’s system embraces 5,000 barges from 100 to 3,000 tons in capacity, and 1,000 towboats from 200 to 2,500 horsepower. Last year, Eastman re vealed, 16 V4 billion ton-miles of freight were carried over the sys tem. The waterway system has been moving record loads despite a de crease in facilities because of the transfer of many Great Lakes and inland carriers to ocean service. HIGHLIGHTS • • . *n the week’s news ARMS: The United States is sup plying arms, equipment and food to 32 fronts, the senate naval commit tee reveals. Some, it was said, are as much as “17,000 miles from the point of origin." SPAIN: Exiled Spanish Loyalists will form a “government In exile" possibly in Mexico, according to a statement by Diego Barrio, ex-presi dent of the republic. FIRE: Losses resulting from fires during September were the largest for any September since 1932, and 29 per cent higher than the same month last year, the National Board of Fire Underwriters announce. Losses amounted to $26,488,000. WRITER: Paris newspapers re port the death of Romain Rolland. 75, a French writer and winner of I the Nobel peace award. U. S. PLANES: Production Lags Because of changes in models, en gine shortages, labor needs, faulty distribution of raw materials and plant reorganizations, American air craft production for 1943 will fgll be low President Roosevelt’s announced goal of 125,000 planes, the Office of War Information said. War Pro duction board officials have cut esti mates of output to 90,000. In reviewing the aircraft program, OWI noted that the period of experi mentation has passed, with the re sult that production is now being concentrated on proven models. En gine improvements have given American fighter planes increased speed and climb, while develop ments in armor and gunnery have added to the strength of heavy bomb ers. Dwarfing even the famed fly ing Fortress, a new long-range bomber capable of carrying heavier loads will soon make its appearance. JAPAN: Expand Industry Japan has moved for maximum industrialization of East Asia as part of her program to meet the Allies' impending onslaught on her ram bling empire. By recent order, the famous busi ness house of Mitsibushi was directed to double the capital of its subsid iaries, with the Japanese govern ment itself putting in 50 per cent of the new money, Further, Mitsibushi’s shipbuilding, steel and aircraft industries are to be reorganized, with vital plants moved to China and Manchuria to escape Allied bombing. The other 10 financial houses which share their rule over Japanese business with Mitsibushi are also expected to come under close government control. FOOD: 1944 Outlook Although food production in 1944 will probably equal or even exceed this year’s, civilian supplies may be smaller, the bureau of agricultural economics reported. Military, lend lease and other government require ments will more than offset any in crease, it was said. Supplies of cereals, chickens, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, pota toes, dried beans and peas should be as plentiful as this year, the bu reau declared, with greater enrich ment of bread and flour promising more iron and B vitamins. However, shorter supplies of meats and dairy products are in prospect, the bureau reported, with a resultant decrease In calories, pro tein and calcium. Stocks of fats and oils should equal this year’s pro duction, it was said. Happy Meeting ' When Pvt. Mary Elisabeth El liot. Kingston, N. C., (pictured at right) arrived in England with a WAC contingent, she met her fiance, Scrgt. Wallace R. Best, Raleigh, N. C., (at left), also on overseas duty. Reunited, the couple decided to serve Uncle Sam as husband and wife, and they climaxed their romance by marriage, which made Pvt. Elliot the first WAC to be wedded in the European theater of war. CATTLE: Less Slaughter Because cattle slaughter for the first nine months of 1943 dropped to 7.962.000 head from the 9,067.005 killed during the same period last year, 700 million pounds less beef have been produced. During the first few weeks of Oc tober, however, cattle slaughter showed an increase over preceding months, with 406,961 head killed. On October 19, 20 major markets re ceived 200,000 cattle for a record run, with Kansas City receipts of 57.000 setting an all-time mark. According to reports, many thin, grass-fed cattle were finding their way to the stockyards instead of to the feed lots of the Midwest’s corn belt. Prime fed cattle were selling only slightly below the July peak. WAR BONDS Final tabulations reveal that the 15-billion-dollar Third War Loan was over-subscribed by nearly four bil lions. Of the $18,943,000,000 worth of bonds sold, $5,377,000,000 was taken by individuals. The popular “Series E” bonds account for $2, 472,000,000 of this great sum. Treasury officials are gratified at the response, because it was the in tention to market this issue among individuals, estates and business cor porations to as large an extent as I possible. Allies Ponder Possibilities Of Russ-Nazi Peace Treaty Soviet Offensive May Mean Sudden End of War With Germany; Stalin Holds High Cards in Diplomatic Game. By BAUKHAGE News Analyst and Commentator. WNU Service, Union Trust Building, Washington, D. C. Washington watches the swift march of events across the Russian plains. The renewed offensive, more than half a month before even the Russian people dreamed it was pos sible, has quickened all nerves. For the Russians, it means the pos sibility of a sudden peace. And while Moscow dreams of the end of the war just around the first snow-covered mound on the battle field, the Allies are considering the possibility of what it means to them. For there is always that haunting memory of a remark of Stalin’s in the back of their minds—the remark that the destruction of the Reichs wehr was not a condition of German surrender as far as the Kremlin is concerned. In addition there is the realization of the presence of those German divisions still intact beyond the Alps, not to mention the others still nearer. Not (we are assured) that Stalin will make a separate peace with Germany but if a peace treaty is written on the stalwart backs of a victorious Russian army, what terms can the Allies insist upon that Stalin need feel called upon to ap prove unless his own many possible desiderata are agreed to by Britain and the United States? It does not make the task any easier for the gentlemen in London and Washington now carefully se lecting what the well-dressed diplo mat should wear in Moscow. One thing is very certain, no old fash ioned regalia will be in style. There will be no opportunity for the polite game where one can risk a little bluff with fair assurance of drawing a wild joker to four of a kind or color, if Russia holds all the cards. What Russia Wants The optimists say that Russia wants nothing that an honest world cannot afford to offer, and is willing to give in return all that an honest world need ask for. The pessimists say that even if Britain and America can be converted to full faith in such an attitude and intent on Russia’s part, how are you going to convert communist Russia to an equal faith in the attitude and intentions of the capitalistic nations? Unfortunately, Britain and the United States have a somewhat pain ful diplomatic record in dealing with Germany when Adolf Hitler held his aces—the strongest air force in the world and a sizable army. We all bowed down at Munich and, indeed, (though it has been forgotten) there was some rivalry for the credit in achieving a peace in our time that was no peace. However, with the help of Russia, the Allies were able to take Hitler’s aces in the end. And so in certain discreet circles it has been suggested that the Allied weakness in the diplomatic field as far as things to trade with Russia are concerned, might become a strength if the Allied joint general staff became the negotiators. These gentlemen might be able to offer what Russia wants most (which is what we all want)—security. And these gentlemen might likewise make demands which Russia would desire to consider, namely, co-opera tion with compromise, refusal of which could lead to nothing better than what Hitler got in the end. And Hitler’s own words, spoken when he addressed a meeting of his party chiefs and generals recently, are worthy of note. The fuehrer suggested for Germany what Britain and the United States might well contribute to negotiations with Rus sia in addition to their diplomats and their armies and navies. The Fuehrer Says ‘‘The (Nazi) party’s struggle for power,” said Hitler, ►‘set an example for today’s struggle of destiny of the German people . . . arms alone mean nothing if not backed by the will of men.” The Germans made a fatal mis take twfce in one generation. They failed to count on the will of the American people. If that will is made clear today, if America’s in tention is written clearly that all may see, the intention which we pro fess—a decent peace, justice and se curity for all—and if that will and intent is backed by the force we have, nothing can resist it. That is really the thing which can win the peace, as it has made the winning of the war possible, whatever credit may justly go to others who have battled our common enemy. • • • Visitors to U. S. The war has brought a great many Englishmen to the United States who otherwise might never have known any more of America than they learned from the movies. Many are highly trained specialists, others are broadly educated, like those in news paper and radio work. I have met a number, especially of the latter group. And I am struck by one thing which they comment upon— the widespread education in Amer ica. That is one thing which will make up one of England's No. 1 postwar reforms—a real public school sys tem. We, in America, underestimate our own schools on the one hand and overestimate our literacy on the other. At first, the army demanded that a man be able to read and write or he was deferred. This lost nearly a million men to the armed forces— four states have 36 per cent or more adult illiteracy. According to latest information, 85,000 illiterates have already been reclaimed for army service which means that they have been taught to read and write and do simple arithmetic. It is said that there are facilities for giving the same basic instruction to 750,000 more. But that is by no means the extent of army education. A statement from the Office of War Information the other day said, speaking of the serviceman: “Unless he comes from a well-to-do family, his education al opportunities are in fact rather better in than out of the services.” That is probably something that few parents thought of when they waved good-by at the station. They did not realize that the army and navy are operating the largest adult school in the world. One out of ev ery ten adults in the country, 11 out of every 14 able-bodied men between 18 and 38 will probably be students in that school system by the end of this year. A million boys will be in the preinduction courses, the sys tem’s prep schools. Nine out of ten of these men will receive advanced training as specialists. The Future Much of the education received will be carried over as useful in i civilian life, for one out of three of ! every army and navy job is identical with a civilian job and over two thirds of the men in the service de velop skills that can be used in civil ian jobs. These figures alone, I believe, show that when “D Day” comes, the millions discharged will not be a careless, riotous lot, good for noth ing but to fight. As a matter of fact, the vast majority will have, if they have anything like the feeling I and most of my comrades in the last war had, an overweening desire to settle down to a job and the build ing of a home, "no more to roam." Some, of course, who had the itching foot will have developed chronic cases, but it is doubtful if those roll ing stones would have gathered much moss anyhow. For the majority of the men who make up our armed forces who want and expect to fill civilian jobs, the careful classification of skills which is a vital part of the army and navy system is going to work in reverse in getting them jobs afterward. In preparation for this, experts are al ready assembling accurate descrip tions of jobs which men learn to do in the service, keeping a cumulative record of the work they do, prepar ing additional tests which will give a clear picture of their achieve ments and talents to the prospective employer. They are also preparing to tell the serviceman what job he is best fitted for and offering help which will better prepare him for it. I doubt if ever before in history the military has taken on such a responsibility for fitting the boy back into his natural groove when the fighting is over. This is a total war, everybody is in it, and those who have been forced to take over the abnormal duties of fighting are not going to be set adrift. B R I E F S . . . by Baukhage Motorists should endorse their gasoline ration coupons immediately and not wait until they buy gas. • • • In a recent broadcast, Tokyo ra dio announced that “the military administration over the Philippines has been terminated.” The broad cast quoted an announcement from Lt. Gen. Shigenori Kuroda, Japanese army commander of the islands. Certificates will be awarded to all soldiers who successfully complete prescribed work in the Army Spe cialized Training program at col leges and universities, according to the war department. It is anticipat ed that college credits will be grant ed if the trainee returns to college after termination of the military service. Released by Western Newspaper Union. PSORIASIS A patient consulted • akin spe cialist about a chronic case of psori> asis. Psoriasis is an inflammation of the skin in which there are red Dr. Barton raised spots covered with dry silvery scales. When the ! scales are removed a red glistening sur face is exposed with fine bleeding points. ! “It occurs in all : countries, in both sexes, in the young and the old. It is not contagious or in- i fectious but does seem to run in some families.” It heals without forming blisters or leaving a scar. Although no pain or other symptom is present, it causes much distress and embarrassment The patient told the skin special ist that he had "tried everything,” | including physicians’ prescription and the patent remedies but could obtain no permanent cure. Before he underwent treatment he wanted to know if the specialist could cure him. The specialist frankly told him that he knew of no "permanent” cure for psoriasis but many of his patients obtained relief for months and years by two simple acts. They got out into the air and sunshine as much as possible and avoided en tirely or greatly reduced the amount of fat foods eaten. The very fact that the face and back of hands are seldom attacked by psoriasis would show that sunlight is a factor in preventing psoriasis. In fact some of his patients gave up his and other treatment, the psoriasis disappeared for months or years, and then re turned. It is possible that in some of these cases "that cured them selves,” the patients got outdoors more, ate less fat foods, and more vegetables and fruits containing vi tamins A, C, and D. In others cut ting down on fa-t foods and taking vitamin B1 has given relief. In Hygeia, the Health Magazine, Maurice J. Costello states that nat ural sunlight, particularly when combined with salt water bathing, is the most pleasant and convenient and one of the best forms of treat ment for chronic psoriasis. Sun tanning the body is both a tempora ry cure and a preventive of psoria sis. X-ray treatment is often effec tive but should be used sparingly under the supervision of a physician X-ray specialist. The point is that while chronic psoriasis can be helped for periods of time by official and non-official preparations, sunlight and cutting down on fat foods give best results. • • • Emotional Spasms Prevent Swallowing Some years ago I spoke about a middle-aged woman who had suf fered for years with an arthritis that kept her almost bedridden. She be gan to complain that her food stuck “half way down” the esophagus, the tube carrying the food to the stom ach; she was sure that a growth was blocking the tube. Her physi cian pointed out that if there was a growth or obstruction present, it would block the food every time she ate solid food whereas there were times when she ate solid food with out feeling any block in the tube. In order to convince her he took her to the X-ray department of a large hospital and by the aid of a fluoro scope and mirror she was able to see food pass directly from throat down the tube to the stomach with out any delay whatever. There was no question but that she felt the delay must have been present at times but only because there was a spasm of the tube, not any real obstruction present. The cause of the spasm was emotional. In Radiology, Drs. W. B. Faulk ner, F. H. Rodenbaugh and John R. O’Neill show that emotional upset ments may produce a disturbance in the esophagus which can be dis covered by the X-rays and by the use of the esophagoscope (instru ment showing condition of esopha gus). They noticed this first in a routine fluroscopic (X-rays) exami nation of patient with a severe spasm of esophagus. The spasm, clearly seen, disappeared when a chance statement was made that pleased the patient while a state ment that displeased the patient brought on the spasm again. It can thus be seen that if a bari um meal is given when the patient is upset or nervous a spasm may oc cur which causes a "blocked” feel ing, whereas if patient is relaxed there will be no blocked feeling. • • • QUESTION BOX Q.—-How can you correct outstand ing ears? A.—A slight operation will correct outstanding ears. • • • Q.—What are the symptoms of in flammation of the middle ear? Of the eustachian tube? A.—Symptoms arc pain In ear and head, later running ear. Your phy sician may treat this or refer you too an ear specialist If he thinks it la necessary. I Painted Coffee Table With a Top of Glass TT ALL started with a bright idea * for making a painted coffee ta ble out of odds and ends of lum ber. The sketch gives dimensions and shows the simple construction used to make the frame reinforced by useful shelves at the ends. So f APPLIQUE DESIGN OHFAWIC UNDIpT ; /board? £on>> far the table was substantial but crude and that is where the lady with the needle came in. The table was to be painted cream color and then waxed. She bought a yard of slightly darker tan sateen and appliqued a design of blue and red morning glories with green leaves on it. This was placed over the top of the table and tacked around the edge. A piece of glass was cut to fit and the finishing boards were then screwed around the sides. Any interesting fabric could be used under the glass of the table top, or bright flower prints or a map would give a good effect. • • • NOTE—Mrs. Spears has prepared a sheet—17 by 22 inches—giving complete dimensions and detailed directions for cut ting and assembling this table; also list of exact amounts of material needed. The inexperienced person can follow these di rections with the assurance of perfect re sults. Send 15 cents for Pattern No. 254 to: MRS. RUTH WYETH SPEARS Bedford Hills New York Drawer 10 Enclose 15 cents for Pattern No. 254. Name . Address .. f ASK ME *) ' l ANOTHER f I l A General Quiz £ f\- (V. (V. CV. (V.