Show aa P 0 PR aw W E washington washingto n D C NAZI LAKE telltale tell tale signs accumulate that the next big hitler drive is to make the mediterranean an axis lake the most obvious of course is hillers Hit lers unconcealed plan to launch submarine and bombing raids against suez from his new base at kalonika Sal and from the greek islands secret plans for closing the other end of the mediterranean have been evident for some time along the spanish border where big guns are ready to be rushed against gibraltar most significant of these preparations however has not leaked out it shows how extensive are hillers Hit lers ambitions around the mediterranean for some weeks now nazis ha have ve been busy dismantling the airplanes of general in north africa every morning the french wake up to find a magneto missing from one machine a carburetor from another gradually the essential parts of this air fleet have evaporated hitler is taking no chances on letting what remains of the french air force get into british hands there now seems to be little question that hitler plans to take over french possessions in north africa together with french naval bases base as soon as the time is ripe note noted U S military observers believe the mediterranean will be ripe first next russia that is the way the hitler timetable time table looks today 0 0 0 IRISH ARMS the visit to washington of irish defense minister frank aiken on an arms purchasing mission was no boon to congressmen of irish descent who voted against lend lease he has pointedly avoided them and instead gone out of his way to hobnob with the members of congress who supported the bill particularly ticul arly house democratic leader john mccormack who sponsored the measure and rep jim mcgranery of pennsylvania the tau tall genial irish minister has been eloquent in praise of british courage and president Roosevel ts policy of making the united states the arsenal of democracy he wants to draw on that arsenal to arm ireland against the nazi lazi N menace the irish are as adamant as ever says against turning over their urgently desired bases to the british but he points out that ireland is britaina Brit ains breadbasket having provided one third of its food considerable clothing and other necessities since the war began ireland proposes to mobilize an army to battle off any nazi attacks if the necessary equipment can be obtained from britain and the united states britain has agreed to furnish some and aiken hopes to get the rest here he says he has several era hundred million dollars to spend for antiaircraft anti aircraft guns tanks rifles ammunition also for wheat and food note ireland has an army of volunteers but only are properly equipped and garrisoned most of the men are local security guards who train only once a week LEND LEASE KINGPIN kingpin in directing the lend lease program program is harry hopkins gaunt intimate of the president living and working in the white house hopkins is Roosevel ts personal spokesman on all lend lease matters and holds all the reins no move is made without his knowledge and approval in inner circles hopkins is referred to as lend lease coordinator but actually he is the bossman boss man for the pi president Pies es ident hopkins chief assistant is maj gen james H burns one of the ardys procurement aces the test in passing on allied requests for supplies is whether they will also be useful for our own defense the governments policy is to provide all equipment and materials possible but not to disrupt our own defense program an example of the emphasis on standardization of the armament of the U S and britain was a recent request for 37 mm shells it was turned down because 75 mm is the caliber of the guns now chiefly in use in our army production of 37 millimeter shells would have required extensive re tooling only to tur turn n out ammunition of no value to us the actual placing of lend lease orders is being handled through three offices munitions by the navys bureau of supplies and accounts and by the bureau of ships and army supplies by under secretary of war robert patterson MERRY GO G ROUND Brain truster tom corcoran in in private law practice since last november will return to government office but not as a brain truster he will be entrusted with a key administrative istra tive job as assistant secretary of the navy for air socialite jimmy cromwell former U S minister to canada and defeated democratic candidate for the senate in new jersey is quietly plugging himself as successor to philippine high commissioner francis sayre |