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Show Washington, D. C. REVISE WARSHIP PLANS Due in part to the fact that the U. S. navy had not had opportunity to profit from the experience of engaging en-gaging in any major naval battles between 1812 and 1942, some of our biggest and fastest ships now under construction are being revised. The main factor being changed in the blueprints is extra precaution precau-tion against fire. This is the lesson learned from the aircraft carriers Wasp and Lexington, Lex-ington, and the cruiser Boise, all swept by fire after the direct damage dam-age of battle. Since then the bureau of ships has made a study of fire hazards, finding that even an all-steel vesael can be swept by fire when tremendous tremen-dous heat is engendered, as from exploding ex-ploding shells and burning oil and gasoline. New plans call for elimination of linoleum flooring, substitution of spun glass for cork in insulation, decrease de-crease in paint, and elimination of interior woodwork. Also, there will be larger fire hose and better fire fighting equipment generally. Navy hopes to put an end to the grief of losing ships by fire after they have survived the battle. Note: In the War of 1812, fire was a real hazard to wooden ships. But in the Civil war the only real engagement en-gagement was between the Monitor and Merrimac which were not much bigger than modern escort vessels. In the Spanish-American war, there were no real naval battles and only one life was lost at Santiago, when an American sailor fell down a hatch on the Texas. In the World war, the U. S. navy got in too late to participate partici-pate in any naval activities other than convoy work. FDR'S SURPRISE One thing that didn't get out about the "surprise" party at the White House for Speaker Sam Rayburn, on Sam's 61st birthday, was a little frill added by the President. Rayburn was called to the White House with other congressional leaders lead-ers ostensibly to discuss the legislative legis-lative program for the new session. But when the group arrived, all but Rayburn were ushered into the private pri-vate office of Economic Stabilizer Jimmy Byrnes. The speaker was told that the President wished to see him alone for a few minutes. The two men discussed legislative legisla-tive problems for a few minutes. Meantime, the President was keeping keep-ing a sharp eye on the clock. Suddenly Sud-denly he broke out: "Sam, the reason I asked you to come in here alone was to discuss a personal matter that has been worrying me." Rayburn eyed him curiously, said nothing. "It's about you, Sam," continued the President without batting an eyelash. "We're old friends and I feel I can talk to you frankly. I've got reports from Capitol Hill that the Democrats are dissatisfied with your leadership. They think you're getting too old to be speaker." At that precise moment, Democratic Demo-cratic Congressmen Cliff Woodrum of Virginia, Bob Ramspeck of Georgia, Geor-gia, Republican Leader Joe Martin of Massachusetts, Rep. Jim Wads-worth Wads-worth of New York and other house members burst into the President's office, led by Jimmy Byrnes. Together they began singing "Happy Birthday to You" at the top of their voices. "That was perfect timing, fellows," fel-lows," beamed the President. He had planned it all very carefully himself. JOE MARTIN VS. SAM RAYBURN Privately Republican Leader Joe Martin never had any intention of letting the Republicans organize congress and elect him as speaker. Until 1944, this responsibility is the last thing he wants. However, the canny Republican leader took keen delight in keeping keep-ing the opposition guessing and carried car-ried on his little joke until the very last. When he marched into Speaker Rayburn's office with the committee commit-tee that was to escort Rayburn to the floor, following his re-election, Martin was grinning from ear to ear. "Sam," he said, "I've got some bad news for you. I hope you ca'n hold up under the shock. You've been re-elected speaker." MERRY-GO-ROUND C. Jeeps which have been delivered to Mexico from the United States have earned the nickname "las cu-carachas" cu-carachas" (the cockroaches). C Undersecretary of War Patterson is so busy he has to send a messenger messen-ger out to buy bis shoe laces. C. Under current military rule in Hawaii, the army takes about $1,500 monthly from the civilian government's govern-ment's budget and uses it for propaganda prop-aganda and publicity to keep itself . in power. C. Soldiers and marines on Guadalcanal Guadal-canal may not be aware of it, but one thing they are fighting for is rubber. rub-ber. As soon as our position in the Solomons is stabilized it will be possible pos-sible to start gathering wild rubber. The amounts will be small, but a symbol of what we can get when we begin the reconquest of the great network of Pacific islands. |