Show WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS 1943 farm goals to be biggest ever Us S increases strength in pacific f As air naval forces blast japanese nazis 0 no o need to take Stal stalingrad ingrad EDITORS NOTE when opinions are expressed in these columns they are t those b of western newspaper unions news analysts and not necessarily of this news newspaper p a ose r released by western newspaper union tarr Tr rr 6 YX N 0 q I 1 ia x 4 9 A secret landing by american forces in the Andrean of group of the aleutian islands made it possible to establish an airfield from which planes could blast japanese positions on kiska island the above photo shows american troops in a bucket brigade passing supplies ashore from a small boat SOUTHWEST PACIFIC yank power boiver grows the japs learned a lesson about american air and naval strength in the pacific when five of their ships including a heavy cruiser were damaged by a U S aircraft carrier task force which pierced nipponese defenses at island in the north solomons in addition an air field was blasted at bougainville bougainvillea Bou gainville main jap air base and numerous aircraft destroyed A navy reported that the japs were caught by surprise and the american operation was carried out without loss of men or equipment besides the heavy cruiser the american battle score against the jap forces included one transport damaged by heavy bombs one seaplane tender and two cargo ships damaged by light bombs in new guinea the advance of the tough australian bush troops continued over the owen stanley mountains which the japs had penetrated weeks before although craggy trails had prevented swift movement the australians had cleared the enemy before them and had removed the threat of a jap surge that once had pierced to within 32 miles of strategic port moresby A issued by gen douglas macarthurs Mac Arthurs headquarters in australia disclosed that the allies new guinea advance had been made with practically no loss information from native carriers who deserted the jap forces plus reports from our own patrols indicates the retreating japs were exhausted living on short rations and badly needing supplies the reported much of the australian suc success cess was said to be due to a constant air attack on japanese supply lines FARM GOALS boosted for 1943 A nationwide nation wide wartime blowup next spring reminiscent of the days of 1918 loomed as the U S department of agriculture drew up tentative production goals calling for even greater and output of most farm products than was requested under the record 1942 production the goals for all farm crops but three wheat short staple cotton and commercial vegetables were set higher than for 1942 corn and other feed grains beans peas peanuts potatoes sugar beets hemp and vegetables for processing were given the green light so were production goals for cattle hogs dairy products poultry and eggs with less manpower machinery and other facilities to operate with farmers had their work cut out for them moreover the needs of the armed forces and the allies particularly russia were said to be much greater than had been expected a few weeks before if 1943 farm goals are not reached civilian consumers will have to tighten their belts consumer rationing was to be inaugurated january 1 but civilians had already been asked to limit meat consumption to 2 pounds weekly A possibility remained that sooner or later butter cheese cooking tats fats vegetable oils eggs poultry and canned fruits and vegetables would be placed in the same category as meat RUSSIA stalingrad Stal ingrad checkmate unnoticed at the start marshal counteroffensive begun far up the northern arm of the don river in the vicinity of klet had moved forward its object was to draw off german striking power from the stalingrad Stal ingrad area had struck first in a 50 mile area between the don and volga northwest of stalingrad Stal ingrad and had extended his forces southwest to the german flank that strategy had worked was indicated by a significant statement on the berlin radio which announced that the germans would abandon frontal attacks on stalingrad Stal ingrad and destroy what was left of the city with heavy artillery it is no longer necessary to send german infantry and assault engineers into the battle the announcement said the finishing touches will now be entrusted to heavy artillery and dive bombers observers noted that the german announcement was reminiscent of propaganda covering the nazi withdrawal a year ago from when the russians gained their first victory of the war southward in the caucasus the nazis had succeeded in advancing in the area while rumanian reinforcements were reported pushing southward from the german held black sea base of WAR COSTS million daily war costs will exceed million dollars a day by january 1 1943 according to figures based on revised calculations by budget director harold smith mr smiths estimates placed total war spending at 78 billion dollars in the current fiscal year which will end june 30 1943 the budget directors upward estimate was about 25 billions more than president Roosevel ts figures last january and eight billions more than a previous calculation by smith increased expenditures for all war purposes would make it necessary for the treasury to borrow approximately from the public during the current fiscal year LABOR leivis divorces CIO labor leaders and politicos had long awaited the formal secession of the united mine workers of america from the CIO bushy chief john L lews lewis kept his own counsel but chose a dramatic moment for the divorce the occasion was the miners annual convention at cincinnati brusquely warning the delegates that he would no longer remain the unions president if it remained in the CIO lewis obtained unanimous consent to withdraw A committee report urging the separation charged the CIO with failure to pay a debt to the and denounced alleged attacks by CIO officers on lewis the convention action merely gave public recognition to a situation that had existed for months lewis and philip murray CIO president were feuding feeding after a friendship of years standing murray a former miner and vice president of had been read out of the union last spring |