Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1942, Page 1

Weather Forecast Moderately cool today, with gentle winds. Temperatures yesterday: High- est, 70, at 6:00 p.m.; lowest, 62, at 7:30 The Evening and Sunday Star is delivered in the city and suburbs at 75¢c per month. The Night Final am. From the United States Weather Bureau report. Full Details on Page No. 1,938—No. 35,810. W. P. B. to Cancel Its Contracts or Two-Thirds of War Factories, Concentrate on Arms and Ships A2, 4+ Will Abandon All Plants Not Ready By Mid-1943 (Text of Shipbuilding Statement | on Page A-19.) | | | { | | Virtually all contracts for war plants which cannot be com- pleted by mid-1943 will be can- celled, a War Production Board | spokesman said last night, pre- sumably to concentrate all avail- “ able materials on production of | enough weapons and ships to bring a quicker victory. This develgpment coincided with & White House statement that the cargo shipbuilding program is “on schedule,” with American shipyards building merchant vessels now “faster than ever before in the his- tory of the world,” although still increased production is needed to relieve the ship shortage. The drastic W. P. B. decision— giving complete emphasis to Chair- man Donald M. Nelson's “do it now" philosophy—means that ap- proximately two-thirds of all the war plant construction approved or under contract will be aban- doned, the spokesman said. W. P. B. was said to have been| guided to this decision by two major considerations: Severe shortages of raw materials and belief that de- velopments this spring and summer | may spell a turning point in the war, Shortage of Raw Materials. It was explained that construc- tion will be pushed on such facili- ties as synthetic rubber and avia- tion gasoline plants, but will be cut down on such projects as new steel plants. . The raw materials “pinch” has reached the point, it was under- stood, where W. P. B. now has determined to concentrate avail- able supplies on production of arms and munitions rather than on the plants in which they are made. The program was described this manner: Facilities already “substantially under way” will be completed. All war construction authorized or under contract, but not yet begun, will be reviewed and evaluated on the basis of answers to four ques- | tions; Is the project absolutely nec- essary? Can existing plants or facilities be used instead of new construction? How much of a drain will it be on materials supplies? ‘When would it be in production? Further, if and when new plants are approved in the future, they will be erected strictly as temporary buildings — probably constructed largely of wood and using little if any steel. in Steel to Go Into Ships and Guns. Prospects of a major 1942 offen- sive by the United Nations, it was understood, developed some appre- hension that if too much emphasis were placed on 1943 war production goals, this year’s output might be hampered seriously, Thus, W. P. B. has determined to produce 60,000 planes, 45000 tanks and 8,000,000 tons of shipping in 1942 and deal with the vastly increased program for 1943 when that time comes, of- ficials explained. On this basis, steel supplies will go into ships and guns and tanks which are needed immediately, rather than into new steel plants | which cannot be completed until late next year or in 1944. One| spokesman predicted that the plan- | ned 15,000,000-ton expansion of the | Nation's steel capacity probably | would be reduced to around 5,000, | 000 tons. | The White House statement on shipping declared “the American ~iSee PRODUCTION, Page A-13.) Allied Bombers Destroy 8 Jap Planes at Lae ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Aus- tralia (Sunday), May 17 (#).—Allied planes in three new attacks on the Japanese air base at Lae, North-| eastern New Guinea, destroyed eight enemy bombers on the ground, shot down one challenging Zero fighter and started numerous fires among buildings, Gen. MacArthur's head- quarters announced today. i Allied bombers also attacked De- | boyne Island, in the Louisiade Archi- | pelago, where an enemy seaplane | was damaged. The latest raids upon Lae fol- lowed a smashing Friday assault which left big fires blazing at the Japanese air base. The communique text: “New Guinea: Lae: Our air force | attacked the airdrome three times. Eight Japanese bombers were de- [ stroyed on the ground, hits were made on anti-aircraft positions, run- ways and buildings. Numerous fires were startel. One Zero-type fighter was shot down. “Deboyne Island: An enemy sea- plane was damaged in an attack by allied bombers. n War on U. S. Hitler's Big Blunder, Italians Ready to Aid Invaders, Freed Writers Say Tuwo veteran Associated Press foreign correspond emts, returming to Americ diplomats amd mewspapermen, reached Lisbom yesterday and filed the following dispatches, giving for the first time since the United States emtered the war the inside picture of conditions in Germany and Italy. Louis P. Lochner was chief of the A. P. Burean im Berlin and Richard G. Massock head of the Rome bureau. Mr. Lochwer, in Berlin since 1924, is a winner of the Pulitser Prise for distimguished foreigm carrespond.- Mr. Massock has covered various Ewropean assigments in the last 10 years, going to Rome in 1938, ence. By RICHARD G. MASSOCK. LISBON, May 16.—Benito Mussolini is leading a hungry, disillusioned and apathetic Italy in an unpopular war against the United States. The war’s unpopularity has been manifest in various ways to Americans who waited five months for repatriation after the Duce of Fasc- ism uttered the fateful words which placed his people at war with yet another enemy last December 11. Italy's future as an ally of Ger- many and Japan is unpredictable. A collapse from a food short- age within this year or the next seems unlikely. Neither does an economic breakdown seem immi- nent, because of assistance being given by Germany in this sphere. ‘Without any organized opposi- tion under competent leadership, the Fascist regime probably is se- cure for some time to come. Yet the war against the United States is unpopular and some ob- servers see in Italy a people who R. G. Massock. dislike their German allies and who care nothing for the Japanese—a people who are looked on for potential assistance when and if an American-British Army lands in Europe to crush Hitlerism. Invasion Seen Welcome. In fact, some say that haif the Italian people now would welcome such an Allied invasion as a possible means of freeing them from the humiliating grip held by the Germans. Not a single anti-American demonstration—even an officially organized one—has been reported in Italy. Many Italians in all walks of life have sought on oc- casion to tell Americans of their personal friendship. We were regarded as only ngminal or friendly enemies. Few are the Italian families which do not know some relative or friend who has found oppor- tunity and a better way of life in the United States. Shortly before I left Rome an Italian of only casual acquaintance, knowing I was about to leave, embraced me with Latin effusiveness and said: “Give my respects to Mr. Roosevelt.” And, mind you, this incident occurred despite the presence of a nearby guard. The incident was rare, but the sentiment was not. Disillusionment General. Regret and disillusionment, then, are general, as one astute observer confirmed to me. But he found, like others, that popular reaction is marked rather by resignation than by indignation, by a sense of futility than any will to bring about corrective action. Italians await a new leader. Discontent with Mussolini and his Fascism is more marked than ever. Il Duce made his war declaration against the United States in the name of King Victor Emmanuel. | < | the greatest victory in history during 1941,” which While the monarch may still be respected by his people, many Italians said this showed once again that the senile little man was impotent in politics. Little hope rests in Crown Prince Umberto. The Italian press, incidentally, never refers to him as crown prince; always merely as the Prince of Pied- mont. The Fascist grand council itself has reserved the right to pass on eventual succession to the throne. Yet Umberto, once the white hope of anti-Fascists because of his reported hostility toward Mussolini, appears to have made his peace with Fascism. Recently Named to-Post. Only recently Mussolini appointed Umberto com- mander of armies grouped in Central and Southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. The prince's first order of the day ended with “Hail to Il Duce.” The army and the house of Savoy nevertheless may be the salvation of Italy. Meny Italians lodk for a military dictatorship as the eventual successor to Fascism, with some Fascist policies and administrative forms retained but without Mussolinian oppression. No revolution could succeed without the support of the army. And the army always has been and con- tinues to be loyal to the House of Savoy. Only when rebellion is reasonably sure of success with the aid of the army and possible military sup- port in Europe from the United Nations is it likely to come, in the view of many. With Germany so weakened that Hitler's army no longer could serve as Mussolini’s bulwark, the King might then dismiss his premier and appoint a suc- cessor with the full support of the loyal Italian army. | slogan in response to unfriendly war. | are dead. | us a copy of a Berlin daily containing his text, and | we noted how the German dictator ended his speech | not with a pep talk to fire the nation but with dire | | chologist. in the exchawge of Axis By LOUIS P. LOCHNER. LISBON, May 16.—Adolf Hitler committed the greatest blunder of his career when he took on himself the odium of declaring war on the United States. That is the opinion held by those of us who lived in Germany and believe we understand German psychology. Thg Fuehrer completely flabbergasted the Ger- man people. Apparently he also so effectively stunned even his own intimate followers that Propaganda Minis- ter Paul Joseph Goebbels, hitherto | a master mind at propaganda, for | WASHINGTON, D. €, MAY 17, 1942—132 PAGES. Star * CHIEF, WE BELIEVE THERE'S A PLOT T0 UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESS. HERES THE EVIDENCE! / Edition and Sunday Morning Star at 85¢ per month. wBMis - TEN CENTS. WHY, THAT 1S JUST EVIDENCE OF YOURNEED | FoR A GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS || MAN. TELL HARRY BYRD To once failed correctly to estimate German psychology. For weeks and months the Nazi acts by the United States had been: “We won't let ourselves be provoked.” Even after Japan attacked the | United States German friends and é | acquaintances in every walk of | life insisted that Hitler would L. P. Lechner. ‘ merely offer a declaration of solidarity with Japan ! | but wouldn't go beyond that. | Had Sold War to People. | Hitler had been able to “sell” his war to the German people by claiming— That the Poles seized the Gleiwitz radio station be- fore German troops moved: That the British and French declared a state of war existed with Germany; That the British already were on their way to Nor- way when, for “protection” of Denmark and Norway, he sent his forces into those countries; That Holland, Belgium, Greece and Yugoslavia plotted against Germany and already were on the move when he forestalled them; That the Russians already were mobilized against the Reich when at the 11th hour he parried with a counter-stroke. | The rank and file of German people—even those millions who do not approve his policies— thought Der Fuehrer too “smart” ever to declare Astounding News to People. President Roosevelt was represented especially 8s a man already in his dotage. Give him a little more rope—so the Germans were led to believe— and he would hang himself. Above all, don't play into his hands, was the watch cry. He wants war, it was said—in fact, “Roosevelt is running after war"— 80 don't do him the favor of giving him a war. And then on December 11 the astounding, the amazing, the unbelievable thing happened—Hitler declared war. This was like an ice-cold shower to the German people. Their leader was slipping. Although he had promised the ‘“completion of every Teuton interpreted to mean a victorious peace | after but two years of war, he now told the people to get ready for a prolonged conflict. Incidentally, this conflict to date, according to best estimates available, has meant 2,500,000 casualties | for Germany, of which three-quarters of a million | Psychologically, too, Hitler was slipping. We American journalists were guests of the Gestapo while the Fuehrer spoke to the Reichstag on December 11, hence we didn't hear that oratorical effort. End Talk With Threats. We were genuinely surprised, however, when one of our guards next day in return tor cigarettes slipped threats against saboteurs at home. We had hitherto considered Hitler a better psy- | Correspondents who consider themselves acquaint- ed with German psychology also believe it was a grave error to present the German people with the fable about the heart disease of Field Marshal Gen. Walter von Brauchitsch as a Christmas gift. Large sections of the German people look to soldiers of the old school of which Von Brauchitsch, a disciple of the late Col. Gen. Werner von Fritsch, was an out- standing representative as their last hope to stave off the worst aspects of Nazi domination over an enslaved people. Naval and Air Raids Lay Groundwork For Period of Offen (Text of Army-Navy War Review on Page A-24.) By the Associated Press. A joint Army-Navy communi- que, reviewing the progress of the war to date, asserted last night that during a period of preparation for offensive action a “number of successful thrusts” at the Japanese had worked a “lasting effect upon the strategic situation.” Among such strokes, it listed the naval raids on the Gilbert and Mar- shall Islands, Wake Island, Marcus Island, and the bombing of Japan itself. It included, too, the destruc- tion of Japanese ships in the battles sive Action |of the Coral Sea and Macassar Straits, the feats of American sub- marines in the Far Pacific and the numerous raids by American planes based on Australia ‘The communique summarized war activities in general terms only, and for the most part related facts which had been made available piecemeal to the public from time to time. Most of it was devoted to the Phil- ippine conflict. It did, howewer, contain some new details of the fighting that had taken place, and conclusions drawn from it. Among these things, it said: During the first three weeks of the ~ (See WAR REVIEW, Page A-12) Americans Who _lefl "Unhappy, Helpless' Newsman Tells of Some Cheering Incidents in ‘Land of Depression’ Alvin J. Steinkopf, native of Minnesota, former chief of Asso- ciated Press bureaus in Vienna and Budapest and for the last two and one-half years assigned to Germany, arrived in Lisbon yesterday and in this story tells of his trip gcross France, an illuminating jdurney despite con- stant suspicious scrutiny by the Gestapo. By ALVIN J. STEINKOPF, (Associated Press War Correspondent.) LISBON, May 16.—Seventy- four bedraggled citizens of the United States—diplomats, news correspondents and their fam- ilies—arrived in Lisbon at 7:15 o'clock tonight after five months | of internment in Germany. They were on the iirst of three special trains which are bringing 132 United States citizens and 120 | Central and South Americans from concentration points in Germany, | where they had awaited comple- tion of tedious negotiations for ex- change of German diplomais and newsmen in the Western Hemi- sphere. One hundred and twenty-five Americans already had arrived in Lisbon from Italy. All are to go home on the diplo- matic exchange ship Drottningholm, By NELSON M. SHEPARD. A lot of women betwen 21 and 45 | are due for a rude awakening if | they think of enlistment in the | W.A.A.C.stoFace K. P. Duty Hopes for Glamour Dispelled an, but the Army program is likely to be more exacting. The courses will extend for 12 weeks. Mrs. Hobby, who was trained for newly created Women’s Army Aux- | the task that lies ahead by prior iliary Corps only as a short-cut to | service as chief of the women's in- -4 Von Brauchitsch’s “resignation” and Hitler's assumption ‘of the su- o | preme army command acted like a 7 | bombshell. " The removal of the | marshal further put the German people in the doldrums. Besides, the older generation re- membered only too well how the United States in 1917 gave the de- | cisive turn to the last World War. Spellbinders Unconvincing. Would history repeat itself? That was the question on millions of lips. The answer by party spellbinders which docked here tod:y and began | discharging 923 Germans, Italians, | Bulgarians and Hungarians. The | Drottningholm’s sailing is sched- uled for May 21. Group Is “Hungry but Happy.” Among the Americans from Italy were the Rev. Hiram Gruber Woolf of Elmira, N. Y., rector of St. Paul's American Episcopal Church in Rome, who was arrested November 18 on suspicion of espionage; Harold Denny, New York Times ccr- ! much a woman’s war as it is a man’s war. L a life of military glamour. Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby of Hous- | | ton, Tex., director of the Nation's | first W. A. A. C. army, lost no time | in disillusioning any such hope after she was inducted into office yester- ' day at the War Department. “The Waacs"—and it's all right with her to call them by that ab- | breviated term—are to be non-com- batant soldiers in discipline, train- ing and service, whether that be at home or overseas. The only voice they are expected to heed is that of the stern call to duty in a war which the new director thinks of as Training for the W. A. A. C.’s will start at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on July 5 for oficer candidates and | September 15 for the enlisted per- | sonnel of the corps. Army person- nel will direct them. From reveille to taps, which ends the night study period, it will be a hard and steady grind. The day will start with physical setting-up exercises, which is nothing new to the average wom- 4 terest section of the War Depart- ment’s public relations section, was inducted in a simple ceremony, save for the exacting demands of a bat- tery of newsreels and news cameras. The scene was Secretary of War Stimson’s conference room, where meny of the Nation's important military decisions are made. Clad in a blue sult with white collar and wearing a natural straw colored hat with a gay crown, the 5-foot 3-inch Texan stood between two American flags, flanked by Gen. George C. Marshall, chief of staff, in khaki shirt sleeves, and Secre- tary Stimson. Proud and pleased, her husband, William P. Hobby, former Governor of Texas, watched the proceedings. * After Maj. Gen. Myron C. Cramer, judge advocate general, adminis- tered the oath, Secretary Stimson turned to her and said: “The War Department considers itself very fortunate to have a woman of your aftainments as (8ee W. A. A. C, Page A-9) ' that this was a new type of war didn’'t seem convincing. The very fact that this is chiefly a mechanical war raised the gravest doubts of German victory in the minds of the common people in the Reich when America’s participation was insured by Hitler's war declaration. For | every schoolboy in Germany knows America is tops in mechanics. As if it were not enough, the talk- ative little Dr. Goebbels felt im- relled to inject himself into the sit- uation with two radio addresses to the German people on December 20 and on Christmas Eve. If ever he struck a wrong note it was in those two speeches. At a time when people in Germany were freezing for want of coal and when no more “real” wool was avail- able and furs were practically un- obtainable, Dr. Goebbels four days before Christmas asked the nation to give up pelts and other warm things and have them shipped to the Russian front. German people couldn't believe their ears. Only a few ‘weeks previously a weekly newsreel had been brought (S8ee LOCHNER, Page A-5) respondent, and Maj. Michael Buck- ley, United States Army observer, both of whom were captured in Libya before the Axis went to war against the United States. | The Americans reacaing here to- | night from Germany were dirty and hungry, but mostly in good health (See STEINKOPF, Page A-4. Towers Is Assistant Naval Chief for Air By the Associated Press. Reflecting the rapidly growing im- portance of air power in sea war- fare, the Navy yesterday created the office of assistant chief of naval operations for air and assigned to the post Rear Admiral John H. Towers, pioneer aviation enthusiast. Admiral Towers will continue in his present capacity as chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics in addition to his new duties. He will be re- sponsible directly to Vice Admiral Frederick J. Horne, vice chief of naval operations. 'Browder, Leaving Jail, ‘Germany Find France Says He'll ‘Promofe Unity” for Victory U. S. Communist Chief Commuted by President, Departs From Atlanta BY the Associated Press. | ATLANTA, May 16. — Earl Browder, stocky leader of the Communist Party in the United States, was freed today by Presi- | dent Roosevelt, who commuted his four-year jail sentence with the assertion it would have a ‘lendency to “promote national | unity.” | The 50-year-old Communist, who | himself has aspired to the presi- dency in three different elections, had served 14 months in the Federal Penitentiary here for falsification in obtaining a passport. Upon liveration, Browder said freedom would enable him “to '.aki my place in the great war effort. Then he added, “I hope that everyone who is interested in my release will make it the occasion, as I will, to intensify every effort to weld unbreakable rnational unity | under the Commander-ni-Chief for | victory in the war. Leaves on New York Train. “That is as far as my plans can go now, until I have had a brief period of reorientation.” Browder said he would leave tonight on a New York train. Meanwhile, Communist party T (See BROWDER, Page A-2) Malta Bags 2 Axis Planes VALLETTA. Malta, May 16 (P).— The R. A. F. destroyed two Axis planes and damaged four others in fights here today, a communique | announced. This brought to-seven the number | of Axis planes destroyed over the | fortress from noon Thursday. ‘War Review Says U. S. :I'hrusts Russian Forces Press Have Affected Jap Strategy ‘Slashing Advance in ;Kharkov Sector Fighting Is Raging in Vicinity of Kerch, Moscow Asserts By the Associated Press. MOSCOW, May 17 (Sunday).— Tank-paced forces of Marshal Semeon Timoshenko continued their slashing advance on Khar- kov yesterday while on the Kerch | Peninsula heavy fighting raged {in the vicinity of the city of Kerch, on the narrow strait across from the Caucasus, the Russians announced officially | today. “In the Kharkov direction our troops waged offensive battles, suc- cessfully advancing and capturing booty and prisoners,” the midnight Soviet communique said. “On the Kerch Peninsula our | troops waged stubborn battles in | the region of the city of Kerch.” | (The Germans claimed yesterday | the town and harbor of Kerch had | fallen to Nazi arms.) ‘The Russians listed 70 more Ger- man tanks disabled—presumably on the Khardov front, where more | than 400 of the Naz vehicles have been reported damaged or destroyed | previoysly in the uninterrupted Red | Army drive. Transport and Destroyer Sunk. In the Barents Sea, the commu- nique said an 8.000-ton cnemy trans- port and a destroyer wcre sunk and a second destroyer neavily damaged and apparently sunk by Soviet planes and warships. Destruction of 56 German planes was credited to Russian airmen and ground forces on Friday against 13 Soviet losses. Supplementing the communique, dispatches from the Kharkov front said locality after localitv was be- ing captured by Timoshenko's men. “Qur offensive is developing every day,” said one account. “The enemy is unable to stop our advance.” Four Geyman counterattacks have been smashed.” In a sudden eruption of fighting on the Kalinin front, northwest of | Moscow, the Germans were declared { Tepulsed in repeated attacks. The | communique itself said that outside | the Kerch and Kharkov sectors | there had been no essential change in positions. Enter Many Communities. Earlier accounts of the Kharkov | offensive said yesterday the Rus- sians had battered their way into {man_v communities surrounding the | big industrial cencer in the might | offensive aimed at folding back the southern wing of Hiller's invasion | line. (Still without confirmation were advices current in London that the attackers had cracked (See RUSSIAN, Page A-3) Restaurants and drugstores |and other establishments here | that have, increased the price | of milk consumed on the prem- ises since the first of April must cut their prices back to March levels, a new Office of Price Ad- ministration ruling disclosed yes- terday. Bottled and counter-mixed bever- ages sold for consumption on the premises also are subject to the same ruling. Many establishments which were selling half pints of milk for 5 cents during March, increased the price to 7 cents following a raise in the wholesale price. An official of Peoples Drug Store which operates the city's largest drug ehain of 50 stores, said yester- day they had ordered their milk marked down to 5 cents per half pint, the retafl price in March. - The company has been selling milk at 'Restaurants Ordered to Cut Milk Price to March Level 7 cents since the beginning of the month. The Welfare and Recreatiional Association which operate 47 Gov- ernment building lunchrooms re- ported the highest March price for milk was 6 cents a half pint and that it was now selling for that amount. Pint bottles, however, will be marked down from 10 cents to 9 cents, the highest March figure, according to the association. As contrasted to this, Whelan's Drug Stores reported selling milk at 7 cents during March. Under the ©O. P. A. ruling, this chain may con- tinue to sell half pints at this price. Confusion over the question whether or not the freezing order affected bottled beverages centered on a section listing exemptions to the general price regulation. It read: “This regulation shall not apply to the following sales or de- —_— (See MILK, Page A-8.) 4 Not Enough Gas On Hand foMeet Ration Orders Rush to Fill Tanks Before Deadline Cut Deep Into Supply Going into its first week end of rationed gasoline, Washington today faced a Sunday at home, made necessary not only by ra- tioning itself, but also by a short- age of the supply of fuel in the hands of dealers. The rush of many motorists to fill up their tanks before rationing | went into effect put a heavy drain | on the deliveries to dealers here, and yesterday many filling stations were refusing to fill even the de- mands authorized by ration cards. Nearly all gasoline stations in the city will be closed today. A survey of sources of supply yesterday disclosed that the de- mand for ratiored gasoline ranged from “slight,” to only “fair,” but for the most part, there was not enough fuel to supply this rationed demand One large chain of stations was limiting sales to not more than 3 gallons per person, and, with its | local supply virtually exhausted, | was trucking gasoline from Balti- | more. one official said, but even | Baltimore “was running low.” On | the other hand some filling stations reported they were not short. Boards May Grant More. More liberal allowances for those holding cards with restricted amounts of fuel will be considered by the six local ration boards set up throughout the city, beginning to- | morrow morning. The procedure for persons who actually need more will be to go to one of the local boards, and fill out an application for a “supplmental” supply. These local boards which also are handling sugar rationing are lo- cated as follows: Force School, 1740 Massachusetts avenue N.W.; Oyster School, Twenty-ninth and Calvert streets N.W.; Mount Pleas- ant Branch Public Library, Six- teenth and Lamont streets N.W.; Hayes School, Fifth and K streets N.W.; Southwest Branch, Public Li- brary, Seventh and K streets S.W.; Ketcham School, Fifteenth street and Good Hope road S.E. ‘Whether persons who are granted higher ration cards can buy more gasoline, however, will depend on whether there is enough gasoline to go around. Among those who were “assured” yesterday of a suplemental supply were workers in war construction jobs in this East Coast gas ration area, including this city and vicinity. Such assurance was given in an official statement issued by the Of- fice of Price Administration. Labor Leaders Visit O. P. A. The statement followed a visit made at O. P. A. headquarters by a committee of three labor leaders from the Washington Building Trades Council. They had reported that several workers, badly needed for construction jobs here had left the vicinity for fear they could not get sufficient gas to take them home eventually. The committee consist- ed of C. F. Preller, president of the council; John Locher, executive sec- retary, and Willy Arnheim, business agent for heavy construction labor. Mr. Locher expressed gratification over the statement issued by O. P. A. He said the huge construction jobs in this city and vicinity now were employing about 35000 men badly needed for new war construc- tion. “Thousands of workers on war construction jobs in the East Coast gas ration area, who need their cars not only to drive back and forth to work, but also to travel from job to job,” said the statement, “are assured adequate supplies of gaso- line for these purposes. “Many of these workers are em- ployed in the rationed area on a temporary basis, and are concerned over the quantities of gasoline they can get under rationing conditions. Lodged Far From Jobs. “Because of a lack of housing facilities near many construction jobs, workers have to be lodged several miles from their places of work. Also, skilled workmen, in- | cluding electricians, plumbers and carpenters, have to transport their own tools, thus making use of their cars essential. As soon as one job is dome, they have to travel to a new one, perhaps at some distant point. “The gasoline rationing regula- tions permit supplemental rations of gasoline whenever they are needed for cars that must be driven in pursuit of a gainful occupation. Supplemental rations may also be issued to migrant workers who need their cars to travel from job to job. “Application for additional ‘sup- plies of gasoline is to be made at a local rationing board. The local board is authorized by O. P. A. to issue ration cards providing for the purchase of the necessary quantity of gasoline.” Nine More Boards to Be Set Up. Although the statement did not explain which kind of card the men should get, it was believed most of them who had received some kind of a B card, would be given a (See GASOLINE, Page A-4.) Radio Programs Page E-4 Complete Index Page A-2 {