STILL A GRIM ONE

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1943, Page 5

STILL A GRIM ONE

Enemy’s Big Reserves DISCLOSURES TO U.S. CONGRESS (Rec. 8.45.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 20. The members of the United States House of Representatives held an unprecedented closed session before breakfast to-day. It was arranged by the War Department. The House there heard a grim and graphic story of the war, which was presented by high militarv leaders, including Mr. H. Stimson (Secretary for War), and General Marshall (U.S. Chief of Staff) Members of the House latei’ reported that the military leaders had imparted the following information:— • Japan has half a million men within a short distance of Siberian bases. Therefor*, if Russia permitted the Allies to use bases at Vladivostock, their defence would be difficult. The Germans are saving their fighter ’planes to attack Allied bombers. Therefore, German fighters no longer accept battle with Allied fighters. In the Pacific, Japan is building ’planes faster than the Allies are destroying them. Japan’s manpower problem is less serious than that of the United States. Japan has not yet called on all her eligible men, nor has she called on those betwean the ages of 17 and 20 years. The transportation of supplies remains one of the chief war problems of the Allies. i The Associated Press of America said: “What was particularly impressing to {many Members of the House was a detailed report of the enemy production and enemy’s reserves of war material, in what some Members interpreted as being an effort to dispel any hopes that Germany was cracking internally. Figures were presented showing that the German munition production, and particularly of locomotives and submarines is still high, in spite of bombings. Emphasis was also placed on Russia’s high war contribution. This was illustrated by charts of troop dispositions. These charts indicated that only a small percentage of the Nazi soldiers is in Italy and in Western Europe as compared with the number that is arrayed against tne Russian Army.