The War Today Much Fighting Still Due Before Tunisia Fails By REAR ADMIRAL CLARK H. WOODWARD, C.B.N. Carmen IMS, international News (SOTS: The opinion is expressed and the attitude as made seems to be my own and are not to be considered an official or reflecting in any way the views of the navy department or the naval service at large.) AS THE curtain goes up on the climatic scene of the North Africa campaign, the phase which began with the Allied invasion is just coming to an end and the greater phase planned at Casablanca is about to begin. The stage is all set for the final and decisive battle of Tunisia. Axis armies occupy the heights overlooking Bizerta and Tunis with a last-stand defense line running from Cape Serrat (30 miles west of Bizerta) to Enfayette (50 miles south of Tunis.) Three Allied armies, closing in for the kill, are driving vigorously from west and south in three valleys to seal the enemy tighter in his contracting stronghold where ultimately he must surrender or be smashed. How long the so-called Bizerta-Tunis triangle can be held by the Axis is problematical. With only Bizerta and Tunis available to Axis shipping, and with a limited number of vulnerable airfields, it is doubtful whether  whether to abandon this last Axis stronghold in North Africa by evacuation, or to follow the example of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad by standing their ground to the bitter end and sacrificing thousands of men through delaying action. The decision must be made promptly, or else the matter will be taken out of Axis hands. In any case, the German high command undoubtedly already has written Tunisia off the books as an effective Axis base. Allied forces are now getting ready for the final assault. Though Rommel, with his back to the sea, is in the toughest spot as hit whole North African adventure, he is not yet beaten. He must have lost heavily in his retreat from the Mareth Line, nevertheless, he still retains a powerful, well-integrated fighting force estimated to be 200,000 strong with hundreds of tanks and probably 1,200 planes. Moreover, due to the difficult terrain and the strong defensive positions he occupies, it is reasonable to believe that the Afrika Korps commander will elect to fight it out in Tunisia, and sacrifice his entire force, if necessary — except a few seasoned officers, technicians, and specialists, whom he will evacuate to Sicily or Italy. SHOULD ROMMEL desire to evacuate all his forces, the chance of every partial success would be alight. The use of the ports of Bixerte and Tunis and his few air fields will steadily diminish. Had Hitler intended to rescue the bulk of Axis forces in Tunisia, the arrangements would have been made known. It appears, therefore, that the time for a real Dunkerque is over. Even Italian naval vessels could lend very little assistance. The Allied timetable to clear the Axis forces from North Africa is said to be June 1—in order to make an invasion of Europe possible this year. However, due to the speed of the British 8th Army in chasing the remnants of Rommel's Afrika Korps to the Tunisian tip, the deadline probably can be advanced to about May 15. Though the end definitely is in light, nevertheless heavy fighting ahead may prolong the struggle. Keep Down Stop Signs PASADENA, Cal., April 17 (UP) —Police have taken up the cry of “Woodman, spare that tree.” A would-be Paul Bunyan chopped down, as though they were trees, two boulevard stop signs. YOU MUST SEND IN SMUNG CLEANING NOW! TOURS PART 1. Editor Victim of Japs Warns of Grave Peril Tells of Tokyo's Plan to Bomb U. S. West Coast and Alaska EDITOR’S NOTE— From the lips of the man who fought indescribable tortures at the hands of the Japs comes this warning of the great menace of Japan in the Pacific. Mr. Powell was for 25 years an militant editor of the China Weekly Review. Winn Shanghai fell he became the first and most prized prisoner of the Japanese invaders. He was thrown into a tiny, wet and cold cell without sufficient food and clothing. His fret froze. Medical attention was denied him and beriberi and gangrene set in, necessitating the amputation of both legs. Repatriated last August, he arrived here with American citizens from the Far East. He was taken to Harkness Pavilion, where he prepared this article. By J. B. POWELL Copyright, 1543, by New York Journal American. New York, April 17—We’ve not into the slothful, official habit of looking at the Pacific situation as one of secondary importance. Nothing could be further removed from an accurate appraisal. The wily, deceitful Japs are at this moment building air bases in the Aleutians on one side, and massing a prohibitive armada near New Guinea on the other. They have been bombing Port Darwin heavily recently, preparatory to an invasion of Australia at that point. Once they become embedded in those two places, it will be only a matter of a few months before they start bombing Seattle —and the entire West Coast. Unless we send aid to Gen. MacArthur soon - and I mean right now, not four or five weeks from today — we are due to have another Pearl Harbor. This one, however, won’t be in the Hawaiian Islands. It will be in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and all other important centers along our Pacific front. While we are squabbling about a 40-hour week, overtime and labor shortages, Japan is using her almost inexhaustible reservoir of laborers to construct air bases in countless islands. At this moment they have bulldozers, caterpillars, and other equipment in the Aleutians. There they go on will finish air bases, unless we stop them. Once the bases are ready for operation, they will attack Alaska and will seek to dig in there. If we putter around and permit them to accomplish this purely through our withholding adequate planes, munitions, and equipment from the men who are impatiently waiting for the chance to annihilate the Japanese, we will be literally lining ourselves up in front of a firing squad. ASKS NEW TACTICS If the Casablanca conference decision to eliminate Germany before concentrating upon Japan still holds in light of recent disclosures, the principals of that historic meeting. would be wise to meet again today and amend any such agreement. Germany is, of course, a dangerous enemy, but today Germany is bleeding and reeling. Japan is the dangerous threat against the security and safety of this country, and while we focus all our strength on the European front, the Japanese work like bees to take every ounce of advantage from our diversion of interest. NEEDS PLANES NOW Col. Lloyd Lehrbus of Gen. MacArthur's staff recently came to this country with Lt. Gen. Kenney. Lehrbus visited me, and told me he “couldn’t talk about the war.” But he smiled and said: “I will, though, mention planes, planes, planes, planes... we need them quick!” If we ignore the 250,000 tons of merchant shipping— all to be used in the war. The BELTONE has helped the most difficult cases to better hearing, even a here other hearing aids have failed. People who have used other hearing aids previously—people who know hearing aids—praise the BELTONE most. Whether your hearing loss is mild or severe, you will be pleasantly surprised by the clear, natural tone, the noises that are causing the most discomfort. LIBERAL ALLOWANCE ON TRADE-INS' FREE HOME DEMONSTRATION Call Cherry 5500 — Sixth Floor Hamring Aid Department Frank & Seder Wm. M. Clifford and Grand Road PAGE 2 capacity with soldiers, guns, munitions and equipment—we will have a far greater hazard to face. Another friend of mine, who had only a few weeks before talked to Gen. Chenault, visited the scene. “Gen. Chenault,” my friend said, “had recently seen an American air base with its usual number of planes. He testified to bewildered admiration, turned to me and said: ‘If only I had the planes on that one air base, I could drive back the Japs and bring them to their knees.’ Ever since Japan got the Pacific Islands from Germany after the last war, through the damnable system of mandate, she has been converting them into virtually impregnable fortresses. Many of us screamed about it, but only our empty echoes tosponded. Today Japan is concentrating a monstrous invasion fleet near the island of Truk. That is one of the islands already fortified. Rabaul is another such island already made ready for Japanese use. With only the war implements of abounding courage and unwavering faith, comparatively speaking, Gen. MacArthur has tenaciously held his ground and desperately fought off hordes of ruthless Japs armed to their teeth. Now, for God's sake, in the name of heaven above, let's send him something besides our best wishes with which to win this war against Japan. He ran do it, we ran do it, the courageous people in China ran do it, and our own sons out there outnumbered 10 to one in fighting planes can do it. But they ran do it as long as the Pacific situation is regarded as less lesser importance than the European situation. DETROIT SUNDAY TIMES (PHONE CHERRY 8800) Today's War Map: ROMMEL'S LAST-STAND DEFENSE IN TUNISIA Map by Detroit Times Staff Artie WHERE THE ALLIED ARMIES HAVE CORNERED REMNANTS OF THE AFRIKA FORCES The Nazi defense triangle, formed by the line extending from Cape Serrat to Enfondville, where Nazi Marshal Rommel is making a last desperate stand against the three-pronged Allied offensive expected to drive the Axis out of Tunisia. Navy to Change Color of Officers' Uniform WASHINGTON, April 17 (UP) The naval officers' working uniform will be changed from khaki to slale blue. Secretary of Navy Knox has announced. The change, after months of experimentation to determine a color that will be less conspicuous for forces afloat, will be made as soon as possible, he said. Cloth now in the stocks of merchants will be lived. THEY give their lives to your money. HA ui If you can't fight your dollars, can BUY YOUR BOYDS 13 BILLION DOLLAR 2ND WAR LOAN J. A. B. 1452 FARMER ST. MONDAY ONLY... A  heavy over the Axis forces is pronounced Allied air superiority (large plane) and the speedy advance of Montgomery’s British Eighth from the south. The time table (top) is explained in Adm. Woodward’s column on this page. If you need dishes—here’s a value we don’t believe can be duplicated in town! Fine quality dinnerware. Shop early and use your credit. Ideal Easter Gift. 38-PIECE SET Complete Service for 6 6 large cup plates Extra large dinner plates 6 bread and butter plates 6 “footed" cups 8 dessert or cereal dishes Lard 1 vegetable dish 1 chop plotter 1 Pay-Go Accord Near, House Group Believes Both Sides Ready to Give and Take on Tax Cancellation WASHINGTON, April 17 (UP) —Ranking Democratic and Republican members of the House ways and means committee reported progress today in their efforts to compromise on a pay-go tax bill. The group met for two hours this afternoon and adjourned until 8:00 a.m. Sunday. Rep. Wesley FT Disney <D) of Oklahoma told reporters that both sides were willing to give-and-take on tax cancellation, the major block to previous efforts to obtain the legislation. The latest plan was submitted by a former assistant secretary of the treasury. Rep. Charles E. Dewey <R> of Illinois. It incorporates the following features: 1942 taxes would be paid at 1941 rates. 1942 rates would remain in effect for 1943, 1944, and 1945. A current withholding tax would go into effect July 1, and payments already made this year would apply to 1943 liability. The 1942 liability would be divided into three installments, one payable in each of the next three fiscal years. Dewey said 7,000,000 taxpayers would find that they owed no 1942 tax when they applied 1941 rates and exemptions to 1942 income. He said $4. ,000,000,000 of the taxpayer’s $10,000,000,000 for 1942 liability would be forgiven. Still Champion LOS ANGELES, April 17 (UP) The California Shipbuilding Co. remains the champion ship-produc ing company of the world. The Terminal Island plant deliyerM 15 Liberty ships of 10,500 tons each, launched 14 others, and laid the keels for 14 others during the month of February. §lßP*4lHNHtfck * EL „ J jj. re anßrfr IKi^jj^^fejJ at ~v I'aMi iJrJp. noT - [ - %* v *■'■ L'Jlv. r prn I r •v' - 7 ; ,* « « Arroumt MONDAY NIGHT TILL 9 “fluAt UrUdUf an <M(uteAi tyace'• GERSONS 136 MICHIGAN AVE. Nett (• teepie’e Outfitting Co., on Miehigon A venue Sunday,' April 18, 194,1 Reds Ki 114,000 In Kuban Area I 7 Tanks Crippled in Violent Fighting LONDON, Ajh il 18 (Sunday) i UP)- The Red Army of the Cau casus killed 4,000 German troops, crippled 17 tanks and destroyed 39 Runs yesterday in violent fight ing around the rim of the Kuban bridgehead, a Soviet communique said today. The high command announced in a' Moscow communique that Russian troops were engaged in offensive operations on some bat. tleflelds and beating off deter mined Axis counterattacks at other jxiints. Supplementary Soviet report* indicated that big sole action was brewing in the northwest Cau casus, hinting at a full dress Red Army offensive to wipe out the last Axis foothold in that area. South of Izyum In the Ukraine the Russians fought local battles and wiped out about 200 Germans, ,the communique said, as well as disabling two tanks and destroying 20 trucks carrying iroops and plies. On the central front, Russian artillery and mortar batteries annihilated a company of German infantry and silenced five enemy batteries. Russian warships sank a 12,000-ton enemy transport in the Parquette Sea of the Far North, the high command reported. U.S. Bombings Make Rangoon Useless. NEW DELHI, April 17 (INS) Maj. Gen. Clayton L. Bussell, commander of the Tenth United States Air Force, declared today that constant American bombing of the Japanese-held port of Rangoon, Burma, had virtually put the port out of commission. The number of enemy ships now using the port has become almost negligible, Bussell declared at a news conference. He admitted, however, that there has been an increase in Japanese air strength in this theater of the war. For the "Times" of Washington, Follow Paul Mallon's Column in the Times. 