AIMS APPROVED

Evening Star, Issue 24294, 8 September 1942, Page 3

AIMS APPROVED

SOME DOUBTS ABOUT RESULTS (IRec. 1.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 7. The Associated Press says President Roosevelt’s demand that Congress should act before October 1 to create specific legislative authority to stabilise living costs found leaders in general accord with the over-all objectives but doubtful about the results. Senator ‘Brown, who piloted the price control law through the Senate, said he was hopeful Congress would go right ahead, but doubted if action would be taken on farm prices without demands for similar legislation on wages. Senator Norris said he believed President Roosevelt’s recital of the dangers of inflation would convince Congress to act immediately, and ho hoped action would be taken in time to prevent any break between Congress and the President.

Senator McCarran said he did not look with favour on the use of this club by Mr Roosevelt._ Representative Rankin said; “ I am unalterably opposed to placing a ceilin'* on fax - m prices until they reach real parity with wages, which would be two and a-half dollars a bushel for wheat.

Senator Taft challenged as revolutionary and dangerous the doctrine of President Roosevelt’s message. The President could in war time abrogate laws passed by Congress. Senator Lafollette said the President virtually placed a pistol at the heads of Congress. Senator Chandler said the President had made a correct request. Senator McNary said the notable document was proceeding generally in the right direction. Unrestrained inflation must be stopped. Senators Wallgren, Johnson, Guffey, Thomas, and Radliffe all spoke approvingly.

JAPAN SHOWS HER HAND BURMESE REGRET BETRAYAL OF BRITAIN (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 7. Burmese “ patriots ” who helped the Japanese and did all they could to hamper the British a few mouths ago are now risking their lives to escape Japanese rule, says ‘ The Times ’ New Delhi correspondent. Those reaching _ India are putting themselves at the disposal of the British military to fight for Burmese freedom. One of the best known of the Burmese, whose identity must remain a secret, is among the refugees who realised too late just what Japan’s promises are worth. The correspondent adds that there is growing hatred and anger throughout Burma at Japan’s blatant reversal of promises.

BATTLE JSCHOOLS BRITISH ARMY TRAINING REALISTIC CONDITIONS STAGED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 6. A description of the training in the British Army, a description which corrects several mistaken impressions, has been issued by the War Office. Both those who place all emphasis on the training given to special service corps r, —men who form the commandos—and those who insist that “commando training ” is now general throughout the Army are said to be wrong. The first view is mistaken because there is as much to bo said about the training of any infantry as about that of commandos, and the second view is wrong because commando training is specially designed for men with a particular job to do, and therefore is not general. What is sure is that every unit of the field army to-day has intensive and ruthless training in the most realistic warlike conditions. In its ruggedness and in its call on a man’s powers of. endurance, the training of the average infantryman is comparable with that of the commando.

To-day this grim and searching training is conducted on a very large scale. All field units, infantry, privates and senior officers alike,_ are passed through the new battle training schools, which are now established on the basis of one to every infantry division. Two particular advantages come from this system—first, the initiative of all troops is developed to the uttermost; and, secondly, large-scale exercises in which, the whole army corps co-operates—-every man is taught the part he will be called on to play during the battle. The exorcises are full-length affairs. They last for several days and reproduce accurately the conditions in which modern war is waged_ with tanks in support of infantry divisions. Parachute and glider troops come into play. Bombers, army co-operation squadrons, and units of the Royal Navy take part, and the aggressive spirit is fostered and troops are toughened by invasion practices such as cliff scaling, rock climbing, swimming rivers in full kit, and marching set distances pt top speed. Tire infantrymen show themselves at home with British and foreign maps. They have to destiny anti-tank mines and barbed wire, and master the arts of assault and street fighting, recognition, and camouflage detection. They double round the courss_ using the bayonet and firing at dummies behind trees and bushes. Such displays of aggressiveness are often staged in realistic conditions with live shells, grenades, and ammunition.

The rigorous training ,of the infantry differs from that undergone by men in the special service units, hut the way these men stood up to the ordeal at Dieppe, shoulder to shoulder with commando troops, shows that the severity of the training for infantry is equal to that for the commandos. Both seek to turn out men who will not falter or quail, however perilous their task.

GUERRILLAS ACTIVE ALBANIA AND YUGOSLAVIA ■ LONDON. Sept. 6. Details of increasing guerrilla activity in Albania and Yugoslavia are reaching Londlon. It is learned from Jerusalem that widespread Albanian guerrilla activity caused the strengthening of the Italian garrisons in Albania to 200,000. Demonstrators throughout the country are demanding the release of 65,000 interned Albanian patriots. Guerrillas killed 20 and wounded 30 Italians near Tirana. They later cut up reinforcements, killing 200. Guerrillas in Cvlona killed 20 members of the Gestapo and 250 Italians, and set fire to warehouses. Others dynamited a bridge and destroyed barracks and food stores at Lihrazhde in the El Bassan district. The Rome radio, quoting official figures, said more than 1,000 guerrillas had 'been killed in Western Croatia and large quantities of arms seized.