PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1942
Commentary by the KANSAN Editorials * * Features * * Patter
Seapower and the Second Front
Each ship which rumbles down the ways in American shipyards brings the second front nearer reality.
Representative Vinson of Georgia, chairman of the House naval affairs committee has forecast, "When the new land front is launched in the west of Europe, it is seapower that will launch it."
In June, 1941, Vinson said, there were in the United States 697 combat, auxiliary, patrol, and mine vessels building. By June, 1942, there were 3,230 ships of this category under construction, not to mention 218 being built for the United Nations and 11,658 smaller vessels in shipyards.
An additional $2,731,154,308 has been requested by President Roosevelt to bring the navy's current year appropriation to a record high of approximately 17 billion dollars.
Yesterday American enterprise and ingenuity hit a new high. Ten days after the keel was laid, a 10,500 ton Liberty freighter slipped down the ways of the Henry J. Kaiser shipyard in Portland, Ore. The ship was 87 per cent complete compared to a wartime average of 79.
All these figures point inexorably to one conclusion. Our navy is receiving the money and the manpower to make it the colossus of the seas. Vinson asserted, "At sea, we are beginning to turn the corner. Deippe and the Solomon Islands are merely forecasts of the shape of the things to come."
Upswing in the production of both war and merchant ships not only assures our men safe transportation across the sea but ample supplies once they reach the battle area. Vinson believes we will have "the added escort and patrol craft needed to put an end to the U-boat menace."
Our merchant marine, protected by the might of the American navy, will carry in an ever increasing stream men and material till the Axis juggernaut is stopped, defeated and unconditionally crushed in the face of superior allied numbers and equipment.
In the eyes of Representative Vinson, "Seapower, welded by ships and aircraft, is the anvil on which the decision in this global war is being hammered out." The effect of American shipyard anvils is now making itself manifest.
Soldier, You Can't Vote-Here
It has now become clear that our fighting men abroad are not going to vote for their favorite candidate this fall—regardless of all the laws passed by congress.
Circumstances ostensibly make it necessary that, for their own safety, our soldiers should be allowed to participate in the prerogative of free balloting which they are defending with their lives.
Congress recently passed a bill, approved by the President, stating that men in the armed forces overseas would be given the right to vote in the November elections. However, Secretaries Knox and Stimson now declare that for two principal reasons, this arrangement will not be possible.
The first objection, and the least of the two is the time element. Knox and Stimson maintain that it would take infinite work by the army and navy, both already overburdened with the task of keeping our fighting forces running smoothly. Furthermore, it would take at least four months to receive the completed ballots, and that delay nullifies the votes for all practical purposes.
1.
Just Wondering
Because all University men of draft age are required to enroll in the physical fitness program, a serious shortage of gym shoes has arisen. By some strange quick of fate there happens to be a salesman from one of the large rubber corporations on the Hill this week vending such equipment at a very comfortable profit.
The second reason advanced by the Secretaries of War and Navy is that it would disclose to the enemy the numerical strength of our forces abroad; in this they have the solid support of the military men in Washington.
They add to their argument that the ballots which would have to be sent to the soldiers would take up invaluable cargo space needed for food and munitions. Certainly, the men abroad would be the last to demand their right to vote at the price of endangering their lives and the lives of their comrades.
Notwithstanding these sound objections, Congress must shoulder the blame for the law's failure to function. They must have forestalled the time and work required to make such a law reality and should have passed the bill in ample time to solve these problems. They should have figured a way for the overseas soldier to vote without disclosing his station or the number of men abroad.
For this congress has no excuse—perhaps it is more than a coincidence that many of its members are seeking re-election in November.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Vol. 40 Wednesday, September 24, 1942 No.4
Notices due at News Bureau, 8 Journalism, at 10 a.m. on day of publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday for Sunday issue.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION: The first of the four examinations to be given this school year will be held on Saturday, October 3, at 8:30 a.m. Candidates must register in person at the College Office, 229 Frank Strong Hall, September 28-30. Only junior and seniors in the College of Liberal Arts may register. First-semester seniors who pass the examination at this time, provided they meet other requirements for graduation, may qualify for degrees in June by obtaining twenty-four hours' credit during this semester and next.
J. B. Virtue.
MAKE-UP PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION:
The make-up psychological examination will be held in Hoch auditorium Friday, Sept. 25, at 3:30p.m. This will be the last examination until the summer session.
A. H. Turnev.
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP GROUP which previously met in Watkins Library will meet in the Pine Room of the Union Building. Thursday noon from 1:00 to 1:20 p.m. throughout the coming semester.
If you are a Christian, you will want to be present. Everyone welcome! David Boylan, chairman.
A. H. Turney.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
Publisher ... John Conard
Rock Chalk Talk
DEAN SIMS
The Pi Phi's have begun the fershman training for the new pledges but as yet the lowly fresh haven't seen the light concerning who is lower than who.
Patty Lockwood, college junior, and pledge Betty Lay are roommates. Tuesday night Patty questioned Betty:
"What time are you getting up in the morning, Betty."
"Ohhhh, why you can get me up about 7:30," chirped the pledge, undoubtedly feeling that rush-week etiquette was still being practiced by the active chapter.
I get my name in the news today by being complicated in a sort of "hoomerous". situation.
Prof. and Mrs. Elmer Beth passed me on the street yesterday, and the Prof., being very sociable, said:
"Hello, Dean."
Mrs. Beth peered at me, then asked her husband:
"What's he dean of?"
In the journalism department's Press Club meeting yesterday evening, Prof. L. N. Flint brought to light an old K. U. journalism department song:
It's great to be a Kansan cub
And sit up late at night,
And scratch your wool
And shoot the bull,
And write and write and write.
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