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Elmer Davis reports on the "comparatively quiet" western war front, the eastern war front and northern Africa. He describes how cold rainy weather has slowed serious fighting.
"...we are all reminded that this is an Allied operation. The high command is America, but the American army is only one of the three allied armies fighting the axis in north Africa. A victory for one is a victory for all."
Next he describes efforts for "anti-submarine activity" near Norway and bombing of German submarine factories. Though no heavy action is reported in the pacific, possibly due to losses last week in the Bismark sea, Davis suggests that the Japanese are strengthening their control in other areas. Davis then discusses French colonies in Africa and the West Indies which have pledged allegiance to the French Republic versus the Vichy Government.
Next he describes British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden's efforts to keep the "United Nations together by some means or other, not only to win the war but after the war, to prevent, if we can, this sort of thing from happening to us again."
Regarding the United States Congress, a resolution is under consideration for fostering international cooperation that will prevent future wars.
Davis warns that:
"...no plan for for world security will be workable without the participation of the United States, and second that our government cannot undertake such participation, unless the American people are pretty generally convinced that, whatever plan may finally be proposed, makes sense... If there had been more wisdom in the world at the war of 1918, we wouldn't have this war on our hands. And unless there is more wisdom in the world now than there was then, we'll have another war on our hands in another 25 years or less. And that war, given another 25 year in development in the aircraft industry, will be a bigger one and a meaner one than this one."
Davis reports that the President wishes to put off a draft as long as possible but that it may be unavoidable.
The Department of Agriculture has announced a favorable bumper of crops due to good weather, and anticipated increases in crops for next year as well as an increase in livestock and milk production. Finally, gasoline rations have been cut in the eastern states, "It's a choice between pleasure driving by civilians and business flying by the air force."
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 150646
Municipal archives id: LT4109