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"AN HISTORIC MOMENT" VOICE OF THE PRESS ,*** This handshake iier.veon General Henri Girauti (left), High Commissioner for French North Africa, and General Charles De Gaulle, leader of the Fighting French, symbolized a closer under- standing and a promise of co-operation between the two French factions. They are pictured in the garden of a villa in Casablanca, French Morocco. Seated between them, his face obscured by their gesture of friendship, is President Roosevelt, who commented : "This is an historic moment." Ways Of Saving Men Of The Sea Experiences of scores of men who reached safety after their merchant vessels were torpedoed will aid other merchant seamen in savnig their own lives. Studies by the United States Coast Guard, experiences and em- ergency measure* taken by men drifting in lifeboats have been pub- lished In a life-saving primer "dp- id gned to help save seamen's lives If their sJiips are sunk." "Simple things that the laud- lubber dismisses as trifles not worth bothering about," the coast guard saye, "can mean the differ- ence between life and death to men In a lifeboat." A bit of metal part of a tin can fastened to the oar of one life boat glittered brightly in the snu and attracted attention of a rescue vessel. Now, the coast guard says, every life boat will have a metal mirror to reflect the MI!'.'-; rays. There'll be plastic whistles in every seaman's equipment, too. Police whistles now aje carried but they're metal, and lu extreme cold can't be used without tear- ing the lips. Ladders from engine rooms fix- ed firmjy in place, rescued meu have reported, frequently snap- ped or were torn loose by the con- cussion when torpedoes struck a ship. Tie result ships will have supplementary chain or wide lad- ders hanging loosely. The food problems in life boats also have been studied. To sup- plement dry rations the coast guard recommends 'aimed fruit juices be placed In all boats. Mines*) caused by drinking salt water also Is outlined in the book. K teHs how to catch rain water in canvas spread in ttie life boat but, here's the trick, the first fate* of water must be discarded, for the canvas invariably is coat- ed with salt spray which pollutes flhe first catch. Women Over Forty Are Best Workers Britain's huskiest women are not all with the fijrhtinj: forces or In the civil defence services. In one comparatively small Thames- side area, which cannot be other- wise identified, 800 women half the crew work at one of the big- gest raliroad freight depots. When women were first hired in March, 1!41, it was estimated that five women would do the work of three men. After a few months the proportion was re- duced to four to three, anil today it is about level. The only job they cannot do is locomotive driv- ing. I'ijrhty per cent of the women are married ami 11 large propor- tion have children. Those who do not have relatives at home put the children in day nurseries. A recent report of the British Supply Council states that 10 per cent of Britain's production work- ers are women. Shipyards, employ three times as many women work- ers as they did n year ago. and 15 per cent, or 105,000 of the railroad employees are women. Women over forty make the best workers r.nd are "more I'liM-ou^h more reliable ;sn<l mnv \. ''iiv.; to . '.'I." the lO'.ort COV.'l ;;ie?." Publisher Didn't Know Everything This is the story of an Amer- ican publisher who discovered when he flew back from England that one of his co-passengers was David Bowes-Lyon, brother of Queen Elizabeth, writes Leonard Lyons in The New York Post. Th publisher engaged him in con- versation and began to criticize the British for their failure to solve the India problem. The Brit- isher reminded the publisher that 30,000,000 Indians were born within the last few years and that the problem is a constantly changing one, involving countless difficulties. But the publisher continued to criticize the British* for failing a solution. Bowes- Lyon listened and then inter- rupted: "By the way, if I weren't the Queen's brother, do you. think I should make a speech about Negroes and America.'* The noted publisher stared at him and ans- wered: "Don't vou dare." ABOUT HORSEMEAT Although some housewives are hostile to the idea of cooking horsemeat none of them have ac- tually kicked over the traces yet. On the whole we expect t'uat plans in that respect will jro off without a hitch. But look out for gallop- ing: indigestion ' Peterborough Examiner o PLAN A GARDEN The Food Controller says there will be rationing of most foods in Canada before the end of this year. Why not think about it now and prepare for a ban^-up backyard garden to produce fresh greens for the table, real health food for the Summer season? St. Catharines Standard HE DISAGREED In a letter before Pearl Har- bor a German citizen reported to his American cousin as follows: "Dear Uncle Karl: We are al! fine. The war has harmed none ef us yet. Hitler says he is giv- g us a new prosperity. Cousin Hendrick, who disagreed, wa* buried yesterday." Financial Post WHERE ARE THEY? Hitler U.-di-mandinsr 250,000 Hollanders to fiirht his battles for him. What has become of the 'master race," when it needs so many foreigners to do its fight- ing, if its defeat is to be staved off? The Argonaut o THEY WILL REPAY Remember, the birds you feed now, while now covers the ground, will repay kindness by guarding gardens from insect pests next summer. Christian Science Monitor o FRONT COMING TO HIM They now say that Hitler is afraid to return to the Russian front. But why bother, if der front is coming to der fuehrer? Winnipeg Tribune REVERSING CHARGE "Butter shortage caused by itorra," announces a Toronto paper. Oh, no; "Storm Caused by Butter Shortage.' 1 Ottawa Citizen Air-Sea Rescue When United Nations planes, raiding from Britain, are shot up over continental Europe, the fly- ers know that their chance of es- cape is good if they can reach the sea before bailing out or crash- ing. In waters around England the Air-Sea Rescue service, with its speedy ambulance boats and specially equipped planes, has aved more than 1 .300 air crews since 1940. LIFE'S LIKE THAT By Fred Neher Boy Scout Week February 21-27 Open Scout Meetings To Held During Week Be The Chief Scout for Canada, His Excellency the Governor-General, has proclaimed the week of Febru- ary 21-27 ,is annual Boy Scout Week throughout Canada. During tdils iveek Canada's Boy Scouts and Wolf Cubs will be displaying their movement to the public. The week will be featured by special national broadcasts, father and son gatherings-, open Scout and Cub meetings, displays, ral- lies and other gathering's designed to give the public a picture of what r.he world's largest boys' movement seeks TO <lo for the boys of ( "anada. Bis tlxcelleucy me i;overuor- Geaeral. ihe Earl of AUilone. is the Chief Scout for Canada. His Excellency is peculiarly suited to the hirliest Scout office in the Dominion. As a young lieutenant in South Africa at the rum of the centurj- his commanding officer was the :!ien Col. llotiert Baden- Poweli. later founder of the Scout movement. The Chief Scout tells the story that Baden-Powell often discussal with nim his ideas about Scouts, many years before the or- ganization was '.auui.-hetl. The Governor-general was also Thief Scout of South Africa when he filled the vic-regal office in that Dominion. Since coming to Can- ada he has continued his keen ittteres: in Scouting, attending meetings of The Dominion Execu- tive Committee, ami frequently appeariuK at Scout rallies. He Is an enthusiast for the Scout uni- form and has appealed to Boy Scoutg across Canada to wear tie full stajidard uniform on all sui'- able tx-ciisions. and to wear it creditably. Army Rejects Man Waacs Take Wife Vvhat uid 1 <'ii you about reading at the breakfait table"!" Mrs. Frederic Amour, twenty- three years old, kissed her hus band jfood bye when he left to take his Army examination. "Re a good soldier, dear," she said. "I'll carry on." She wept a bit, then said to herself: "I'm goinjr to help him. The sooner we all get into this, the sooner it will be over and we can be together again." An hour later, she enlisted In the Women's Auxiliary Corps. Then she returned home, expect- ing an empty house, a solitary- dinner. Instead, there was Fred- die wearing- an apron, stirring an omelet. "Surprise, dear. I haven't been accepted," he said. "Surprise, dear." she replied. "I have!" Russian Tricks Annoy Germans The iu>rman press is attempting to explain defeats on the Soviet front by declaring that the Rus- sians tricked them, a Swedish cor- respondent reported recently. Russia's concealment of her real military power and skill in camouflage resulted in surprises for the licrmans even during the second year of the campaign, the press complained. The Russians v.ere said to have changed the names of many places, built new towns whose existence was kept secret and laid new railways which were not shown on any maps available to the Germans. THE WAR WEEK Commentary on Current Events Threat To Australia Removed New Disasters Facing Hitler The long and hard-fought battle (or the Island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon* apparently has end- ed. Japanese Imperial Headquart- ers reports that its troops had been withdrawn from the Island. The conquest of this island which safeguards Australia and our lines of communication gives American forces undisputed pos- session of a base which becomes a threat to Japan's major bases in the Pacific. It was an exclusively American -=how and the first land victory to smash the Japanese myth of invincibility and demon- strated that wkh proper training the American soldier is far super- ior to the Japanese. Moreover, by beinif forced to admit "withdraw- al" the Japanese military have lost face before the t-mperor and the people of Japan. Kursk Secaptured The fa!! of Kursk, according to The Xe\v York Times, is one at the giva* H'jssan victories of the war. Rp'.-anture of this key city opens ,i broad new corridor t'or the entire Russian offensive. It is the first luvarh in tie German. Win- ter \V,U1 thar stretchec from the Bait.- Black Sea and the fall of i lie city necessarily imperils the whole -Tucture of German defense in .South Russia. Beyond Kursk :he Ukrainian plain stretch- es to tile Dneiper. The loss 01 Kursk may have con- sequents for the Germans as dis- astrous as '.he annihilation of their besieging army at Stal!n^r:id. Both cities were symbols Stalingrad of heroic Russian resistance and Kursk <\i German power TO strike. Kursk was the aridgeue.-ul froni which the Summer offensive was launched last year. Stalingrad was the tidal mark at which :t '~lter- ed an>i failed. Within five months of Hitler s .evasion the Nazis had seized Kursk and its network of strategic railways. For fifteen months 'hey have been fortifying he city, linking it up with other "hedgehog" renters, developing it as a base for attack ami a fort- ress to resist any assault. Yet the Russians -wept over it in a single day. This indicates one of two things, perhaps both. Either :Jie morale of tie (i'-rinan Army, .ifter four months of !< feat, bas deteriorated seriously or the German High Comm.iix! has decided that its im- med lately available reserves and supply svs;<-m are unequal to the task of holding (he 1941 victory line in iJie Ukraine. I: may be the Cerni i:is were already with- Jruwr.;: Prom Kursk :ie!i 'he Russia;::, sinu-k. ami were neither In str> ngtii nor mood TO fight. Xow : : i.i- :,i.' Winter Wall has finally era. -K- I. Germany must cor.n: heuvi!)- on '.he possibility of Russian .via-.iM.ion ,md the likeli- hood of a sea of Spring mud to bog down 'he Soviet drive. But that, drive j s still rolling ahead with 'in-.liniinished power, while German efforts to "disengage' their armies seem to weaken. General Mud is still far from the battle line. And in the north, where fresh Russian armies are gathering, bis arrival will be de- layed even longer. London experts predict that Hit- ler, facing the dire necessity of shortening his lines ajid concen- trating '.i is forces to avert a new defeat, will use last year's) Win- ter line as .1 stopping point only, and that ho will retire, eventually, to the Dnieper where he may be able to holi! while maneuvering elsewhere. Such a retreat under constant pressure would add great- ly to his enormous losses. It is considered doubtful that he can stand up under grea' new deple- tions of str-.-ngth because R'issia, without rooming Lease-Lend aid, already out-produces him in many aUwrji ->. (1. -spite her own territorial and imh strial losses. Preparations Jn Tunisia It is estimated that the Amer- icans ure at least two months far- t.hor advanced in North Africa than they would have bee.i if the Darlan deal had not been consum- ated an.i :he French had not capi- lui.iicd. Yet, because of nr;,i .ind other factors, including i'::c fact that preen TniuM Sta:.~ ;r. ops are in:. r !;,,-,! i,> r< >nil);:: :n easy s:.i>u-s. their progress has iieen slower tiian was .inticii>.i;ed. it had been expected that Tunisia would be cleaned out by now but General Elsenhower is proceeding with great caution and safeguarding his supply lines, although in so doing he has risked reinforcement of Xazi forces in Tunisia. Rommel probably got into Tun- isia with about 50,000 men and found there 125,000 other Axis troops 175.000 in all. They are well-equipped and have success- fisJly mounted their .88 guns on some tanks, thus out-ranging, for the moment, certain American tanks. It is unlikely that the Axis can supply larger forces than these already in Tunisia; the Al- lies in time will outnumber and outgun them. While there is every confidence that the Axis will be driven out of Tunisia, the job is a tough one and cannot be accom- plished in a few weeks. Somehow or other the impres- sion has (?:>t around that B^rr <? and Tunis and oth-r important owns along the coast of Tunisia are just so many apples whi<-?i ca.'i be picked whenever w can ' til enough buy to do the job and that it won': take a :.ti! boy at that. -* . t-< \V. H. Stone-man, Chicago Daily News. - I'.:-- :-=n't true ai;-i people will avoid ilWppointaii-n: later on if '!! . '.t!!d it. The fact is that our line ' Cap Serrar on the northern coast right down to Sheitla, northw.-st of Sfax. is fairly g-ood from a .1.- fensive viewpoint, bu: :io morn. The Germans and Italians oppos:- i> la e . yen better -iKVnsive posi- tions al! along the line, and our efforts to kick them out have iit-.-:i costly an-! in the end futil . Be- fore we can go for Bizerte an-I Tunis or even for Kairouan in the south, we have to puncture a num- ber of fine natural positions which are heavily fortified and strongly manned by excellent fig-hting men. That job or series of jobs wi:l have to be undertaken by good infantry and the price will proh- ably be high. The statement that our equip- ment is better than the enemy's jt subject to serious reservations a* far as the Tunisian front is con- cerned. Our irooj,:- have fought wonder- fully, even 'hough we have not yet won a clean-cut battle against the Th Moslem Sagacity -.vise men of neutral Iracj. 'i told that the Allies would craq, Reflected a while. Then replied, with a smile, "Kindiy go sit on a tat| !'' PHONE UNDER FIRE buo;h !"t : -. . ,1 on the jo!> <if>i>ii.(.> i- L :ir .. bias;. 1 !u \ arc s< throui;:! <>:i t>o African whc-ru iH'Mriy ail ax.- . h.i\e V-. M C > .l:vd Out. Bluey and Curley of the Anzacs "Powerful stuff Bv Gurney (Australia) YER KNOW THOSE 6YPPO CIGARETTES i SENT 1b ME COUSlM ALF BACK IN! AUSSIE. 7* YEQ c!t wofS FARHIN UP ON THE MURRAY II 42 MS fnONM FA6S DOWN NEAO iWAMP VfHEBE THE WAS THICK, ft DO >bu^ y ( HAPPEMED ( Mo $iR, / MOSSIES \ DOING, Tht