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THE WAR WEEK Commentary on Current Events Portugal Grants Anti-Submarine Bases In Azores To Great Britain The announcement that Portu- (al has granted Great Britain anti-submarine bases in the Azores li a development not only of Im- mense Immediate advantage to the Allies but one which carries po- litical and strategic Implications of world-wide significance, say* The New York Times. The im- mediate advantage lies in the fact that this move deals what may prove to be a knockout blow against the German submarine, the last weapon on which Hitler till relies. Protection For Convoy* For the new "anti-submarine bases" ia thi- Azores include both harbor and airfield facilltes which will permit the stationing of Bri- tish naval and air forces and, possibly through reverse lend- lease, of American forces as well at an approximate midway point on the sea lanes between New- foundland on the one side and England and North Africa on the other. This should permit the routing of Atlantic convoys ia luch manner that they will be at all times under the protection not only of Allied naval forces but also of a continuous air patrol, which has proved to be the most deadly destroyer of the U-boat packs. It should provide the greatest possible security for the Allied communication lines and In doing so further facilitate the opening of another front ID Europe. Germany's Reaction The further effects of this Portu- guese move will depend largely on Germany's reaction to It. Portu- gal acted in conformity with tier 670-year-old alliance with Great Britain, which pledged both na- tions to be "friends to friends, en- emies to enemies, and to uphold each other mutually by land and by sea against all men that may live or die." At the, same time, in agree- ment with Great Britain, Portugal will continue to maintain neu- trality "on the European Contin- ent." Berlin's first pronounce- ments are dictated by caution, but Hitler has never yet taken a re- verse like this lying down, and Portugal is preparing for all eventualities. Allied Diplomacy Triumphs This raises Interesting possibi- lities. For, barring some hit and run attacks by submarines, Ger- many has no way of getting at Portugal except through Spain. And Spain and Portugal are oblig ted by what amounts to a mutua! assistance pact to aid each other In case of attack by a third Power. Spain was Informed of (lie necoti- ations preceding Portugal's action nd rained no objections. Spain herself has switched from a pro- Ails "non-belligerency" to a vigil- ant neutrality," and If Germany should attempt to attack Portn-.-.i: through her she would be obligated to fipht against Germany. The!' arises, therefore, the possibility of a new front In Kurope in quite * different place than anticipated heretofore. Kven aside from such a development, (lie Portuguese movo would have been Impossible without Spain's new orientation, and this new orientation and the result It has produced murk a new Allied ilijiloiti.il May End Neutrality In one respect, of course, the Portuguese move Is another In- dication of how far the balance of power has swung In favor of the Allies. Hut it would he foolish to assume that Portugal and Spain are merely hopping on the Allied bandwagon. Certainly Portugal and possibly Spain are exposing themselves to a risk which must be judged In proportion to their resources. And Portugal for one has declared that she Is assuming this risk because "our dignity and our Interests may require, that we end our neutrality.." Example To Little Nations In that M-:,|I'T! Portugal u set- ting an example for other "little" nations, notably Turkey and Ire- land. But the Portuguese move has also set a legal precedent of considerable hearing on the British alliances with Russia and Turkey. Turkey l noutral In th ontire. war and Russia In the war In Asia, but both have liases much dusirod by the Allies In both theatres of war. Whether and whnn they will follow Portugal's example must be left for them to decide. Contrary to Hitler's practice, \1 Great. Britain did not press Portu- gal to yield the bases until the time was ripe for It and the t>-j. was dearly In Portugal's own Inlerr'U It may be expected that a Ilka policy will ha pursued la other CHHOK. Hut < far ai th Allies are concerned any legal doubts about thn propriety of ft Russian grant of Siberian banal In tin.-, of har neulrallty pact with Jipan, for Instance, hnva now b*in Attack On The Tlrplti It takes brave men to carry out what the British Admiralty elects to call " rery gallant enterprise." None braver hve com* out of this war than the crews that piloted their midget submarines down Alteu Fjord to torpedo that giant Tlrpitz. They had to thread their way through a fifty-mile gauntlet of floating ice and hid- den fire before they could even loose their weapons. But because their nerves were steady and their sight sure the pride of the German Navy now lies crippled in a slick of her own oil. These midget submarines are not supposed to have an oper- ational range of more than 300 miles. As the British ships were cruising more than a thousand miles from home bases, presumb- ably they were transported part way to their destination In some manner. With the Tirpltz as their first victim they will certainly raise the hazard of all ships anch- ored In supposedly safe harbors. For the Germans the Tirpltz may represent an irreplaceable loss. She was the one ship which could lead a fleet against our naval power with any hope of success. Refitting her In Alien Fjord should OTTAWA REPORTS That 150,000 Farm Workeri Are Needed for Essential In- dustries During Off-Sca*on In past years farm workers have worked during the fall and winter months at the cutting of wood fuel, in coal mines, in base metal mines and in fish-packing industries. This year their help is more urgently needed, not only in these industries, but in other essential industries. The war has caused a shortage of the manpower usually avail- able for such work the workers have gone to fight or to work full-time in war factories. Other important industries have also suffered through a shortage of manpower and they, too, are looking to the man on the land to come to their aid. Farm production still retains its priority place, however. Farm- era are expected to remain with their farms as long as they are needed and these who must re- main on the land for year-round work are not being called upon to leave it. In an endeavor to use very prove a difficult task. Until she can fight again the German High Seas Fleet will probably remain In hiding. available working man wher most needed and especially to ensure that urgently needed fuel wood is brought in, the Director of National Selective Service hai announced a campaign to secure the services of those farmers who can be spared during the next few months Agreements be- tween the Dominion and the Provinces for farm labor recruit- ment provide that Provincial Field organizations will assist the Dominion in locating farmers for other essential industries dur- ing their off-season. All the Pro- vincial organizations have agreed to co-operate with Selective Service in the presen* campaign. In addition, several hundred local Farm Production committees, or- ganized by the Provinces, have undertaken to give their assist- ance in securing the farm labor. Altogether more than 150,000 farmers are being sought for essential industries throughout Canada. It has been pointed out by the Department of Labor that work- ers in agriculture who have secured postponement of military training through their occupa- tion, will be allowed to continue with their postponement if they accept approved essential em- ployment during the slack sea- son. So far this shifting of labor to where it is urgently needed ha yielded valuable results. In one instance this year, the moving of 4,000 Ontario farmers to the prairies for four or five week* meant that the full harvest labor requirements of the Prairie Prov- inces were met and the Western crops were saved. Minister of Labor Mitchell in announcing that any of these men who now wished to return to Ontario from Manitoba or Saskatchewan could do so, said, "The response of the Ontario farmers was excellent. Our in- formation is that all of the West- ern crop will be saved, with none being lost by reason of any labor shortage." With the harvest now safely garnered, the next urgent need is preparation for the winter months, and Canada is depending on her farmers to help bring in the fuel. KILLING THE BUDWORM The budworm is a little creature and can easily be killed It the proper means Is found. Unchecked it can destroy forests. Mankind, which has already in many In- stances set one of nature's crea- tures to the Job of destroying an- other, has yet to find and put the enemy of the budworm to work. Port Arthur News-Chronicle. Germans Must Not Be Underestimated Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgom- ery, commander of the British Eighth Army, in an interview warned that the Germans must not be underestimated and said that it was a great mistake for anyone to do so. Montgomery, whose Eighth Army marched approximately 100 miles in the first seven days of the invasion of Italy, cautioned against attaching decisive import- ance to the Italian armistice ia considering the factors in the present Allied campaign on this peninsula. "The Italians ceased to be a fighting factor by the end of July when we were still engaged in Sicily," he said. He said the Germans were con- ducting a skilful withdrawal from the southern extremity of Italy, making continual use of demoli- tions and mines, and that the Eighth Army had been hiking on foot in pursuit. "The Germans facing th Eighth Army are experienced, well-trained troops and have been conducting a fighting retreat. Th Germans can't be underestimated. It's a great mistake to do so," he declared. W/fATA SHOT m "It's quiet in here. Guess I'll sit and think iiwhile. Lord how he loved those skates. And what a wonder he was on 'cm! REGRET TO INFORM YOU HEAD- QUARTERS OVERSEAS ADVISES... \ BE ASSURED HE IS RECE IVING BEST MEDICAL ATTENTION., "Oh, Johnny, come home again! Come home running, shouting, tramping in and out of the house with muddy feet and clothes awry. Come home, Johnny, shouting, laughing, heedless, turning the house topsy turvy in your endless quests for lost sweaters and misplaced mittens. But come home to us, Johnny, come home . . . - :* -:T."T- * ::-.-.- ; .-.,.... ... .....u.vXv*. :*-. ... . -. , ; ...-.?... . yjp^ RELIEVE YOUR ANXIETY &;->-. "Guess being good with a hockey stick must have come in handy to him, learning how to handle a bayonet properly. He was quick as a flash. What a shot the kid had! SOON AS POSSIBLE... LETTER FOLLOWS, YOUR SON SERIOUSLY WOUNDED "It's a pity wars can't be fought by us older ones, with most of our living behind us. But it seems only kids can take it ... kids with fire ia their veins and springs for muscUl and steel for bones . . . like Johnny. "If prayers will do it, you'll be back, Johnny. But we're not stopping with prayers alone, boy. We're working for it, buying with every last cent we can scrape together the Victory Bonds that put weapons in your hands and sound ships under you and good food in you and dress- ings and drugs to care for your wounds. "This is our pledge to you, lad: that when you sit again at our table and look into our eyes you'll know we did not fail you, that we gave everything we had, just as we gave you." THE HOUSE OF SEAGRAM .