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THE COLBORNE EXPRESS, COLBORNE, ONT., JANUARY 13, 1944 LEADING FIGURES IN ARMY COMMAND CHANGE These two senior officers of the Canadian Army are leading- figures In changes in command of Canada's overseas army announced by Ottawa along with news of the retirement from active command of Gen. McNaughton. At left is Lieut.-Gen. H. D. G. Crerar, former chief of the general staff who commands a Canadian Corps fighting in the Mediterranean theatre. At right is Lieut.-Gen. Kenneth Stuart, present chief of the general staff who is now appointed ehief of staff, Canadian Military Headquarters, London, and Acting Commander of the First Canadian Army. They are pictured together watching Canadian troop manoeuvres in Britain. OTTAWA REPORTS That Agriculture it The Most Important Single Industry of Canadian People According to statistics, agriculture in this country employs almost 30 per cent of the total gainfully occupied population, and about 34 per cent, or over one-third of the gainfully occupied males. It has been said that the dairy industry Is the largest sin-tie branch of Canadian agriculture. With this in mind a considerable amount of time was given by the delegates of the recent Dominion-Provincial conference in Ottawa to the 1944 objectives of the dairy industry. It was estimated thait n»»r| 3% of every one hundred pounds of milk produced in Canada during 1943 was marketed in concentrated'form. During 1944 about the same proportion and quantity of milk production will also find its way to the condensing plants. This will involve the conversion ofsome 600,000,000 pounds of milk into nearly a billion pounds of concentrated milk products. Evaporated whole milk is the largest of the concentrated milk products and of the entire 1943 production about 14% million pounds was exported to the United Kingdom, 12 million pounds to the British West Indies and to Newfoundland, while the remainder was consumed by the armed forces and civilians In Canada. The next largest concentrated milk product is condensed whole milk, of which the 1944 production goal is set at 24 million pounds, the same as in 1943. Most of this product goes to the British West Indies where, with its 44 per cent sugar content, it keeps BIG SHOT BOOTER well despite tropical heat. For whole milk powder, the 1944 objective is unchanged at 16,800,000 pounds. Its greatest outlet is . in Red Cross parcels for prisoners of war, a pound to each parcel. The production of skim milk powder will also remain unchanged from the estimated 24 million pounds Although Canada makes some of the finest cheese in the world, the average Canadian eats comparatively little of it. About three out of every four pounds of cheese manufactured in Canada is absorbed by the market in Great Britain. For generations Canadians have enjoyed the benefit of this British demand for their cheese and have continued to help meet it dining this war. The government requisitions all choddar cheese made in Ontario and Quebec for export. For 1944 it is estimated that 148,390,000 pounds will be manufactured This quantity is 6% per cent below 1943 but is at least 20 million pounds greater than in the average year immediately before the war. Present indications are that there will be less butter manufactured this year. It appears that about 97 pounds of creamery butter will be manufactured in 1944 for every 100 pounds made last year, and the estimated total is 305 million pounds. Although most of this will be consumed by civilians, some will be earmarked for the armed forces and for ships' stores, some may be exported to Britain and some will be included in Canadian Red Cross parcels. During the year the average civilian will eat about 29% pounds of butter, this is making allowance for the extra portions secured in restaurants. Great Britain's Aid To Russia War matreials of all types have been given to Russia free of cost since Germany declared war on her in 1941. Among many other things, 4,690 aircraft had been sent from Britain to Russia by the end of May, 1943. Goods to the value of £170,000,000 have been sent to Russia. This figure does not include the very large expense involved in opening and maintaining supply routes through Persia and around the North Cape, nor the unassessable cost in ships and men in convoys which have carried supplies. THE WAR • WEEK -- Commentary on Current Events Allied Downpour Of Destruction On Fortress Europa During 1943 The pattern for the Allied air attack in 1944 is clearly demonstrated by the heavy assaults on what remains of Berlin within the first week of the new year. As the capital and nerve centre of Gennany, Berlin has already been knocked out, says the New York Times. Some 25,000 tons of bombs and incendiaries dropped or burned half of it, driving most Government offices Into the provinces, and another 20,000 tons are expected to finish it as Germany's industrial capital as well. Results like this, achieved in the face, and even with the aid, of weather conditions which only a short year ago would have made any raids impossible, are highly impressive. The air enthusiasts still contend that, given time and the means, all Germany can be knocked out from the air alone. However that may be, it is cer-< tain that the bombers have created conditions in Germany which not only helped the Russians, achieve their great victories but are also making feasible an invasion of Europe from the west. These conditions could be created only by the air arm, without which would have been im« "Downpour" Figures How this was done is illustrat-' ed by the figures published at the turn of the year. They show that during the past year the R.A.F. dropped a total of 155,000 tons on Axis territory, of which 135,000 fell on Germany. The United States Eighth Air Force dropped 65,000 tons on Axis territory, and the Northwest African Strategic Air Force more than 74,000 tons. This makes a combined total for 1943 of 284,000 tons, compared with only 14,000 tons in 1940, 33,-. 000 tons in 1941, and some 50,000 tons in 1942. In contrast, Germany has been able to drop only 75,006 tons on Britain throughout the whole war. According to the calculations of the British Bomber Command, this Allied downpour of destruction has knocked out twenty-four German towns, including such cities as Hamburg, Bremen and the whole Ruhr area, and severely damaged twenty more. Whajt is equally important, the Allied air assault has forced Germany tp copcentrate 70 per cent of hev fighter strength in the West. Ol this the Eighth Air Fore, r mjgt--' 4,100 - fighters ' destroyed, 911 more probably destroyed and 1,821 damaged. The Northwest African Command reports 3,146 planes shot down and 2,426 destroyed on the ground. The R.A.F. reports 232 night fighters destroyed and hundreds more damaged. This makes a grand total or around 12.000 German planes put out of action during the year, which is probably equal to Germany's total production in that Technical Advances These results have been achieved in part as a result of technical advances which have converted the clouds hanging over Germany from a handicap into an asset, forcing from Hitler the reluctant admission that "in the sphere of technical inventions the scales in 1943 were possibly tilted in favor of our enemies." What these inventions are is, of course, a secret. But the pathfinder planes which unerringly find' their targets, and ring these targets with flares for the following bombers, give a suggestion of what Hitler means. Having lost the naval war, Germany has also lost ■the air war. And the loss of these two wars spells her doom in the and war as well. Crucial Period for Reich In Europe the U.S. Eighth Air Force co-operating with the RAF and the RCAF has stretched the Luftwaffe to the breaking point. Lieutenant General Arnold, chief of United States Army Air Forces, foresees the time in the near future when the battle attrition of enemy planes, together with the destruction of factories building fighter planes and parts, will bring "a crucial period which may determine the survival or destruc- tion of the Luftwaffe as an effective fighting force." What that would mean can only be estimated, but with all Germany at the mercy fit our bombers, it is doubtful if the Nazis could long sustain their armies in the field or the morale of their civilian population. Certainly the cost of invading Europe and liberating its conquered people would be far It would be a tragedy if that opportunity presented itself and we were unable to take advantage of it. But there is a limit to the endurance of both men and machines. The time comes when planes have to be taken out of action for overhaul and repair, and when strained nerves and bodies must be given a chance to rest. The Luftwaffe learned that in the autumn of 1940, when, in beating down the RAF's gallant defence of Britain, it exhausted itself and was unable to turn a tactical success into a strategic More Planes Needed It is the fear of Allied air commanders that before the great land battle opens for the liberation of Europe there will be a chance to win it in the air, but that for lack of replacements of crews and planes they may have to hold back and give the enemy that breathing space which sometimes means the difference between victory and. defeat. Gen. Arnold issued a solemn warning against permitting any lag in the United States scheduled production of 145,000 planes in the next fifteen months. "Not one of our air forces has the planes it should have," says General Arnold. "Every one could use double the number it now possesses. The biggest battles in the air and on land are yet to be fought. We will need every plane we can produce." The Book Shelf MEN, WOMEN AND DOGS By Jame* Thurber Not since 1932 has there been a collection of James Thurber's drawings. In the intervening ten years his international reputation has been steadily growing. His work has been exhibited from 'Hollywood to Ldndon, in New York, San Francisco, Boston, and many other places. During this time there has accumulated a treasury of material, a wealth of his observations and fancies, from which he has collected and selected the drawings in this new Among the important and familiar series, reproduced here in book form for the first time, is the complete chronicle of his famous War Between Men and Women. These and the hundreds of other drawings make a volume representing an unrivalled Thurber decade. Men, Women and Dogs ... By George J. McLeod, Limited . . Price $3.75. ROYAL BANK'S ASSETS PASS $1V2 BILLIONS Influenza Epidemic An Ancient Enemy The -first recorded epidemic of influenza is believed to be that described by Hippocrates in 412 B.C., states the New York Herald Tribune. By the Middle Ages medical descriptions had become sufficiently -standardized so that the epidemic of 1173 could be definitely authenticated as influenza. The epidemic of 1918-19 came in thiee waves, the first and last of which were relatively light in respect ot fatalities in most countries. For a time during the World War influenza and the various diseases that followed it, such as pneumonia ,took higher toll on the battlefields than did bullets. The total deaths throughout the world from influenza and the diseases to which it contributed in 1918-19 was estimated to be as high as 25,000,000. New high records in practically all departments are revealed by the Royal Bank of Canada for the year ended Nov. 30. Total assets, which a year ago reached the highest point in the bank's history, now stand at $1,509,097,571 as compared with $1,291,615,946 on Nov. 30, 1942. Deposits likewise reached a new high level, and now total 11,380,769,152, an increase of more than $216,000,000. Current loans in Canada are over $22,700,000, at $277,921,237. This increase is due largely to Increased borrowing by the public for the purchase of the Fifth Victory Loan. Apart from this, many firms found it unnecessary to borrow because of rapid turnover and prompt settlement of accounts in connection with war production. Furthermore inventories are, generally speaking, lower. Loans outside Canada show a moderate reduction. Quickly realizable assets equal 78.09 per cent, of the bank's liabilities to the public. There has been a marked expansion in liquid assets which now total $1,104,703,-439, as compared with $906,440,239 a year ago. Included in these liquid assets are Dominion and Provincial securities amounting to $641,898,620, an increase of $122,-000,000. Cash on hand, deposits with the Bank of Canada, other cash items and bi._k balances, stand at $323,225,988, compared with $261,884,475 in November, 1942. After providing $2,281,952 for Dominion taxes, an increase of $267,786, and after providing for bad and doubtful debts, profits amounted to $3,426,289, a moderate increase over the figure for the previous year. From these profits dividends amounting to $2,100,000 were paid. For the pension fund an appropriation of $370,000 was set aside and $400,000 for bank premises. The sum of $556,289 was carried forward to the balance of profit and loss account which now stands at $3,-815,487. The annual general meeting will be held at the head office Jan. 13, at 11 a.m. Profit and loss account figures compare with those of the previous year, ending Nov. 30, as fol- 1943 Profits ............................................ 3,426,289 Dividends ........................................ 2,100,000 1,326,289 Pension Fund................................ 370,000 Bank premises .........,...................... 400,000 556,289 Prev. balance ................................ 8,259,198 3,815,487 x--After providing $2,281,962 for taxes ($2, and after appropriations to contingency reserves, vision for bad and doubtful debts has been made. LIABILITIES 1943 765,123 315,000 400,000. 3,259,198 ,014,166 in 1942) out of which pro- Capital Stock ..... Res. fund............. P. & L. balance . Dividends ............. Deposits ............... Due to banks ..... Notes in circ...... Letters of cred. . Other liabs.......... 35,000,000 20,000,000 3,816,488 573,391 . 1,380,769,152 19,122,046 12,851,348 35,135,0c- l,8i ,109 1,509,4 ASSETS Notes and dep. Bank of Can......... 121,801,506 Other cash and bank balance ........ 147,888,518 Cheques on other banks .............. 53,535,964 Dom. & Prov. Gov't sees............. 641,898,620 U.S. and British Gov't sees......... 50,721,946 Mun. and other sees..................... 42,164,676 Call loans................................... 46,692,209 Loans Canada................................ 278,715,605 Loans to Prov. Gov't .................... 2,479,528 Loans to cities, etc....................... 13,472,817 Loans outside Canada .................... 55,225,771 Bank prem., etc............................. 14,711,066 Letters of credit ............................ 35,135,037 Other assets .................................... 4,654,308 1942 * 86,000,000 20,000,000 3,259,198 583,864 1,164,152,714 17,064,478 18,271,281 31,156,432 2,127,979 1,291,615,946 1942 $ 101,68^,203 101,291,518 58,908,754 519,801,345 46,029,701 48,933,656 29,791,062 256,335,638 1,770,548 15,961,151 59,276,982 15,733,087 31,156,432 4,941,869 LIFE'S LIKE THAT By Fred Neher illy, you'll have to look and «ee." role when the big invasio u-ope kicks off, keeps i ,v kicking off in a footba '!,<.wcmmi officers and me British North African cam] ed men won, 5 to 0. REG'LAR FELLERS--The Disappearing Act By GENE BYRNES