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Saar's Nationality Problem
WORLD EYES Saar coal mines. This pre-war conveyor belt
symbolizes the industrial importance of the valley.
jC.
By MEL MOST
<#*) News features
SAARBRUECKEN — Grim y
faeed German coal diggers in this
bit of Pennsylvania-like mining
country on the French-German
border say with dour faces that
they are sure France will annex
I the rich Saar coal basin she held
in League of Nations custody foi
ls years, lost by a plebiscite in
193S and reoccupied ten years
later,
French officials high and low
have said annexation was a must.
“We are not like the French." is
the comment in the mining towns.
^ "We have much more in common
with the Americans or the Eng
lish.” They bit their lips when
asked, "and even more with the
Germans?”
At stake is a small warwrecked
territory along the Saar river in
cluding mines, blast furnaces,
steel mills, machine works and
othe: factories — the industrial
heart of the French zone. The
French have been operating the
mines since July when the Ameri
can Army moved out after two
months’ occupation. They have as
sumed wardship over the mines,
although the ownership still be
longs to the non-existent German
state.
In some ways French policy in
the Saar resembles that of war
time greater Germany when the
Reich was trying to absorb Al
sace-Lorraine. The Saarlanders,
NOME
SANITARY SERVICE
NO INCREASE IN PRICES
For Dependable Sanitary
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
Call Red 157
%
Containers Replaced At Cost
When Necessary
packed more than 1,000 to each of
the 737 square miles, in the past
few weeks have become probably
the best fed of all Germans.
The miners’ ration for January
amounted to 3,606 calories per day
—as much as a French miner gets.
While others get only 1,561 calor
ies, French Gov. Gilbert Grandval
of the Saar told newspapermen it
was no secret that the miners
shared their rations with their
relatives and that the whole popu
lation ultimately benefited and
lor non-miners the official bread
ration alone jumped from about 11
pounds for the month of October
to about 27 pounds for January.
The coal ration is almost as big as
in France.
This is all the more striking be
cause the Saar was the most Nazi
province in the French zone, in
terms of votes and members. More
than 85 per cent of the population
voted to become part of Nazi Ger
many in 1935. The French admit
that half the 1,500 original fore
men and technicians still super
vising mine operations are eligible
for purging under the anti-Nazi
regulations—but there is nobody
to replace them. Measures now
are announced against 421 of
them, 150 to be fired and the rest
demoted. Two concen t r a t i o n
camps hold 900 Nazis.
Restoration of democratic pro
cesses seems to be proceeding very
slowly. Three political parties
have been formed at the top—the
Communists, Socialists and a
Catholic party, all as yet un
named.
French officials say the parties
even have distinct programs on
annexation—the Socialisst for, the
Communists against and the Cath
olics straddling the issue. But
workers we spoke to did not know
about the parties, and the Gov
ernor himself told newspapermen:
“Trade union freedom was
granted two and a half months
ago but I am annoyed to note that
after all this time there still is no
union organization to deal with.”
Whatever the Freneh are put
ting into this territory, they are
getting it back in production. The
daily coal output rose from 11,500
tons in July to 20,600 tons in De
cember, or 45 percent of prewar
production. They have got a blast
furnace, two steel mills and 15
machine works into operation.
A total of 16 percent of the coal
is exported to France, 24 percent
more to other Allied countries, 20
percent to other parts of Germany
and 40 percent remains to operate
mines, factories and thermo-elec
tric plants (sending current into
Frnnce> in the Saar itself. The
Saar’s industrial output caters to
the needs of the entire, largely ag
ricultural French zone which in
turn feeds the Saar. The Saarland
ers produce less than one-fifth of
their annual needs in food.
But more important to the Saar
lander than the mines and metal
works is the production of recon
struction materials. Of more than
230.000 dwellings which existed
before the war the Saar has only
125.000 left that are classed as
“utilizable.”
Roofing and window panes are
the most urgently needed. Speak
to a Saarlander about coal produc
tion and he will tell you instead
that a glass factory has at last
been reopened. Ask him about
politics and he will ask you about
the plans to start a tile works in
the Saar.
For the average mining town
here may resemble those of the
western Pennsylvania coalfields—
Post Personalities
*
Lt. Frank C. Whelock. one of
the m 'st recent additions to the
Nome Officers’ roster is the Chief
of Surgery and the Dispensary Of
ficer at the 202nd Station Hospi
tal. He arrived here after serving
first at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., and
then at the Walter Reed General
Hospital. This former Bostonian
has taken to his new environment
poor two-family houses rising on
either side of steep gorges with
smudge-faced children playing on
the cobblestoned streets out in
front. But there is a big difference
you see immediately. Many of the
roofs aren’t there.
: with such gusto and enthusiasir
that he has readily won the rt
spect and friendship of all of h -
co-workers and associates. Nomt •
ites may have made his acquaint
ance in the v'icinity of the sk
tow which he frequents at ever;
opportunity and where he per
forms admirably. In recent weekr
he may also have been observer
rushing about the city searching
ior a residence in anticipation o;
the arrival of his wife and daugh
ter in June. Look for a lieutenant
with a corncob pipe in his mouth
..nd you’ve found our subject.
America’s only mountain rliv.
sion in World War II, the 10th
comprised about 15,000 men an
0,000 mules anti horses.
No Time to Be Scared
Caterpillar s announcement of a 50 per cent expansion program
to be completed in the next couple of years—independently esti
mated to cost 50 millions—brings to this community both opportu
nities and obligations.
The former are obvious. The latter may be ignored—but only
at some cost to the people who live here.
Physically, the expansion program means this community must
immediately abandon whatever vestigial remains of small town
planning have hampered it in the past. Caterpillar, by its action
has certified the industrial destiny of Peoria and its suburbs. Caler
! pillar, by its action, has demonstrated the kind of profound faith
in this community that challenges—in the thinking of every Peoria
resident attainment of a similar faith. Only in physical plan
ning and physical vision, can this faith be manifested.
If Caterpillar believes the Peoriarea deserves an investment
which non-Caterpillar sources have estimated at something like
50 million dollars, similar vision is demanded of all of us. For
instance, the proposed city hall and court house joint building pro
gram is picayunish. by comparison. In addition, obviously, estab
.ishmeni of a 50 per cent addition to the Caterpillar plant on
the Tazewell county side of the river demands of Peoria. East
Peoria. Creve Coeur, Pekin Heights, united action to construct more
bridges across the Illinois river. Such bridges would, primarily,
be io the interest of the city of Peoria on the Peoria county side.
But they would also serve the Tazewell county side as effectively.
Homogenity of the area is essential if this community is to be
an efficient one. Ample bridge structures—two or three more
will not be too many—will be needed to make Peoria the city it
is clearly meant to be.
Building programs on bolh sides of fhe river will be needed.
A spirit of economic conservatism, timidity of risk capital, has ne
place in the Peoria of the next few years. There will be more
jobs. There will be higher payrolls. There will be need for efficient
arteries of travel, better streets, and homes, homes, homes.
Caterpillar has taken a decisive step—a step which is justified,
we and the company obviously believe, by the profit opportunities
of the future. If Caterpillar judgement, used coldly and ruthlessly
upon profit anticipation, envisions the largest diesel engine plant in
the world in this community, the rest of us can't fail. We can't
| be lasy. We can't be scared.
Caterpillar makes power. Peoria needs power to live up to the
future. Fortunately, this community avoided a wartime boom. It
has no regrets and has had no recession.
The Peoria Journal congratulates Caterpillar, the people of
Peoria. It believes Caterpillar is wise and daring. Peoria must be
as wise—and as daring.
THE PEORIA JOURNAL—Wednesday, March 27, 194S
Northern Commercial Co.
CATERPILLAR DEPARTMENT
NOME, FAIRBANKS, ANCHORAGE,
JUNEAU and WHITEHORSE, Y. T.
NOME OFFICE—Main 22