The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

LEADING FIGURES IN ARMY COMMAND CHANGE Those tw Minior officers of the Canadian Army are leading figure* In change-i in command of Canada's oversea* army announced by Ottawa along with news of the retirement from active command of Gen. McNaughton. At left is Lieut. -Gen. H. D. G. Crcrar, former chief of the general staff who commands a Canadian Corps fiffht- Inir in tin- Mediterranean theatre. At right Is Lieut. -Gen. Kenneth Stuart, present chief of the general staff who is now appointed chief 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 I* The Most Important Single Industry of Cinadlan People According to statistics, agricul- ture in this country employs al- most 30 per cent of tbe total gain- fully occupied population, and about 34 per cent, or over one- third of the gainfully occupied males. It has been said that tbe dairy industry is the largest sin- gle branch of Canadian agricul- ture. With thl* in mind a consider- able amount of time was given by the delegates of the recent !><>- mlnlon-ProvlnrlM conference la Ottawa to the 1944 objectives of the dairy Industry. It was estimated that nearly 3'i of every one hundred pound* of Dillk produced in Canodt dur- ing 1943 was marketed in concen- trated form. During 1944 about tbe same proportion and quantity of milk production will also find its way to the condensing plants. Thl* will Involve th conversion of some 600,000,000 pound* of milk Into nearly a billion pound* of concentrated milk products. Evaporated whole milk Is the largest of the concentrated milk product* and of the entire 1943 production about 14% million pound* was exported to the Unit- ed Kingdom, 12 million pounds to the British \Vest Indies and to Newfoundland, while the remain- der w consumed by the armed forces and civilians In Canada. The next largest concentrated milk product Is condensed whole milk, of which the 1944 produc- tion goal Is 8t at 24 million pound*, the sum as lu 1943. Most of this product goes to the Hill Uh West Indies where, with its 44 per cent sugar content, it keeps BIG SHOT BOOTER Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, who an deputy lupreme Allied commander will play a mu.ini role when the big invasion of Kurope kick;* off, keeps in trim by kicking off in a football matcli b-tween officer* and men t a British North African camp. Enlisted men won, 5 to 0, well despite tropical heat. For whole milk powder, the 1944 ob- jective 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 of last year. Although Canada makes some of the finest cheese In the world, the average Canadian eats com- paratively little of it. About three out of every four pounds of cheese manufactured In Canada in ab- sorbed by the market ID Great Drltaln. For generations Cana- dians hare enjoyed the benefit of thl* British demand for their cheese and hare continued to help meet it during this war. The gov- ernment requisitions all cheddar cheese made la Ontario and Que- bec for export. For 1944 It Is es- timated that 148,390,000 pounds will be manufactured This quan- tity 1* 6% per cent below 1943 but Is at least 20 million pounds greator than In the average year Immediately before the war. Present indications are that there will be less butter manu- factured this year. It appears tin; about 97 pounds of creamery but- ter will h manufactured in 1944 for every 100 pouuds made last year, and the estimated total is 305 million pounds. Although most of this will be consumed by civil- ians, some will 1>e earmarked for the armed forces and for ships' stores, some may be exported to Britain and some will be includ- ed in Canadian Hed Cross par- cels. During tbe year the over- age civilian will eat about '.'.>', pounds of butter, this Is making allowance for the extra portions secured 1n restaurant . Great Britain's Aid To Russia War matrcials of all typos have been given to Kussin free of cost sinco Germany declared war on her in 1941. Among many other things, 4, 690 aircraft had been sent from Britain to Kussia by the end of May, 1!M3. Goods tt the value of ill 70,000,000 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 tbe North Oajii', nor the unassessable cost in ships nod 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 demon- strated by the heavy assaults on what re-mains of Berlin within the first week of the. now year. As the capital and nerve centre of Germany, Itrrlin has already beer, knocked out, says the New York Times. Some 2H.OOO tons of bombs and incendiaries dropped or burned half of It, driving most Government offices Into the prov- inces, 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 raidii 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 creat- ed conditions in Germany which not di.lv helped the Russians achieve their great victories but .are also making feasible an invas- ion of Kurope from the west. These conditions could be created only by the air arm, without which an Invasion would have been Im- possible. "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.AJ-*. dropped a total of lo.'i.OOO tons on Axis territory, of which 135,000 fell mi Germany. The Vnlted States KlKhth Air Force dropped 55.000 tons on Axis territory, ami 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. 38,- 000 tons In 1941, and Home 50,<>0(> tons In 1942. In contrast. Germany has been able to drop only 75.000 tons on Hrftain throughout the whole war. According to the calculations of the Hritlxh Bomber Command. this Allied downpour of destruc- tion has knoc-ked out twenty-four German towns, including such cities as Hamburg. Hreinen and the whole Ruhr area, and severe- ly damaged twenty more. Wlia' is equally Important, the Allied air assault has forced Germany to concentrate 70 per cent of her fighter Mre.iiKth In the Went. Of this the Klgbtb Air Force reports 4.100 fighters destroyed. 911 more 1 probably destroyed and 1,821 damaged. The Northwest Af- rican Command reports 3.146 planes shot down ami 2.I2G de- stroyed on the ground. The K.A.I'', reports 232 night fighters At- Rtroyed anil hundred* moro dam- aged. This makes a grand total of around 12,floO German planes put out of acllon during the year, which is probably e(|u;il to Ger- many's (oral production In that category. Technical Advance* These result* have been achiev- ed In part as .. result of technical advances which have converted the cloudx bunging over Germany from u handicap Into an asset, forcing from Hitler the reluctant admission that "in the sphere of technical inventions the scales In 1943 were possibly tilled In favor of our enemies." \Vhixt these in- ventions are is, of course, a sec- ret. Hut the pathfinder planes which unerringly find their tar- KelH, mid ring these targets with flares for the following bomb- rrs, five a suggcslion of what Hitler iiir.ui Having lost the navul win', Germany lias also lost the air war. And the loss of those two wars spells her doom in the and war as well. Crucial Period for Reich In Km-ope the U.S. Uighth Air Forco co-opiirutliiR with the II A K and the IK'AK has stretched the Ijuftwul'fe to (lie breaking point. Ijioiilenant General Arnold, chief nf United States Army Air Forces, foresees the time in the near fu- ture when tho buttle attrition of enemy planes, together with the. destruction of factories building fighter planes and purls, will bring " crucial period which may determine the. survival or destruc- tion of the Luftwaffe as an effec- tive fighting force." What that would mean can only be estimat- ed, but with all Germany at the mercy of our bombers, It is doubtful if ih'- Nazis could long sustain their armies in the field or the morale of their civilian population. Certainly the cost of Invading Kurope and liberating its romjuercd people would be lar less. It would be a tragedy if that opportunity presented Itself and we were uunhle tc take advantage of It. But there Is a limit to the endurance of both men and ma- chines. The time comes when planes hare to be takeu 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 I'ietory. More Planes Needed It Is the fear of Allied air com- manders that before the great laud battle opens for the libera- tion of Kurope there will be a chance to win it In the air. but that for lai:k of replacements of crews and planes they may have to hold back and give the enemy that breathing space which some- HmeH means the difference be- tween victory and defeat. Gen. Arnold issued a solemn warning against permitting any lag in the Vnlted States scheduled produc- tion of 145.000 planes In the next fifteen months. "Not one of our air forces has the planes it should have." says General Arnold. "Kvery 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 Shell MEN. WOMEN AND DOGS By Jam"* Thur'irr Not since 1932 hits 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 London, 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 lift" has collected and sel- ected the drawings in this new book. Among tlio Important and familiar series, reproduced here In book form for the first time, is the com- plete chronicle of his famous War Between Men and Women. These and the hundreds of other draw- ings make a volume representing an unrivalled Thurber decade. Men, Women and Dogs ... By James Thurber. George J. McLeod. Limited . . Price $3.75. Influenza Epidemic An Ancient Enemy The first recorded epidemic of influenza is believed to bo that described by Hippocrates in 412 U.C., states the New York Her- ald Tribune. By the Middle Ages medical descriptions had become sufficiently standardized so that the epidemic of 1173 could be definitely authenticated as in- fluenza. The epidemic of 1018-1( came in three waves, the first and last of which were relatively light in respect ot fatalities in most coun- tries. For u time during the World War influenza and the various disease.; that followed it, such as pneumonia ,took higher toll on the battlefields than did bullets. The total deaths through- out the world from influenza and the disc-uses to whicn it contrib- uted in l!'18-Ii) was estimated tt> be as hitch as 125,000,000. ROYAL BANK'S ASSETS PASS $1V 2 BILLIONS New high records in practically all departments are revealed by th Royal tiank of Canada tor the year ende<l Nov. 30. Total assets, which a year ago reached tle high- est point In the bank's history, now stand at $l,r09,097,571 as compared with $1,291,610.946 oil Nov. SO, 1942. Deposits likewise reached a new hii^h level, and uow total |1,"SO,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 Vic- tory Loan. Apart from this, many firms found It unnecessary to borrow because of rapid turn- over and prompt settlement of accounts In connection with war production. Furthermore Inven- tories are, generally speaking, lower. Loans outside Canada show a moderate reduction. Quickly realizable assets equal 78.09 per cent, of the hank's lia- bilities to the public. There has been a marked expansion in liquid assets which now total $1.104,703.- 439, as compared with 1906.440,239 a year ago. Included in these liq- uid assets are Dominion and Pro- vincial securities amounting to $641.808,620 an increase of $i22,- 000,000. Cash on hand, deposit* with the Bank of Canada, other rash Items and bank balances, stand at $323.225,988. compared with $261,881,475 in November, 1942. After providing $2.231,952 for Dominion taxes, an Increase of $2(!7.7SC. and after providing for had and doubtful debts, profit* amounted to $3,426,289. a moder- ate Increase over the figure for the previous year. From these profits" dividends amounting to $2.100000 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 ac- count 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 prev- ious year, ending NOT. 30. as fol- lows Profits .. Dividends Pension Fund Bank premises Prev. balance 1913 $ 3,42fi,28!> 2,100,000 1,326,28!) 370,000 400,000 556,289 3,259,198 1(142 $ x3,390,12S 2,625,000 765,123 315,000 400,000 50.123 3.209,075 3,815,487 3,259,198 x After providing $2,281,952 for taxes ($2,014,166 in 1942) and after appropriations to contingency reserves, out of which pro- vision for bad and doubtful debts has been made. LIABILITIES 1943 $ Capital Stock 35,000.000 Res. fund 20,000,000 P. & L. balance 3,815,488 Dividends _ 573,391 Deposits 1.380.769,152 Due to banks 19,122,046 Notes in circ .-...._ 12,851,348 Letters of cred. ... -... 35,135,037 Other liabs 1,831,109 1,509,497,571 ASSETS 1943 $ Notes and dep. Bank of Can 121,801,506 Other cash *nd 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 Loan* Canada 278,715,605 2,479,528 13,472,817 . 55,225,771 14,711,066 _ 35,135,037 4,654,808 Loans to Prov. Gov't J.oanj to cities, etc. .. Loan* outside Canada Bank prem., etc Letters of credit Other assets .. 1942 $ 35,000,000 20,000.000 3,259.198 583,864 1,164.152,714 17,064,478 18,271,281 31.156,432 2,127,979 l,291,615,94i 1942 * 101.684,203 101.291,518 58,908,754 519.801,345 48,029.701 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 1,509,097,571 1,291,615.94 LIFE'S LIKE THAT By Fred Neher Mom. if Harvey call*, I'm out ... if U' Robert, I'm tiumv and .f it's Billy, you'll have to look and ec." REG'LAR FELLERS The Disappearing Act By GENE BYRNES THff A MACH Of ft rtOCKl/ STICK STICK OMW SHttT THt BoT-fOrl t>OT 'I I . . (t . r--,. -,,. Vt irtfc -!>* J