Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-10-10
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their thumbs, watched the Russians,
and done almost nothing except |
cheer.
Over three months have passed
since Hitler sent his mechanical
masses hurting across the Russian
border. and in that time the British
sent only trickle of help.
Yet the British knew that pro-
longed Russian resistance was the
biggest chance they had OF defeat
ing Hitler. They also knew that
Hitler's tactic always has been to
pick his victims one by one.
Yet realizing this, the British have
done virtually the same thing Poland
did when Czechoslovakia was in
vaded, what Jugoslavia did when
Bulgaria was invaded, and what
Turkey did when Jugoslavia was
invaded. They have merely sat on
the sidelines, sent 200 airplanes, plus
a mission to Moscow, taken a good
long rest-and cheered.
Second Front?
Meanwhile, the general staff ad-
visers Of both the British and Amer
lean armies have bluntly warned
that the Russians were sure to be
defeated unless second front was
created against Hitler.
This second front against Hitler
meant, of course, a British expedi-
tionary. force landing in France,
Holland or Spain. This question
has been discussed carefully behind
the scenes, but the British have
wanted two things: one was tanks,
most Of theirs having been de-
molished at Dunkirk; the second
has been an American Expedi-
tionary force to help them.
The British did not really push
this idea of an A.E.F., for they
knew politically it was impossible
for Roosevelt. But nevertheless they
did want company in attempting to
land troops on the Continent. They
had plenty of troops in England-in
fact SO many that there has been
restlessness and bad morale be-
cause Of inactivity.
1t is true that these troops are
not completely equipped and are
sadly lacking in tanks. But there is
considerable belief that they were
equipped sufficiently to make land
ing in Spain from Gibraltar; and
that in France the local people
would have risen up to welcome
them. IL
However, all summer long the
British have maintained an latter
you, Aphonse" attitude. Meanwhile
the situation in Russia has become
darker and darker-as every mill
tary expert knew was inevitable.
All Of which brings up the vital
question of exactly who is the DOM
mating factor in the now virtual
Anglo-American alliance. We have
thrown very large pile of chips
into the gamble on a British VIC
tory; yet no one seems to know
whether the British are taking ad-
vice from us or whether we are TAX
ing orders from the British. Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Harry Hopkins
may know, but if so they have not in
formed those closest to them.
HITLER'S OIL PROBLEM
Most of the reports from Russia
look black; and to U. S. army OBJ
servers they have been that way
for some time. However, one en-
couraging factor stands out. This is
the question of oil.
Without oil no army or navy can
move. And despite the tremendous
areas taken by Hitler in all Europe,
he still faces, two years after start
ing the war, almost the same oil
shortage as before.
Rumania, seized chiefly for her oil
fields, has capacity of 5000, 900
tons annually. However, the Rus
SLAMS bombed the Rumanian oil
fields so badly that production is
now down to about 100000 tons or
less.
Germany itself has a synthetic
gasoline production of about 3,0OO,-
600 tons, making a total annual pro-
duction today of about 1000, 900 tons.
On the other hand, Germany is u.s.
ing oil and gas to operate its army
at the rate of about 25,000,000 tons
a year, most of which has come
from reserves. 1t is estimated that
Germany still has reserves on hand
of 10 or perhaps IS million tons.
All of which means that the real
pinch will come next spring. In
other words, Hitler has enough oil
and gas to last through the win
ter, but by the end of the winter he
absolutely must take the Russian
oil fields of the Caucasus. In fact,
he is sure to stage a terrific drive
to take them even earlier. The ire
mendous Nazi sacrifices to take Kiev
and Odessa all were because those
two cities are the path of the Nazi
march to the Caucasus.
Russian Chances.
During the coming winter, howev-
er, the Russians should be able to
hold out. The Caucasian mountains
are high and rugged. The Russians
have huge force in this area.
The British also have rushed
troops through Iran to the border of
the Caucasus.
Howovor IL EJ;<lar'e r,eoE,o .;%,,