Evening star., 1941-08-17

Things are moving fast in Europe and
ir Asia, and the dangers to the United
States are increasing every week.
The meeting between President Roose-
~elt and Britain's Prime Minister, Win
ston Churchill, is likely to accelerate de-
velopments. The two statesmen, besides
co-ordinating the postwar policies OF the
two democracies, also have come to an
understanding in regard to present pol
icies, according to we'll informed quar-
ters, 1t is reported that they have
agreed on the fact that while IN the
Atlantic and the Mediterranean the in
itiative must be left for the time being
To the Germans. in the Far East the
United States and Great Britain are In
a position to take the initiative them
selves.
In Europe the Germans appear to
have their own way-as lar as the
western territory is concerned. On the
eastern side there is heavy fighting with
tremendous losses on both sides. But
the Russians, in spite of their remarkable
resistance. are breathing heavily and
are in an increasingly difficult situation.
They are shouting for help. Planes are
being rushed to them as quickly as pos
sible. But the relatively few planes we
are able to send across the Pacific or
by way of Murmansk cannot change the
situation. The Russians factories cam
not produce airplanes, tanks and ar
mored cars as rapidly as the Germans.
Their losses-even if We discount the
communicates of the Nazi headquarters
have been heavy, and the requirements
slow.
British Ability to Make Raid.
What the Russians need more than
anything else is a military diversion to
draw a substantial portion of the Ger
man Luftwaf1e, and possibly num-
Der of divisions, from the battle front.
And such a diversion appears as remote
as peace offer from Adolf Hitler.
The British are unable to undertake
anything spectacular in Europe. The
speeded tempo of their air raids has
not had any perceptible effect on the
Germans. What the Russians have been
hoping for was a daring coup which
might have astounded the Germans
an affair zeebrugge" like that of the
first World War. only on much larger
scale.
Soviet military leaders hoped that
British force OF 100000 to 100000 amen,
supported by large aviation force,
T,
where between Norway and Portugal and
engage the surprised Germans in battle
which would have compelled the Ger
man high command to withdraw a part
of its force from the eastern front.
Although there are innumerable stra-
tegic and tactical arguments against such
q raid, unorthodox military men here
believed that it was not beyond the
realm of possibility. II would have in
volved heavy risks. but it is pointed
out in military quarters that it is futile
to attempt to defeat the Germans with
out taking chances and applying un-
orthodox strategy.
What the British Did Instead.
Thus, instead of attempting spec
tacular coup which might have sue
ceeded, the British took advantage of
the lull on the western front, and the
relative security in the Mediterranean,
TO ship some 100000 men and large
quantities of war material to the Near
and Middle East The purpose was to
strengthen further the Egyptian front
and have enough force to spare to un-
dertake campaign through the Middle
East to Persia and thence to AZerbaidian
and the Caucasus, where they might re-
tnforce the Russian forces.
The British government is still strong
~ of the opinion that the blockade of
the Axis ultimately will prove its un-
doing And since oil and gasoline are
more important in this war than food
and ammunition. London believes that
the Baku Oil wells must be kept out of
the German hands at any price. Even
If Leningrad. Moscow and Kiev fall;
even if Stain must move the capital
across the Ural Mountains, the war can
be won-Mr. Churchill believes-if the
Germans are kept out of the Russian oil