Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-18
German Reverses
In Russia Held Blow
To laps in Pacific
Every Loss Regarded
As Reducing Tokio's
Potential Strength
BY JOHN NJ. HIGHTOWER.
Associated Press staff Writer.

ASSOCIATED FTeSS Stan writer.
The mightiest blow yet struck for
victory in the Pacific, many mill
tary men here believe, has been
driven home-not In the far-flung
battle zones of the Far East-but
on the blood-stained SHOWS of Rus
STA.
The surprising Nazi reverses at
the hands of the resurgent Red
armies, they asserted, were unques-
tionably severe setback to Toxic,
despite the initial Japanese sue
cesses at Pearl Harbor
This upset Of the Axis timetable,
some officials believe, may well ex-
plain the fanatic intensity of the
Japanese drives to knock out Hong
Kong and Singapore.
Unless the japanese can take
these British strongholds quickly, it
was said, they must face the dread
possibility of fighting the British
and Russians simultaneously on the
Asiatic mainland, as well as the
United States in the Pacific islands.
And Russia more or less victorious
in Europe could concentrate for
midable strength at Japan's Siberian
back door.
Victory for Others.
In terms of long-range results,
the Nazi reverses represent a VIC
tory no less for the defenders of
Hawaii, the Philippines, Singapore
and Hong Kong than for the Rus
SLAMS themselves, because, as these
experts view the war, every plane,
gun and man lost by the Germans
IN Russia is loss in potential re-
serve strength for Japan.
The extent of Russian successes
remains to be measured in its en-
tirety by the magnitude of the Ger
man retreat. The same is true of
the British drive against German
and Italian forces in Africa.
But the point which the military |
strategists make is that the great |
battles of Europe, Africa and Asia |
are all part Of the same war, and |
whenever the Axis suffers setback
in one area it is weakened all along
the line.
This understanding of the broad
strategy of the conflict was said to
be behind administration plans for
continuing full lease-lend assistance
to the nations fighting the Axis,
regardless where the battle fronts
may be.
Reaffirmed by Stimson.
First enunciated by President
Roosevelt soon after the outbreak
of the war December Z, these plans
were reafirmed by Secretary Slim
son yesterday In statement say
ing that requirements for Pearl Har-
Dor had brought only a momentary
interruption in the flow Of NUM-
tons to other nations.
In the broad strategic picture, the
task Of the United States thus is
threefold:
The Philippines must be held
and used for offensive air action
against the enemy, insofar as
possible;
The United States Pacific and
Asiatic fleets must destroy as
much of Japan's Navy as can be
brought to battle, and
Americas great industrial plant
must produce veritable torrent
of munitions-sufflcient to supply
not only United States forces, but
also the British, the Russians and
all others who are fighting the
Axis.
Three Possibilities.
One need for continuing to pour
planes and guns into both the Brit
ish Isles and North Africa was said
to arise from the fact that none can
tell to what new adventure Hitler
may turn, assuming he finally is
able to establish strong defense
line in Russia.
Three major possibilities were
mentioned:
A major drive through Turkey
into the Near East in an attempt
to cut Allied supply lines through
Iran and Iraq and to knock out
British armies in North Africa.
A military-politica campaign
extending the war to Spain and
Portugal and opening Vichy-
French ports to Nazi naval oper-
ations in the Atlantic. This lat
ter development might create new
problems for the United States
Navy in prosecuting its moroccan
war.
A desperate effort to crush
Britain by invasion.