Evening star., 1941-01-05
Hitler Seen Forced
To Risk Midwinter
Invasion Attempt
Each Day Of Delay Peri|s
Nozi Cause Because 1t
Cuts Armament Lead
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON.

Late March ortApril would seem
by all military logic the correct
time for Germany to make her
promised grand smash at England.
Yet London, by Prime Minister
ChurChill's say-so, doubts that Hit
Ter will or can wait that long to let
loose his attempted knockout punch.
Unfavorable developments from
the Nazi-Fascist viewpoint on many
fronts are urging him to risk a mid
winter onslaught. Time is march,
ing against the axis.
Check off these 1941 developments
since Hitler's laundering New Year
forecast of victory this year: -
Nazi-French relations are under
increasingly heavy strain. Berlin
does not deny that. A Hitler-Petain
break is denied but only contin-
uing Berlin-Vichy diplomatic con-
tracts in German-held Paris are
cited to support the denial. A sweep
ing new Petain cabinet shake-up
emphasizes the Franco-Nazi Coop
Grafton impaSse.
ltalyS Plight Admitted.
Since Hitler spoke. Italys serious
plight has been officially admitted
by Rome action. Italian defeats at
Greek and British hands have forced
II Duce to ask help of his axis mate.
German planes needed against Eng
land have been sent into Italy. Ital-
ian planes have been called home
from the western front. All this en-
phasizes unmistakably the fact that
Italy in the two months since she
marched against Greece has become
a German military liability, not an
asset
In Albania winter has closed down
with sub-zero force on the northern
Greek italian flank; but to the south
the Greeks are still inching forward.
Fall of Italy's Tepeleni-Klisura de-
fense bastion and Valona may come
despite weather conditions or be-
lated Nazi air intervention.
Across the Mediterranean the
British counteroffensive into italian
Libya surged on. The British, after
a siege of Bardia, began penetra-
ton of the deep defenseS OF the
Italian stronghold, taking perhaps
5000 prisoners in the initial phase
of that action. they said. Eastward,
there have been flickers Of British
air activity to suggest an offensive
in East Africa soon.
New Possibilities in West.
In the west, repeated bombing of
neutral Ireland, attributed by Dub
lin to German planes, is creating
new possibilities of Britain obtain
ing air and sea bases on Ireland's S
west coast. On the other hand,
British sources suggest that Ger
many is trying to force Fire into
the war on England's side in the
hope that a Nazi expedition can
ceize Irish bases as jumping of
spots for invasion of Britain.
And across the Atlantic President
Roosevelt is making ready to imple-
ment to Congress his promise OF
American win-thewar aid to
Britain.
Englands own war industries,
despite NaN bombing, are reported
reaching new delivery peaks. The
increased flow of manpoWer and
materials from all British COM
monwealth sources to the battle
fronts has been proven abundantly
In Egypt and Libya.
Against all that, Germany claims
greatly increased power by land
air and sea for final smash at
England. By every rule Of reason
every day of delay due to weather
or any other cause is dangerous. 1t
sees the armament gap between
Germany and England closed by
that much. 1t may drive Hitler
to the desperate risks of a mid,
winter invasion attempt against
England