The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-16
Red Hammerinq
AT Nazis Great
Aid 10 Allies!
To0AYtS WAR MOVES
dRes. Q s Pat off,
n. alIlC Heekxsv
United Press War Anaix.t

By LOUIS 2. KEEMlE
United Press War Analyst
Hitler's reverses In Russia make
II increasingly probable that the
main German war effort vii be
turned elsewhere this winter.
However. ~ long as Russia
adberes 20 her present inten-
tion Of hammering at q re-
treating foe. Hitler will not he
able TO dig In with q holding
force while he transfers the
bulk Of his offensive power
elsewhere. A. Maxim Lit
vinov. the Soviet ambassador,
put IL In Washington. Russia
does not propose 10 let Hitter
sit down or Hibernate"
Russias continued offensive
against the Germans is therefore
Of the utmost importance To Brit
ain and the United States in their
struggle against Japan az well as
Germany, even though Russia has
not yet declared war with Japan.
MAY COME LATER
That may come later. II the Red
army is able to inflict a ma jor de-
feat on Germany II Is To be noted
that Litvinov referred to Japan as
the common enemy" Apparently
Russia's plan is to devote her en-
tire effort in the west for the
present and throw her weight
against Japan later. II all goes
well.
The Soviet view. as expressed
by Ltvinov, 10 that Hitler after
all b Enemy No. l a all the
allies and II he IL beaten his part
ners In the gang" will 20 down
with him. Hence Russia argues
that she can do more service to
the common cause by keeping after
Hitler than by dividing her war
effort.
VIEW NOT DISPUTED
There has been so far no out
ward sign that either Britain or
the United States Is inclined to
dispute this view. In fact. London
reports that Britain and Russia
plan a conference in Moscow to
map out their common strategy
among Britain, Russia, the United
States and their allies and TO CO.
ordinate the efforts of all.
Russia, then, stands as the chief
brake on Hitler's expected next
move in Europe, Africa or the
Middle East. There have been
various guesses as to where he will
attempt to strike. The most COM
mon one is in North Africa through
the French colonies to offset the
axis reverses in Libya. II this is
accompanied by requisitioning of
the French fleet, increased forays
in the Atlantic might be expected.
with the object of preventing
American reinforcements being
sent from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
SPAIN DEEPLY INVOLVED
In this connection. some OBJ
servers see the possibility of a
German move through Spain into
North and West Africa. Spain.
while neutral, is involved deeply
with the axis.
Another possibility which
has been repeatedly discussed
and still exists il that Hitler,
having been frustrated In
southern Russia, may try to
find an easier route to the
Caucasus and the Middle East
through Turkey. The latter.
which has been under German .
pressure. IL plainly uneasy. II
may be significant that Tur-
key has chosen this moment
10 notify the United States
that she intends to remain
neutral.
One reason why observers feel 4
reasonably certain that Hitler will /
move in a new direction is the /
necessity of restoring some of his
damaged prestige. Failure to take |
Moscow alone. after Germany's 4
exultant boasting, was a serious
defeat.
Hitler may be expected to try /
to make good his statement on
Genmany's entry into the new
phase of the war that "the axis
always strikes the first blow"