The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-02

under increasing pressure from the Axis, the Allies and the United States. There are pro-Axis militar- ists in Tokyo who believe that Japan,s weight if thrown into the war in the near future would be de- cisive. And there are other, per- hapS more powerful leaders who are doubtful or sincerely seek a peaceful settlement of the Pacific crisis.
 The extent of German success against Russia as balanced against the outcome of negotiations in which President Roosevelt and Japanese Premier Fumimaro Konoye are seeking an understanding will guide Tokyo's decisive on whether to defy the Brittsh-American "stop" sign.
 W.
 Can the Allied front in the middle east hold this winter?
 Snow in Europe will bring back the desert lands of Africa and the near east-gateway to India-as important fighting fronts. Britain must face the probability of strong new attacks from Libya, Crete and perhaps through Turkey. Against this danger the British have occu- pied French Syria, poured Ameri- can materials into Egypt and the Near East and with Russia have taken over strategic Iran to protect the supply route to the Red army or even to join with the Russians in defending the rich Caucasian oil fields.
 The key to this great battle front probably will be Turkey, which now has a concentration of perhaps 100000 German troops including big paratroop units, on her Bulgarian border and reportedly faces Nazi demands for use of Turkish terri torial waters or even land routes.
 V.
 Can the Allies invade Nazi-occu- pied Europe?
 The Russians have been pressing Britain to attempt to take advan- tage of the German invasion of the Soviets by sending an expedition ary force against the Scandinavian or European coasts. But the possi- bility of such a move now seems definitely past until spring. The chief effort of the British is directed toward sending increasingly large air fleets-they probably will run to 500 planes night by next year. on raids against German war cen- ters.
 The problem of invasion in 1942 is expected to depend on the trend of war in Russia, the ability of Brit ain to win air superiority over the continent and on whether there is another A. E. F. If the Red army sctill is unbroken an invasion next year certainly will be attempted and might start from Russia.
 VI.
 Will the occupied countries rise against Germany?
 The extensive resistance, sabotage and violence stirred up in conquered Europe, especially France, is an im- portant factor in the war against the Axis but there has been a gen. eral tendency to over-rate its effects to date. So far there has been much to irritate the Germans but nothing to threaten them with serious im- mediate revoltS.
 The significant thing is that the ground is being prepared for im- portant aid to any Allied expedition ary force that may reach the con- tinent and provide Nazi foes with weapons of war. Until Hitler suffers an important setback, unrest under Nazi rule will be a secondary drag on the German war effort.
 Tn addition to these six puzzles, the gravest battle of the second year of war was for control of the At- lantic ocean and is still in progress but the British believe that with the aid of American patrols and with increased equipment they can lick the U-hoats.
 There is, too, a new problem in military science presented by mod ern Tnechanized warfare. with its strain on men, materials and na- tons. There is no gauge as yet for measuring the staying power of q highly mechanlged and delieately adjusted mechanised army. HitleF proved the speed with which such legions could win against outmoded armies.
 The third year of var against . mechanlzed foe may prove how fast they can lose.
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