Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-16
Signs Point
To Maxi Drive
At Ukraine
Hitler Halted in Africa
and in Near East
BY PAUL MALLON

~
w The stories sitting through
Nazi and Russian censorshipS
about a Hitler drive into the
Ukraine drew a serious second
thought from officials here
These sounded offhand like the
same old game with which Hit
Ter fooled Chamberlain.
Every rumor Of MoScow-Berlin
diSSension since this war began
has been discredited by SUISSE
ouent events. II could have been
lust some more good propa-
ganda TO embarraSS Mr.. RooSe-
veltS cooperative campaign
with labor leaders to purge their
Communist ranks, or otherwise
Soothe the ire OF anti-Com-
munist elements.
But the plain military fact is
lItler's best possible next mill
tary move would be Just exactly
this one.
TO STRIVE down through
L Syria directly at the Suez
would bring the Nazi line of
supplies directly across the path
of British battleships. A Syrian
campaign would be extremely
difficult for the NaZis to sustain.
The other prong of the Nazl
pincers clasp at the SueZ from
Libya is melting in heat over
100 degrees. Hitler always likes
to do the improbable. but a tank
drive in heat up TO 40 degrees
or over is little too improbable
TO warrant his interest. Further
mores the British General Wavell
has Ethiopia cleaned up, and is
well-fXed.
This leaves the only inviting
road for Nazi action directly
down into the rich wheat fields
of the Ukraine directly toward
the equally rich oilfelds Of
Baku-a goal worth accomplish
ing. by peaceful agreement or
otherwise.
This much has been certain
for several days: Large German
troop concentrations have been
evident in both Finland and
Norway and the Nazi forces in
Rumania have been greatly
strengthened.
WYATT UNTIL you see the
w casualty lists from Syria
before deciding how great is the
battle there. The British Sched-
ule of attack called for Occupa-
ton of Damascus and Lebanon
as far back as last Wednesday,
but the delay may have been
caused by peace negotiations
rather than resistance.
1t would surprise few authori-
ties here if the French were
Just putting up enough of a
struggle 10 prevent reprisals
from Berlin.
The opportunity has been
allowed defending generals in
wars before TO know what spots
were To be hit. so they could
get their men out of the way.
Useless killing would be caused
otherwise.
If the German plan Of attack
is looking toward the Ukraine,
they don't care anyway.
WENDELL WILLKIE will not
w be head of the school which
is to be West Point of govern
ment service. Negotiations were
conducted with him by those
who have the idea of turning
the Tome School of Maryland
into such an institution next
Fall. as reported in this column
June &. The negotiations have
fallen through. Mr.. Willkie was
not interested.
TIIE OPM is tackling things
l. now so fast and furiously
that occasionally it even sur
priseS itself. Shortly after an
official announcement was made
tn { magnesium production
would be expanded from around
100000 pounds year to the
unbelievable total of 400, 1000, 900
pounds, inquirers approached
raw materials experts of OPM
10 ask how 1T was going 10 be
done.
"Why that's silly" they were
informed. NO such expansion
u contemplated and could not
be accomplished"
The inquirers had 10 produce
the official announcement from
headquarters to prove it was
going TO be.
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