Evening star., 1942-05-20
Conflicting War Fronts

y
and Homplexity OF grand strategy in
this truly worldwide war than the
rival arguments now being simul-
taneously put forward for increased
pressure on the two ends Of the Axis
in Europe and in the Orient.
In Britain, the United States and
Canada, the press and public opinion
are generally agreed that Hitler is
public enemy No. l. that Nazi Ger
many is the citadel of the Axis, and
that all possible emphasis should be
laid on the war in the West. Russian
pleas for the opening Of second
front" somewhere in Western Europe
were from the first warmly received
In Britain and America, and the
success to date of Marshal Timo-
shenkos drive on Kharkov, with its
revelation Of Russian striking power,
has made such second front seem
more feasible. In Britain, especially,
the government is under insistent
pressure to strike soon, and the
arrival Of big American troop con-
voy in Northern Ireland Is taken as
a symptom that some such operation
will be tried.
Yet, at this very moment, authori-
tative voices Of warning are being
raised in Australia and China against
the imminence Of Japanese drives
which require strong resistance II
they are to be successfully met. These
appeals for aid are addressed espe-
cially to America, since 1t is recog-
niZed that Britain can do relatively
little in the Far East and the Pacific.
The Australian Prime Minister, John
Curtin, emphasizes that the recent
Allied victory in the Coral Sea is only
delaying action which has checked
but not averted japanese invasion
threat. Still more insistent is Sir
Keith Murdoch, a leading Australian
editor, who writes that President
Roosevelts reassuring broadcast "is
only symptomatic Of the optimism
that has obstinately colored Wash
ington thinking about the Western
Pacific" And he goes on to urge
that Mr.. Churchill be induced to
press on Washington the perils of the
Pacific situation.
simultaneously, Free China adopts
the same alarmist tone. The Chung
king government spokesman declares
that the Japanese are about to
launch concentric attacks from
Burma, Indo China and the Japa-
nese occupied Chinese zone Assert
ing that "the situation Is very grave"
he concludes: China needs all the
help our friends can send. They
must send that help with utmost
haste. Otherwise the United Nations
may have to pay double or treble the
price for future recovery"
World War II thus seems to be
resolving itself into a competition Of
urgencies. The logical deduction Is
that the war is everywhere reaching
a grand climax, and that the coming
months will witness campaigns of
concentrated fury which will 60 far
to decide the wars length and pos
sibly its outcome For the Axis lead
ers are obviously straining every
nerve on their side, realizing the
gruelling strain to which their peo-
Piles are being exposed Our news
papermen just released from Axis
internment emphasize the hard
conditions and the rising discomfort
in Axis lands. Beside their descrip-
tions, privations even in Britain seem
mild, while ours have barely begun
Fortunately our statesmen and
commanders have access to a wealth
of information which enables them
to decide where the strategic empha-
sis should be laid much better than
even the best-informed civilians can
do. AS between those rival pleas
from East and West, both cogent and
logical, we ordinary citizens should
suspend judgment, having faith in
our military experts and refusing to