Evening star., 1942-06-21

OF tne occupied territories Dut OF the
Reich itself-as far as Berlin and Koe-
nigsberg-is an absolute military neces-
sity If we want to finish successfully the
job we undertook in 1917 and left undone
in 1918.
The opinion of most practical observers
in Washington is that since the Jap
anese threat has been greatly diminished
we must bring the war into the enemys
territory as soon as possible this year.
These observers realize that long
and costly job lies ahead of us. Although
it is hoped that the Russians will be
able to hang on until our military forces
begin to appear somewhere in Europe"
military foresight takes account of the
possibility that the Russians will be
forced to yield more ground than they
did last year as we'll as the prospect of
the loss of Leningrad, Moscow and the
Caucasus.
Russian reserves will not materially
alter the United Nations war plans. The
job of invading Europe will be more
difficult and costly. but it will remain
feasible as long as the Russians continue
their resistance, regardless of the spot.
Even if the Red Army is pushed beyond
the Volga, the mere existence of
Soviet army will keep more than 100000
Germans in Eastern Europe, away from
the potential landing point for the Allied
invaders.
Have Had Little Chance to Date.
There is already an invasion army in
the British Isles. If it were not for the
lack of shipping and of adequate naval
protection-the British feet is fighting
over the seven seas-the British would
have undertaken far larger operations
than Commando raids. 1t is no military
secret that the fully Trained and har-
dened British soldiers number l,250,000.
eager to fight and anxious to break the
monotony of guarding the island against
an invader who is not likely to appear
any time soon.
The British have had little chance to
show their fighting ability yet in this
war. In Greece, in Malaga, in Burma
they put up poor show because they
were hopelessly inferior both in numbers
of men and war machines. In modern
warfare the most courageous soldier
cannot carry on the fight when the
enemy has all the tanks and planes.
When the signal is given for the invasion
of Europe, British and American soldiers
| will not<be lacking these modern war i'm
| plements. And there is every reason to
believe that they will be better than our
foes.
Besides the technical reasons which
have restricted the British to Commando
raids, there is a psychological considera-
ton. There is a feeling in Britain that
an offensive on the European mainland
should not be started without American
support. The memory of Dunkerque is
still very fresh. If an expedition in Eu-
rope fails for any reason. the danger of
successful Nazi invasion of Britain would
be very real.
The British home guards and other
auxiliary forces are only partially trained
and equipped for war. The backbone of
the British defense force is the regularly
! trained and well-equipped army of l.
| 250.O00. British authorities are willing al
the present time to spare only small
portion of that force for an invasion.
Such an Army Forming.
According to available official reports
such an army is in process of formation
at the present time. While the exact
number of fully equipped troops landed
in Ireland in recent months is military
secret, it is Sizable
With more warships available for con-
voy and an increasing number of trans
ports at our disposal, it is probable that
we shall have, before the end of the
year, enough men and armament in
England to undertake, with the assist
ance of the British, the preliminary op-
erations which will lead later to maj jor
offensive
Before the battles of the Coral Sea and
Midway this appeared far-away dream.
1t would have meant an offensive war on
two fronts. for which we were not yet
ready. But the two sea battles have
changed the aspect of the war, and even
the most bitter opponents of an "adven-
ture in Europe have been forced to re-
wise their opinion.