Evening star., 1942-11-09

smashing victory
in the eastern .
Mediterranean.
For months it David Lawrence.
has been known here that there
would be a second front this year
and that large expeditionary
force would be landed by the
United States somewhere on French
territory, but it was not until re-
cent weeks that the plan to clean
up North Africa first became the
single objective of British-Ameri-
can strategy.
It was difficult to answer without
the hazards of publicity the COM
ments of Premier Stain and the
Moscow press who kept urging a
second front in Europe for the
Allies. To answer publicly was to
give away the whole strategic plan.
1t will be observed that the Brit
ish-American plan now unfolded
means the selection of our own
battlefield rather than an accept
ance of the challenge in northern
France and Belgium where Hitler's
fortifications and fixed defenses
contemplated a more costly opera
ton for our offensive. In due time
there may be Commando raids and
even an invasion to harass the Nazis
In Occupied France along the Eng
lish Channel but not perhaps until
the invasion OF southern Europe
from Mediterranean operations is
fully under way.
Invasion Force Strong.
To control the Mediterranean for
our aircraft and surface ships
means an opportunity to land huge
quantities of munitions Snd equip
ment in Jugoslavia and Greece,
where manpower on the spot can
be obtained to some extent from
local guerrilla operations.
The American forces comprising
heavy land, sea and air units, are
powerful and will be promptly re-
inforced. Today a mechanical divi-
sion carries its own equipment as
it travels, so that whatever divisions
the United States has landed are
able to cope with any force believed
to be in North Africa and to be re-
inforced from across the Medlter-
ranean where he faces tremendous
number Of our Flying Fortresses and
naval strength.
The new Allied strategy inevitably
must be a disorganizing factor for
Hitler, who doubtless has concen-
trated his men and supplies along
the railroad lines of Northern
France and Belgium but who now
must make arrangement and
derouting of his armies with the
heavy equipment he will need to
defend the zones he has hitherto
occupied.
Effect on Turkey Assayed.
1t will not be next week nor
perhaps even next month when an
invasion of Southern European ports
will be possible, but in the mean
time, the British and American
armies and air forces will acquire
new bases in North Africa and will
begin at once to consolidate their
positions for the ultimate offensive.
Turkey of course may be inf1u-
enced by what happens in the Med
iterranean and eventually II Turkey
enters the war considerable aid
may be given the Russians IN the
Black Sea and Caucasus theater
of war.
The public should not assume
that the movements will be rapid.
There must be, on the contrary,
even more patience in the future
as our high command meets with
tedious and painstaking care the
many obstacles that must be over
come before complete control of
both north and south shores Of the
Mediterranean will be obtained.
Air power now has a unique
opportunity to synchronize itself
with sea power in wrestling control
of the Mediterranean ports from
the Axis so that bridgeheads for
armies and munitions can be made.
Test for Invasion of France.
The landing in French colonial
Africa is a test on smaller scale
of what may be anticipated if an
American Army leads the procession
into Unoccupied and Occupied
France. The care that has sbeen
taken to secure the cooperation OF
the French people, step In which
Admiral Leahy's steady hand can
be seen and in which his experience
and observation as Ambassador to
the vichy government has been
utilized-is an augury OF what may
come later on when an AEF rejoins
It's French comrades, re-equips and
arms them for the ultimate march
toward Berlin.
,Seapower In tremendous guam
tity has been poised of Gibraltar
for several days. 1t is ready to
protect the landing of our armies
In North Africa and to convoy the
many merchant ships needed to
supply our new concentrations OF
troops along the North African
coast.
But seapower will no longer have
to travel around the Cape Of Good
Hope, thus using valuable escort
ships needed for the Atlantic patrol.
At last the longest supply line Of
the United Nations to Egypt, to
Iran and the Persian Gulf, to India,
to China and to Australia will have
been shortened by 1000 to 10000
miles as the old, old route to suez
and India Is restored.
The plan Of the combined British