Evening star., 1942-04-12
Experts Predict u. 5.
Join R. A. F. in
Raids on Reich Soon
Spurred Allied Effort
To Aid Russia Seen as
Result Of Marshall Trip
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON. April 1.-THE United
States Air Force will join the r. A. r.
in blasting Germany within a
month. and the two Allies will do
everything in their power to help
Russia's epic effort to crush the
common Nazi enemy, highly placed
experts predicted tonight.
This. they sai6, would be the up
shot Of the visit here of the United
States chief Of staff, Gen. George C.
Marshall, and Harry Hopkins, Presi-
dent Roosevelt's trusted supply man.
The British and Americans were
pictured as expecting Germany's
supreme effort this summer to be
directed at the two supply lines over
which increasing quantities Of vital
war material are moving to the deci-
sive Russian battlefront to equip the
vast Soviet. long on manpower but
short on machines of war.
The German thrusts are expected
toward the oil riches of the Cau-
casus and the Persian Gulf, and
against the northern route which
enos at Murmansk and Archangel
See Japs rs Threat to Reds.
The growing United States mill
tary establishments which Gen.
Marshall is inspecting and the in
creasing pool of United States planes
IN Britain were taken as indications
that American pilots would be
bombing Germany within a month
to retard the Nazis eastward often
sive.
The United States, Britain and
Russia all see q Japanese stab In
the Russian back in Siberia as one
OF the main dangers this year.
British military opinion is convinced
a Japanese attack will take place
either. just before or coincident with
the opening of Hitler's main effort.
The Russians say simply, I'VE are
ready If 1t comes"
One highly placed Russian, dis
cussing the possibility, asked what
observers thought the japanese
could put into a Siberian attack.
Fourteen to IT divisions" was
the reply.
1T won't be enough" the Rus
sian said.
There have been candid asser-
tions in Russian circles that they
will never suffer a Pearl Harbor
at VladivoStok. And there are
equally candid hints that If japan
attacks the Soviet, Red bombers
will swiftly span the $50 miles to
Toxic and the. great industrial cities
with the one object of destroying
the Japanese war foundries. This
would be accompanied by a carte
blanche invitation to the United
States to join the Russians in the
blasting Of the closely packed and
highly inflammable japanese in
dustrial cities.
Silent on Conferences.
Both American and British
quarters were silent officially on
the trends Of the virtually continu-
GUS conferences Gen. Marshall and
Mr.. Hopkins are holding with
British leaders, because of the
danger Of tipping of the Axis on
1912 strategy. But no one is making
a secret Of the urgency with which
they regard the matter OF i'm
mediate aid to Russia.
The very presence here of Gen.
Marshall and Mr.. Hopkins at such a
critical time-rather than a visit to
other theaters - emphasized the
British and United States view that
Hitler at the moment is the No.
enemy and Russia is the main hope
of lquidating him.
The United States and British
Navies are engaged to the hilt in
conveying trains OF supplies for
Russia's summer campaign. The
shipping shortage Is so acute that 1t
probably will be some time be-
fore sufficient transports will be
available for a continental inva-
sion to open the second front which
the Russians have been asking for
months.
The present dispositions of Nazi
forces leaves no question in mill
tary minds of how Hitler will
launch his supreme effort.
Drive for Caucasus.
South and east his legions will
drive for the Caucasus, and a juno
ture with the Japanese in India to
cut the Persian Gulf supply route
to Russia, they say. This, the ex-
perts say, explains the German
troop movements and diplomatic
maneuvers in southeastern Europe
with Bulgaria and Turkey. 1t also
explains the continuous air assaults
on Malta and Marshal Erwin Rom
mels feints in Libya.
North and west the Germans are
expected to try to sever Russia's
Arctic supply artery which has be-
come an increasing worry to the
Nazis. Evidence of this is the sub
marine, plane and warship cam
paign already under way from Aruba
of South America north to Muir
manSk.
Thus, say those high in govern
ment councils, the Germans hope to
pursue their familiar tactics of sep
arating their enemies and finishing
them one at time.
But the Allies say grimly that the
northern route will be kept open at
all costs and no effort will be spared
to hold India and protect the near