Evening star., 1942-06-21
Nazi Moves May Fix
Time Of Attack by
Allies, Cripps Says
British Army Tokes Over
East Anglia Area, Obvious
Jumping-Off PIoce
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months also has had a sobering
effect on the British public and
press, which is wondering II the
Allies will have the wherewithal to
transport vast expeditionary force
to Europe in the teeth of German
resistance.
Nazi Marshal Erwin Rommel's
threat to Tobruk and Egypt, which
thoroughly doused British hopes,
also has had a profound effect on
the British point of view.
Many who talked optimistically a
few weeks ago of opening a second
front are now speculating on . the
necessity of concentrating British
and United States forces in Egypt.
Restores Strong Tone.
The war Office announcement that
all civilians were being cleared from
the thickly-settled villages and
farms of the large area in East
Anglia restored a strong tone, how
ever, to second front" talk.
The announcement said the area
was intended for realistic" train
ing" for troops. But skeptical OBJ
servers wondered if the army'would
deliberately have chosen a place SO
exposed to German aerial observ-
ance and bombing for pure ma
neuvers.
Of this was part of the war of
nerves, it apparently was having
its effect. The German radio
devoted the equivalent of columns
of speculation from all points of
the compass on the possibility of
a second front. Nearly all of it
pooh-poohed the possibility of an
Allied invasion)
Mr.. CrippS spoke at a mass meet
ing in Empress Hall, which was
packed by almost 1000 persons gath~
cred to observe the anniversary, June
%, of the German attack ON Rus
sia. Included in the audience were
Soviet Ambassador Ivan Maisky,
Rear Admiral Alan G.. Kirk, chief of
staff of United States naval forces
in European waters who represented
Ambassador John G. Winant, and
representatives of all other Allied
governments.
Wants Decisive Blow.
with the help of the United
States and its industrial forces added
to our own and the Soviet Unions
productive resources, we should be
able to launch a great and success
full attack upon Hitler in the west,'
Sir Stafford said.
He warned against a premature
venture leading to failure. however.
and said when we strike, let us
strike hard and with determination
to march through to Berlin before
We call final halt 80 s.'".'
ut may be sooner or later, though
Hitler has apparently guessed that
it may not be too far ahead. As we
make our preparations, so no doubt,
he will try to make his too, ard this
in itself may influence the time fac
tor"
Then he added significantly: This
matter. as you know. was discussed
with Molotov (Soviet Commissar)
when he was in England and can
assure you he knows much more
about it than I can tell YOU"
Compromise Between Demands.
The the time for the blow may be
chosen to allow compromise be-
tween the African and second front
demands on Allied resources was
suggested in the comment of we'll
informed sources one of whom said ::
''If we don't fritter away our re-
sources by too great dispersion it
could still be done after we have
taken adequate steps to insure that
the Middle East will hold"
The influential Times today
seemed to have thrown its weight
against such dispersion, picturfng
North Africa as ready made sec
ond front which would have its
''rightful place" in the Churchill
Roosevelt deliberations.
The Russians, the Times said,
were sensible "of the supreme i'm
portance of defending and strength
ening the Middle East bridge"