Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-06
u. S. Asked
To Shun False
Optimism
Erravaqant aims Of
Red Victories Cited
BY Paul, MALLON

" phony optimism is springlng
up in TINS country, 1t Is being
fed by eNtravagant Russian
communiques. and oft-repeated
roSp-colorcd observations about
our chances IN the Far East
As a background for the Red
communlqueS. Just remember
that an ordinary Winter would
cover the fighting front IN Russia
with eight TO y feet Of snow
along about now. certainly with
in a week or two. Only the
SouthernmoSt front can be eX-
cepted, and do not forget the
CrImea. at the southern tip, IS
As far north Of the Equator as
Nova Scotia and Minneapolis.
To Slack Sea keeps it rela-
lively warm. but the whole
central and northern fronts Will
become stabilized for winter
shortly it IS reasonable 10 eX-
pect. Then will come Spring,
and another campaign
No one blames the Reds for
making as much propa ganda as
possible out Of their astonishing
successes, but for our people 10
use it as a guide is foolish. In
war. people have a tendency 10
believe only what fits in with
their wishes.
They should know officials
here now are saying I'VE can
lose this war. They mean we
can lose il right now by slipping
into a condition of unreal Secur-
itV-the same false sense which
prevented our rearmament in
time.
THE public should he aware OF
Il these following possibilities.
which must occupy the military
mind.
If the NaziS get the French
fleet we will he outnumbered IN
the Atlantic AS we now are in
the Pacific.
Nearest Jap base 10 Hawaii
is only half as far AS our near
est base, which may prove TO he
a very important fact when the
Philippines fall
It requires Sc days 10 send A
pursuit plane or tank by boat 10
Singapore through the Indian
Ocean.
What Of the morale Of our
troops in the Philippines after
they had been yowhng for
months for planes, saying they
were sitting on a powder key?
VIII Turkey fight? Maybe.
but they have not said 50. and
they probably won't if Hitler
jumps from Sardinia into Tu-
nlSia.
For the winter campaigns in
Africa and the Near East, Hit
Ter again Will enjoy inner lines
Of supply, whereas the British
will have difficulty shifting
forces and supplies.
With me British fleet dis
persed over the Atlantic and
Mediterranean is Britain we'll
fixed 10 meet an invasion
threat?
We could lose this war.
THE word "impregnahle' must
Il he abandoned for the dura-
ton. Corrcgidor is merely a
well prepared fortress. open 10
bombing. capable only Of with
standing siege until the last
man is gone The British really
only figured 10 hold Hongkong
six weeks or so. because the
m illion inhabitants tmostly
Chinese had 10 rely for water
upon reservoirs on the open hill
side, held only by concrete dams.
The Japs got them in half that
time.
Singapore is the only really
well defended spot IN the Far
East, Yet II Is open 10 the air.
Al least A six months supply Of
oil and gas Is SuppoSted 10 be
we'll cached beyond the reach Of
bombs. far below surface.
Nothing on the face " this
earth IS lmpreGnable now unless
YOU have supremacy IN the air
Al that point Then practically
anything is impregnahle
WHEN Pravda. one Of tho
w official Rcd eWSpaperS
CThcre arc no others IN RUSSIA
accused General Macarthur Of
cowardice in declaring Manila
an open city to save II from
bombing. no one here even
looked up.
Pravda wanted 10 know why
u was not defended like Lonon-
grad and Moscow. If Prayda
had asked any one who has been
10 Manila or looked the city up
m the encyclopedia, IT would
have found out.
The ground of Manila IS al.
most level with the bay The
water table IS three feet below
the surface Not gonly was II
impossible 10 dig arr RAID shelters
down into this water for 10000
persons. but few ~ The houses
could oven have a basement for
protection Wooden houses line
streets so narrow two autos can