Evening star., 1942-06-21
FutefuI Anniversary

Today marks the end of the first
year of the great war between Ger
many and RUSSIA war in which
the final decision still hangs in the
balance despite fighting on a scale
that is without precedent in world
history.
It is a fateful anniversary and 1t
comes at time of crisis. Nazi troops
are hammering at the gates Of the
battered port of Sevastopol, and, as
suming aSwillingness to pay the price,
they may be able to reduce that
stronghold. In North Africa the war
of reverses once again has turned
sharply against the British. For the
second time, Tobruk is under siege
and the Empire troops are pre-
pairing for another stand at Egypt's
border. Yet these things, viewed in
their proper perspective, should not
give rise to undue disbursement.
Certainly the picture year ago was
blacker.
When Hitler, at $50 on the Sunday
morning of June % ordered his
troops to attack Russia, there were
few who believed that the SovietS
would be fighting today. Most of the
military observers looked for another
blitzkrieg, a lightning war which
would follow the pattern of France,
Norway and Greece. Some said the
Russians would be beaten in six
weeks; the majority thought that the
fight would be over by Christmas at
the latest.
But those dire prophecies have not
come to pass. Russia, her strength
grossly underestimated by Hitler as
we'll as the Unlocking experts, still
Is in the thick of the fight. In an
amazing demonstration of courage
and tenacity the SovietS survived
the disasters of Minsk, Smolensk,
Odessa, Kiev, Kharkov and RoStov.
Not only did they survive them, but
they mustered strength for an effec-
tive commensurate after staggering
losses and the Russian winter had
brought the Nazi offensive to a
standstill. For six weeks now, in the
Kharkov and Crimean sectors, the
Germans have been endeavoring
with scant success to get new drive
rolling. They may yet be successful,
but, come what may, the outlook on
this front is incomparably brighter
than anyone thought would be the
case year ago.
Undoubtedly there is cause for
concern in the dramatic turn of the
tide in the North African fighting.
But there. too, it is desirable to COM
pare the present with the past. To-
bruk was under siege year ago. If
success seems perched on the Nazi
banners now, it was hardly less SO
year ago In the Pacific much the
same balance prevails. Hitler has
gained an ally in Japan, but in doing
so he brought this country into the
Wal OII GIlC H1l4lCu OdpdIl Lao
achieved notable success, but she has
also sustained heavy reverses. At the
least, it may be said that the outlook
on the Pacific front is not so dark
today as it was few months ago.
In no sense can it be said that
these trends afford substantial basis
for optimism. The next six months
will be filled with hard and bitter
fighting. There will be more reverses
and disaster often will seem to be
imminent. But as the war news shifts
from good to bad and from bad to
good it would be well to keep in mind
the Presidents admonition against
excessive peSsimism and undue opti-
mism with each turn of fortunes
wheel. This war will not be decided
by one victory or one defeat. 1t will
have to be fought out, slowly and
painfully. in the months and years
that lie ahead, but that should not
lead us to dependency. The picture
today is bright as against year ago.
If we are willing to give everything
that we have to the struggle, there
is sound reason to believe that, rela-
lively, it will be brighter in June of
1913.