The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-23
AXIS, ALLIES -'
 FACE PROBLEMS
Continued Offensive iu Several Sectors Hinge
 on Many Factors
RY JOE ARK MORRIS

NWLNLA MNNSN ENLNAAA ANtNNNf
 London, Nov, SS--(upl-The AxiS toaAy Is faced with the difficult question of Geet6tng upon the most esfective ooAlnter~hlow to the Allied offensive in North Africa. but the United Nations are confronted with the equally pressing problem of how best Co maintain their newly~won initiative and avold dispersal oi striking power,
 The war in the European theater now can be said to have become Q eSttle for the initiative in the AToA1eSs and perhaps most decisive sense in its effect upon final vte- tory
 Adolf Hitler appears to have three possibilities for large-Seale ccunter~actionS;
 |, Through the East by invading Turkey toward the NaxiS' original objective of oil and q supply line But success would be highly doubt- f(tl in view Of the Turks prepared line of defense and the difficult terrain, particularly in winter, The British Ssh and 10th armies in the Near East also would prove an obstacle
 2, An attack against Gibraltar through Spain to close the Western Mediterranean This certainly would be a bitter fight, Generalissimo Francisco Franco might even op- pose the Axis with an estimated 1 600 900 soldiers. A new European front, in any event, would be open cd for the Allies,
 :, Hitler could concentrate all available forces in an attempt to strike a death blow against Eng land with hombers and invasion forces,
 If Hitter failed to achieve any Of these goals, his only alternative would be to concentrate his U- boats and air force against the Al. lied lines and fight a bitter and exllausting battle for every outpost such as Riasrte, His hope then would be to develop El,rope's re sources in order to withstand a siege and force a StSlemate, But there IS still greater obstacle here--the Al- lied bomber fleet,
 On the other side of the picture regardleSS of the outcome in Tunisia informed sources here expect con. siderable conflict among Allied viewpoints regarding future action, Devious Allied possibilities include:
 l, An invasion of Sicily and Italy after all-out bombing attacks, This would make good headlines, but there are many disadvantages since it would stretch the Allied supply line, dsSperSe air strength and even if successful could yield only sec. ondary profits, For example, we cannot invade Germany through Italy because the Brenner Pass is too big an obstacle, Italy also long has been liability to Germany and probably would be the same for the Allies, Thus. many persons believe this would not be worth the cost and certainly would not win the war,
 2, The Allies might strike through Norway in an effort to clear the SunOAN IUuSC Go 40WA1a0AAeA &AsSA kes~ pare RuSSia'S still great man power reserves for an offensive.
 3, Many persons here believe the Allies best bet would be to concern trate tremendous bomber strength against the Reich. avoiding dispersal on many fronts, except for defensive forcts -<s would enable the Allies to strike the hardest where 1t would count the moSt-at the heart of the Axis war machine-and would prepare the invasion of Europe by the shortest route,
 It should never be forgotten that the Allies greates immediate task Is to destroy the Luftwaffe. This can be achieved partilly in the Mediter- ranean, but if Hitler faces real dam ger he probably would gradually withdraw his most powerful and most modern forces to Germany where he would have the advantage of short lines of communication.