The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-11
BY MERRIMAN SMITH United Press Staff Correspondent


 Washington, November II. = (UP) = A smashing Allied offens- i've in western Europe in 1943 was a definite prospect today in the light of President Roosevelt's disclosure of the strategy which led to the sec- ond front in North Africa.
 MT. Roosevelt outlined the events leading up to the American invasion of French North Africa at press conference yesterday, letting the Axis know it could expect more and bigger second fronts" at the war goes along.
 But the President also warned the public against too much optimism because of the African campaign and its success thus far. He said the country should not become un- duly depressed over one military operation and unduly elated over another. The American and Brit ish campaigns in Africa seem to be going well, he said thankfully, adding that 1t was unwise to do too much prognostication on any military operation, good or bad.
 Evidence of Allied intentions to invade continental Europe sometime in 1943 stemmed from MT. Roose- velt,s disclosure that an invasion of the Belgian coast was decided on in Anglo-American conferences begin- ming last December shortly after Pearl Harbor. Plans were changed, however, when 1t became evident such an offensive could not be launched in 1942 with reasonable chances of success.
 Many plans were discussed, he added, before the African campaign second choice - was decided on during the past summer. While the invasion of Africa in no way limits the aspects of other United Nations operations, the President explained, the 1922 imposSibility of a major offensive acrass the channel would of necessity put the date of such an operation into next year.
 MT. Roosevelt also shed some light on Russias position in the second front deliberations. He said he did not want to give away what was close to being military information when asked how the June visit to the United tSates of Soviet Foreign Commissar V. M. Molotov fit into the African decision. He added, however, that it could be assumed that there was consultation with fighting Allies before anything what soever was done.
 After Molotov's visit in early June, the White House said he and the President reached "full under standing with regard to the front in Europe in 1942.' Two weeks urgent tasks of creating second later Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in Washington with the President. They later announc- ed "the coming operations which were discussed in detail at our Washington conferences. between ourselves and our respective military advisers, will divert German strength from the attack on Rus sia." In August, Churchill visited Premier Josef Stalin in Moscow.
 Mir. Roosevelt supplied the miss ing pieces to this picture yester- day.
 During Churchill's summer visit they discussed whether to launch a very large scale offensive in the mid- dle of 1943 or one on a small scale in 1942. They agreed on an African offensive in 1942. By the end of July. the President related, certain Fundamentals had been determined, including the size of the force and the points of attack. By the end of August, the approximate date was set.
 Churchill undoubtedly gave Stalin full account of allied strategy in August when he visited Moscow, probably outlining reasons of man. power, production and equipment