Evening star., 1942-10-04
Prospect Of Second Front
In1942 Rapidly Grows Dim
Axis Will Probably Force Large.Scale Operations
In Mediterranean Area and Near East
When Russian Winter Sets In
By Constantine Br0wn.

The likelihood of q second front in
Europe this year is fading in the fog
which envelopes the North Sea and
the English Channel at this season,
but American troops and equipment are
constantly being sent across the At
lantic in quantities which make people
wonder what the purpose Of the Amer
tcan high command may be.
Few people in this country or in
England know what operations our mill
tary leaders have in mind. It is gen.
orally admitted that talk about q Sec
ond front In Europe was based on politi-
cal rather than military strategy. Fur
thermore, 1t was an emotional out
burst which had as its purpose to help
the heroically fighting Russians, rather
than a coldly calculated strategy which
took account of all factors.
For while it looked as if the emo
tionalism of the political leaders might
prevail over the calculated cold -blooded-
ness OF the military minds. Eventually,
however, the difficulties in the way of
landing somewhere in Europe were
realized by many Of those who advo-
Gated second front at any price. They
were convinced that the price would
be high and the practical results
negligible.
It is not difficult to achieve victories
on paper. For several days the un-
fortunate Dieppe affair was presented as
a spectacular success. After the pub
licity smoke screen was dispersed, the
truth about that major raid became
known and no one mentioned Dieppe
as a beneficial experience.
Must Parry Axis Thrusts.
For the time being we shall have to
take our cue from the Axis in its Allan
tic and Mediterranean strategy, meet
ing the enemy's blows wherever they
fall. Until we have a sufficiently strong
force in the air. on land and at sea
to enable us to initiate an offensive in
those regions, the most we can hope for
is to prevent the enemy from reaching
his goal
The situation today appears as fol-
lows:
The Nazi campaign in Russia is draw
ing to an end. Last year the order
for suspension of the Nazi attack in
the Soviet Union was given sometime
in December, but climatic conditions this
year make it difficult for the enemy
to attempt any new, large-scale opera
tions in the U. s. S. r. The most the
Germans can hope for is decision at
Stalingrad and possibly the occupation
OF Astrakhan the Caspian seaport
through which lease-lend materials
reach the Soviet from Persia.
Outside of these operations in South
Russia it seems most unlikely that the
Nazi high command will attempt to un-
dertake anything else: Axis forces on
the line between Leningrad and the
Caucasus will hibernate, according te
the judgment of competent authori-
ties, in their present positions while thei,
air forces and submarines continue tt
do the utmost to prevent United Ma.
tlons ships from reaching Arctic sea.
ports with war material, clothing and
food for the Soviet armies.
The Axis forces cannot remain static
The German high command must feee
Its people victories to ease the pangs O.
munger. Despite the many rumors cir.
culatlng here and in Britain that tn,
Nazls' next move will be directed agains
the British Isles, neither the American
nor British high commands believes tha
the Nazis will attempt to cross the Eng.
lish Channel in force, although they ma,