Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-16
Tide Of War
To Be Fixed
By 90 Days
Russian Front HoIds Key
10 AXIS Resources
BY PAUL MtLION

situation is ON The Russian
front. 1t VIII bc turned one way
or the other within go TO 90
days.
II HItlcr'S last desperate cf-
fort this spring fails 10 destroy
the Red army and reach oll,
reasonably prompt counter ac-
tion by the United Nations
could force him 10 his knees.
Japan could not long continue
the war without the diStracting
assistance of her Berlin ally
But if the Reds are eliminated
from this war as a formidable
force this spring, Japan and
Germany will rule the rich re-
sources Of two continents. 1t
viii be the world against the
United states and Britain. y
devastating conflict of many
years duration would be the
least of the live possibilities.
This realistic Interpretation IS
apparently IN owing current
policy Of our government. Aid 10
Russia has recently been
rushed through both oceans. a
sign that the NazlS know the
importance of this aid was
given when Hitler moved the
Tlrplt2 up the Norwegian coast.
ME Reds arc supposed 10 be
mastering a secret army OF
a million and a hall men 81 d.
visions 10 throw IN upon the
NaIlS maNSlng ior a spring
drive on the south Ukralnlan
front. The idea IS 10 get the
Jump on the Germans. throw
them off balance. before they
can get their own offensive
going.
The tale. however, seems TO be
Just a little too Wcll-knoWn. II
has been SccplnG out of Stock
holm. Bernc, Nichy and even
London. No deuht-thc Reds have
organized something along this
line Question is whether it is
as strong as these sources have
represented.
The NaliS have been conecn-
tratIng their forces IN the
Ukran for some weeks. and
placing Italian, Hungarian and
Rumanian troops in the Balkans
tior police duty TO relieve their
own men for the ironO.
Their natural first objective
is the Caspian Sea. 10 cut the
mouth of the Nolga, 10 seize
Baku, and thus throttle the Rus
sian source of oil.
ENCOURAGING claims OF
II Russian victories YOU have
been reading through the win
ter, relate TO the northern front.
The Reds have driven the Ger
mans back an average OF only
10 miles IN the south.
Apparently they used their
available rclnforCCmcntS wholly
in tho north. Consequently what
they had in the south was insult
flCient 10 follow through their
initial successes at RoStov and
in the Crmea.
The weather should allow The
NaZlS 10 start their southern
offensive in about a month, if
the Reds do not disrupt their or
Canlzation FIRST. The muShy pc
Rod of thaW ordinarily does not
last there beyond April -.
No one here or elsewhere
knows what The Reds have ON
their front They do not allow
outside military observers to
accompany their troops. Con-
Scquchtly any effort 10 gauge
their chances IN this tatctul
spring Is largely guc>>Work
They are certainly better off
in many respects than when
facing the initial onslaught last
fall. They have destroyed one
factor Conclu>iNely the idea
that the NalI army is "invnci-
BILE - They have lost a lot OF
mon. probably several times
what the Germans have lost.
But still they have greater
manpoWcr today than the Ger
mans Their factories IN the
Trials are increasing production.