The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-22

rces could sei1e ene country with eut suffering such major losses hat the launching of major in- #66ion of Europe would have to be Postponed for long time.
 BY JOHN A. REICHAGArgN United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Washington, July 22.-(UP)-So- Slet Ambassador Maxim Litvinov has made new and urgent pleas here for immediate opening of 8 sec- ond front in Europe, 1t was learned today.
 The Soviet Unions situation is Ho dangerous, sources close to the Soviet embassy said, that the United Nations face the greatest crisis since Dunkirk. If the Soviet army Is knocked out, they contend, 1t may not be possible to win the war or st may take years and millions of lives to do so.
 Iltvinov is said to believe that sf the United Nations want to win Che war with the smallest cost of lives and in the shortest possible time, a second front now is impera- tive.
 Soviet circles here have not hid- den their concern about the ten- del1cy in some of the United Nations aroups in Washington to look com placently upon the Russian sltua- eiOn.
 Similar pleas for quick action to divert German strength from the Russian front were said to have been made in London, and are pre- suned to be a factor in numerous recent conferences Prime Minister Churchill has held with American military and supply officials.
 The report that Litvinov has ap- healed again to officials here was confirmed by sources close to the embassy. Presumably ms appear was made directly to President Roosevelt.
 LitvinOv Insistent
 Litvinov, ever since his arrival here on the morning Pearl Harbor was attacked, never has ceased to urge publicly the opening of 3 front by Great Britain and the United States.
 NOW. however, 1t was reported by reliable sources, he is not insisting 1Ipon a large-scale invasion of west ern Europe, but diversion of some sort either in Europe or the Far East. Soviet fears exist not only tfor the result of the German drive in southern Russia, but for the pos- ability that Japan is about ready to begin major assault in Siberia.
 There Is no official information available here on either this coun- ! tryS or Britains' plans now or In the future on a second front. But there is feeling among officials and observers that some momentous decisaon-at least on 8 limited sec- ond front-was being formulated. Much of that was based on the fact that London is permitting news Of second front conferences to pass through the censorship which is talk fen here to mean that some move to aid the Soviet Union is under consideration for execution.
 President oRosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill are publicly com- emitted to coming operations which will divert German strength from the attack on Russia"
 DispatcheS from Russia have left no doubt that the Soviet army ex- poets such operations and expects them soon.
 Licinov,s views, it was said, are that if an invasion of the continent were to be attempted now, the AXIS would have only fraction of It's full forces available to meet 1t. The bulk of Germany's forces are tied I'D in the Russian campaign. Soviet officials here argue that if the United Nations were to undertake n second front, perhaps only half Of Germany'S forces of an estimated 8OOO, GOO men in Europe could be brought to bear against it,
 Attack Now Is Best
 5. If however, the Soviet army were knocked out, they content, almost all of that force could be rallied to resist an invasion-possibly 6,000,- 600 or 100000 men. Thus, the ar gument Is expended, the ultimate cost in men and material would be much greater than at present. In all the discussions with Amer acan and British officials 1t has been clear, 1t was said, that the Soviet Union has no intention of making a separate peace with Germany. It is pledged not to do so under the United Nations agreement. But they point out that strong and success full Axis offensive could reduce Rus sian resistance to simple guerilla warfare-lttle more effective than the Yugoslav resistance.
 This could happen, it was asserted, if Germany were to take the Cau- Casus, Rostov, VoroneZh, Moscow and I,eningrad. They would then have . clean sweep to the Urals where transplanted Soviet war industry now is concentrated.