The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-08-06
WNU Features, 1343 II Street, n. w.
Washington, D. c.

Washington, D. c.
What about this second front?
The chorus demanding an invasion
of Europe, not next year or next
fall but sometime before day after
tomorrow is rising to a fine rescen-
do. 1t is reduced to black and white
in the Russian press, it is echoed
in Lord Beaverbrook's publications
in Great Britain. it is applauded by
the common people in England
whose affection for the Russians has
grown by leaps and bounds.
Those are the outward signs.
What is happening behind closed
doors is, Of course, harder to estl-
mate. We know that the official
Russian news agency, TASS. recent
ly instructed its Washington CORE
spondent to sound out informally,
officials here regarding their preju-
dices, predictions and prognosti-
cations on the subject of aid to Rus
STA in the form Of a direct attack
OIl lllC [AAlS. We Allo" uldt IiS -
sian ambassador in London openly,
if not for official record, conducted
similar inquiries. We know that a
report reached Washington that the
British censor. allegedly at Ameri-
can request, clamped down on sec
ond front speculation. At the war
department here it was stated there
was no information concerning issu-
ance of such orders or such a re-
quest from Washington. This at
tempt, if someone did make such
an attempt, to silence discussion Of
a second front may have meant that
some military move was imminent.
II so, what would the nature Of that
move be?
have made diligent inquiry and
although of course specific informa-
ton cannot be expected, some gen.
eral principles can be discussed.
In the first place, l can find no en-
couragement from any military
source for the idea for an imminent
invasion of Europe on any scale
which would identify it as q genuine
second front. However, I have not
ed q slight change in attitude of
persons who ought to know the plans
SO far as they are to be known.
Instead of saying: "some time" or
"perhaps in 1912" they now eau
tiously admit mot before the fall"
But as the clamor increases for
some effort to divert Hitler from his
mad charge toward the Caucasus,
we do hear that some form of dis
tracing military activity may be
looked for. The Germans fear this.
They also fear that what might
be launched in the guise Of a Com
mando raid might develop into a
life-Size invasion.
Hardened Veterans
There is proof of this: First, the
Nazis are feverishly strengthening
their defenses along the coast areas
in great depth. Second. they r
holding about a million men in Ger
many, equipped and ready. Hitler
will throw them into the Eastern
battlefront if he dares, or into west
ern Europe if he must. These are
well-equipped outfits. some of them
fresh, well-trained troops, some
parts of rebuilt organizations which
were shot apart in Russia but are
now rehabilitated and reconstruct
ed, able men and hardened veter-
ans.
And as nearly as a layman, re-
strained by a desire not to reveal
anything which might serve as aid
and comfort to the enemy. can do
so, and building on the slight infor-
nation available. the following
seems to be the picture: Aside from
the continuation of mass air raids
when the weather permits. the only
probable move on the part of the
Allies in the immediate future will
be an effort either to immobilize
this German eserv or draw it
toward the western front. not to n
gage it in battle.
The means of doing this will prob
ably be what are technically termed
'.raids-in-fOrce." That is, the land
ing of troops in numbers, perhaps
in thousands, with the purpose of
creating as much damage as pos
sible to German installations, the
holding of their positions for some
time in order to divert as many
enemy troops as possible. but so
planning and executing their activi-
ties that they can retire when their
mission is accomplished without
heavy losses.
These attacks would be on a much
larger scale than anything which the