The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-21
Moscow Dispatches Are Telling That Situation Is
 Growing Desperate ! RUMOR OF SECOND
 FRONT NOT HEL PING Red Forces Are Massing Strength for Showdown
 on Lower Don River

The Axis offensive to iSo- late the Caucasus struck at the gateway city of RostoV and edged closer to Stalin- grad today in a drive that sharply revived prospects of an Allied second front in western Europe. German official claims were that Rostov was being attacked from three sides after being set afire by dive bombers and that an advance of 90 miles had been made an Axis spearhead striking into the Don River bend to within 85 miles of Stalingrad on the Volga. Nazi air Squadrons were reported pound ing the Russians on the lower Don front, destroying bridges and rang ing south of Rostov to break com cunications lines.
 This NaZi picture probably was exaggerated but Moscow dispatches, renewing emphasis on the need for allied help, reflected a desperate situation and London sources again suggested that Japan, with more than half of her best troops shifted to the north, might be ready at any moment to strike at Siberia.
 As result, London dispatches said that some United Nations thrust in the west was more likely than ever.
 Second Front Secrecy
 The necessity of censorship and secrecy made second front develop ments highly uncertain, however, and 1t was emphasized that tre- mendous difficulties must be over come.
 About all that was known was that Prime Minister Churchill and his aides and American represen- tatives had reconsidered the situa- tion in London in the light of the threat to the Caucasus and of the agreement. with the Soviet Union on the urgent necessity of second front in 1922.
 Churchill then had luncheon with King George. This might be the. most significant concrete develop ment, since it is customary to inform the king when important decisions. have been made but no offlcial in- dication was given as to the pur- pose of the audience. K,
 On the other hand, 1t was enl- phasized that a cautious attitude should be taken toward the proS- poets of second front until devel- opmentS are more definite. The po- litical urgency of an invasion of western Europe is obvious as is the military advantage of anything that would divert Axis strength from Russia.
 Next Year Too Late
 London dispatches also reiterated the possibility that next year might well be too late and that it was a question of whether the allies must take a greater risk at an earlier date than desired.
 There were several approaches to the second front problem = . far greater aerial offensive in tho west, intensified and regular commando raids or an attack on the northern coast in an effort to elim- < mate Nazi air and submarine bases from which the enemy has battered allied conveys to Russia. These, how ever, are only halfway measures and while advantageous would cer- tainly fail to force Hitler to shift his main strength from southern Russia.
 It also seemed likely that the ale lies would avoid any attempt to die 2 vert German strength from Russia by limited" invasion of western Europe. The Germans have plenty of air and mechanical strength in mobile concentrations in France to
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