Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-14
I'd Front!
Where Will
Allies Hit?
Straight Across Channel
Seen as Best Thrust
BY PAUL MALLON

/ good unOiDcldl ADVISERS mere can
see. is a straightaway military
onslaught against the occupied
European coast nearest Britain,
from Denmark to Brest.
Clubroom speculation concerns
other more interesting methods.
Seizure of Norway and Sweden
Tor air bases, for instance, would
put British and American bomb
er> right on top of Berlin.
The NaZiS have not well de-
Tended their idle northern battle
front. Invasion there would en-
list sympathetic cooperation Of
inhabitants and put the first
battlefield about as far away
from Germany as from British
home bases.
However, Hitler might thwart
such a step by throwing 10 divi-
sionS into Norway, and there is
some reason 10 believe he is pre-
pared to do just that.
A SIMULTANEOUS thrust
"A through the Mediterranean
AT RommerS rear base of sup
plies i'm Libya is likewise one TO
stir imaginationS The movement
OF a strong naval fighting force
10 head large conveys of Ameri-
can troops into that area. fight
ing its way as II went, is good
mainly for parlor discussions.
If a landing could be effected
in Sicily and at Tripoli, in suf-
ficient force, Rommel could be
smashed in short order from
two sides, and the way cleared
for invasion of sleepy Italy. The
rub about this seems to be ac-
curing the sufficient force.
The west coast of France. be-
low BreSt, also has been talked
(all this is unofficial, of courSe)
as place TO strike. The idea
behind this suggestion is that
Hitlers tranSplanted Maginot
line along the channel coast
might be taken in reverse.
But this portion of the French
coast is farthereSt from British
bases, and the Germans would
command nearby airfields, while
the British planes would have to
come a much greater distance.
SO, when all speculation is
! N nj IN
back TO the simplest, most diff
cult and most obvious prospect
an overwhelming battering-ram
blow straight across the channel,
with planes blasting the defenses
and clearing the way for tanks
and infantry.
! UNOFFICIAL surmiSes are be-
u ing made of a change 10
come sooner or later. at the top
of the army. Some of these sug-
geStionS have reached print and
radio circulation.
The most common speculation
is that Gen. George c. Marshall
will be elevated 10 head this Sec
ond front or take unified COM
mand of all Allied forces outside
of Russia, and that two of Harry
Hopkins right-hand men will
take over the war department.
Mentioned for Marshalfs post
as chief of staff has been Gen.
Brehon 3. SomerVell, who served
four years as WPA adminiStra-
tor of New York, under Mr..
Hopkins. after a notable army
engineering career.
To replace SomerVell as chief
of supply Gen. James III. Burns,
the Hopkins assistant in charge
of lend-lease reports, has been
suggested
No confirmation of official
talk along this or other similar
lines has been offered. 1t is un-
likely there would be any until
an announcement is made.
DOTH Generals Somervell and
- Burns have had long army
administrative careers, but a
comment on their appointments
would center around their close
. friendship with Mr.. Roosevelt'S
most intimate associate IN the
government, the man who has
been referred 10 frequently as
assistant president
SomCrvell was an engineer in
France in the last World War,
and distinguished himself as
peaCetimc engineer on MiSSlS-
SippI flood control and other
projects before entering the
WPA relief organization He Is
clasScd by his associates as
strong New Dealer.
General Burns while assoc
clatcd with Hopkins ~ less
identified with the social polil-
real reform aspects OF admins
ratlon policy
I'VE printed suggestions that
L Marshall might head a unl-
fed command reflects the urgent
need OF single-hcaded military
control of all Allied armies in
the field
Tactics now must BE- decided
by negotiation. Plans of attack
and defense grow out Of con-
situations between Us the Brit
i>h. the Canadians. the Chinese
and the Australians.