The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-08-11
. Clapper
NlIITdTF oIIudTfoH TOT
Allies at Very Low ebb
Aris Powers Continue
Advance on All Fronts
Greater Effort Needed
In America 70 Avoid Loss
By RAYMOND CIAPPER

IN America 10 NSOio AOss
Nv RAYMOND CIAPPER
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ex-
perts here give US a pessimistie
estimate Of the immediate situ-
alton. I suppose there is no
harm in being frank about it
since Gardner Cowles. director
Of domestic operations for the
Office of War Information, says
newspapers should tell the public
that the war must be won, that
it is not being won at this time.
In the Caucasus. the Russians
are retreating as rapidly as is
possible. The big pipeline from
Baku to Rostov is no longer
able To feed the Russian oil
needs. The Volgs is still avail
able for shipping but it -
threatened and if the fight to
save Stalingrsd fails the Rus
SLAMS will be thrown back on
roundabout routes further east.
There may be news at any
time even before this gets into
print. about an attempt in the
Far North to cut the northern
Russian lines by driving against
the routes down from Murmansk
and Archangel. The Germans
are trying desperately to isolate
Russia and seal her up.
Reports from London about
strategy conferences in Moscow
suggest the gravity of the mo-
ment. Undoubtedly the Russians,
unable to wait for the effect OF
land operations against Ger
many on the West, would well
come an allied supporting ex-
petition driving up through the
Middle East. But Rommel is
being reinforced in Egypt for a
new attempt 10 reach Alexan-
dria, and the need is to break
that up quickly.
II the allies attempted both
they might not be strong enough
to win in either direction. A risk
in one direction or the other II
felt advisable by some.
Japan threatens in three places
Siberia, India and the Aus
tralian area and is expected
by everyone to attack in one or
more of these areas. The Siberi-
an attack has been expected for
some time. Gandhi's threat to
start a civil disobedience cam
paign in India leads some here
to expect that Japan will at
tempt an invasion of India If the
disorders materialize.
Dispatches from Australia re-
fleet the anxiety there. Japan
csc forces are concentrating and
already have made some gains
that place them in better posi-
ton to menace Port Moresby,
the allied base in New Guinea,
and Darwin and Northern Aus
tralia.
Spokesman for both the Aus
tralian government and for Gen.
eral Macarthur are warning that
Australia has not been suffi-
GENTLY reinforced. The purpose
of Washington was TO give that
area enough TO hold, but judg-
ment has been against going
very far beyond that until the
European menace is on the way
TO being overcome.
II has not been thought sd-
yisable 10 divide and scatter our
strength TO the degree that
would be necessary to permit a
strong offensive from Australia.
All Of this is unsatisfactory,
but the peril that would result
from a military paralysis in
Russia oyershadows all other
considerations now. II Hitler
hammers the Russians beyond
the point where they can sue
cessfully countersttsck, he then
becomes relatively free to turn
his fun attention TO the west. or
toward closing his pincers in
the Middle East by crossing
Suez. That would add years.
perhaps, TO the length Of the
war. II would make more DIFF
heult than ever a direct allied
attack on Western Europe.
In America. far removed from
the active fronts, We have al
lowed ourselves 10 think that the
war could not be lost and that
We had all the time We wanted.
during which possibly some
miracle would win the war for
US
Military men who know the
facts do not subscribe to that.
They are sure the war can be
won II adequate effort ia made.
what the rest Of US need 10 bear
IN mind now, in planning our
affairs for the future. Is that
events now taking place may
iengthen the war and require Of
the United States far heavier
sacrifice thar rr5crf kny. -.nrr