Evening star., 1942-09-09
Our Grand Struteoy

Our Grond Strategy
Although the Presidents vigorous
campaign against imitation naturally
has received more attention, his
simultaneous pronouncement Mon
day evening on war aims and meth
ods Is also of great Importance. Mr..
Roosevelt has given the American
people a remarkably frank and clear
survey of the grand strategy by
which the war is being waged.
Warning America that "this is the
toughest war of all time" and that
great sacrifices Of blood and treasure
will have to be borne, the President
announced that certain vital decis-
ions have been made" and that all
"are directed toward taking the
offensive" He emphasized the
"global" scope of the war by ana
lying the four principal fronts, sit
uated in such mutually remote areas
as Russia, the Pacific Ocean, the
Mediterranean Middle East, and 'the
European area" BY this last, the
President obviously meant Axis
dominated Europe exclusive of the
Russian fighting zone. And it is here
that his remarks seem most signifi-
cant, because they imply a major
emphasis upon the creation of what
Is widely termed a second front"
1t is generally agreed that Ger
many is the archenemy, the keystone
Of the whole Axis structure. Mr..
Roosevelt states forthrightly that
"the power of Germany must be
broken on the battlefields of Europe"
He thereby inferentially disposes of
current theories that the Axis can be
shattered by mass bombings, alone
or IN conjunction with economic
pressure and campaigns in other
theaters. "The aim Is an offensive
against Germany. And there are at
least a dozen different points at
which attacks can be launched"
This seems to be vindication of the
Hitler first" formula.
However, the President does not
indorse the extreme thesis which
would concentrate against Hitler so
exclusively that the other main
fronts would be virtually abandoned.
Terming all four vital and inter-
related he assures us that none of
them will be neglected" Emphasis
is laid on the stakes involved in the
struggle now going on in the Medi-
terranean and Middle East. Opera
tions in the Pacific area are inferen-
TALLY treated as defensive in charac-
ter. The note struck on Russia is
conservatively optimistic, especially
in the long run.
This brings us back to the question
OF European second front" Nat
urally, the President gives no hint OF
where, when, or how this is to be
established, though he says you can
rest assured that preparations are
being made here and in Britain to-
ward this purpose"
Mr.. Roosevelt does not overestimate
the potential points of attack, for in
the endless discussions of profess
sional strategists and journalistic
commentators, suggestions have been
made ranging all the way from
Northern Norway around Europes
Atlantic coasts into the Mediterran-
can to Italy and the Balkans. The
basic difficulties in the way of all
these proposals are shipping, deliv-
cred equipment, and amount Of
trained manpoWer. 1t is generally
conceded that premature large
scale attempt ending in failure would
have disastrous consequences, psy-
Geological as well as strategic. On
the other hand, delay in launching a
fullfledged offensive may multiply
difficulties, especially if Russian mill
tary power should be gravely weak
ened and the Axis be thereby left free
to concentrate in the west.
| Such is the complex balance of
factors which the United Nations
high command must weigh and pom
der. We have the Presidents assur-
ance that they have been duly con-
sidered and that vital decisions" of
an offensive character have been
made. In that assurance We may
put our trust.