Evening star., 1942-06-01

ana other German centerS by the
Royal Air Force, surveys AuStra-
lian opinion on the issue of a Sec
ond front and Allied inUaSion OF
the European continent)
BY GEORGE WELLER,
Foreign Correspondent of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.
SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA,
May 80 Delayed. - President
Roosevelt's recent replies to ques-
tions concerning the opening of
second front, in difference to Rus
sian demands, have kindled lively
discussion in Australia.
In general, the view seems to be
held that Great Britain has been
awaiting greater American partici-
patton in the war before attempting
to redress continental defeats.
With the Australians helping to
resist the Germans in the Near
East, while the Americans act in
the defense of this island continent,
the Australians have come to look
at continental problems more or
less through American eyes.
For this reason, views are mixed.
Most of the liberal press believes
that Britain is long overdue to take
the risk. 1t is pointed out that one
of the reasons why the German
submarine menace, throughout the
continent, is so much more hurtful
to America today, than in 1917. is
because Germany no longer is bot
tied up in the North Sea but pos
sesses many submarine bases from
Norway to Bordeaux.
Liberals Stress FOothold.
Thus, it is held that the need for
invasion is not strictly Russia'S. but
also Britain's and Americas. Even
though the battle RACES in the west
ern desert, Liberals say, foothold
on the continent must nevertheless
be attempted.
A contrary view Is sharply ex-
pressed in the Bulletin, a weekly Of
critical opinion. The Bulletin says:
ITO have the slightest chance Of
coping with an enemy in possession
of all French ports, airfields, rail-
was and military roads, it would be
necessary to land and establish an
army at least twice as strong as the
B. E. F. British Expeditionary
Force was at the end of January,
1910, and with far better equipment
than it had then. Do any OF the
distant spectators know how long it
took to place four British divisions
in line? Has any of them read Lord
Gorts dispatches? II he has, more
shame to him for urging that vast
number of his fellow subjects should
be sent to a bloody sacrifice while
the safety Of his own skin is assured" "
Quoting Lord Gort's statement.
that the assembling Of troops by
rail and vehicles by road took about
six days" the Bulletin goes on to
point out that even with what Lord
Gort called the willing help of the
French naval, military and civil au-
thorities," it required five weeks
and three days for one division to
reach positions on the Belgian line"
Idea Is Demanded.
Concludes the editorialist:
The idea of Australians demand
ing a second front in Western Eu-
rope. in the interest of power
which, with 100000 firSt-line Red
Army men and mighty forces of
bombers and fighters" Cthe claim of
Is not fighting in East Asia! Aus
tralians, who owe so much to the
royal navy. the merchant navy and
the R. A. F.. and who have seen
British Commonwealth armies
among them at least $4,000 of our
own soldiers, lost in the unavailing
defense of rich territories for lack
of bombers and fighters sent to
! Russia.
Australians, who should know
that defeated Russia. because of vast
manpower and resources. must rise
again, whereas if Australia fell to
the Asiatic- enemy, who has killed
people i'll Darwin and Broome, has
established himself in New Britain
and New Guinea and, though re-
pulsed in the Coral Sea. is in control
of Timor and Arafura Seas, it would
fall forever.
ANY male person who publicly
demands a second front in Western
Europe, whatever his calling and
place of residence. should be COM
PEELED by law. British or dominion.
to enroll as conscript so that he
may share in the perilS Of the ex-
petition
Lord Beaverbrook's advocacy of
second front-"Strike out violent,
even recklesSly"-is sharply treated
by the Bulletin, referring to Lord
Beaverbrook as having had the face
to tell Americans that there was
ample equipment in Singapore.
Then, regardless of the fate of other
expeditions, and of the increased
seriousness of the shipping position,
he came out withaa wild demand for
a second front. 1t is good to read
that DR.. Evatt Dr. Herbert V. Evatt,
Australia S Minister for External Af-
fairs, now in Britain, has no pa
tience with second frontiers"
No Comment on Evatt's Talks.
No comment has yet been made
here on the fact that DR.. Evatt has
in the last week conferred several
times with Ivan NJ. Maisky, Rus
Sia'S Ambassador to London, and
was Lord Beaverbrook's guest of
honor at a Journalists dinner last
TIlocdov