Evening star., 1942-06-07

i Uc uhllh, gray lull VI Iiic III ot toOP-
ship carved itself out of the Irish mist.
On the quay. the Royal Ulster Rifles
bandsmen blew on their frozen fingers
and plodded into God Save the King"
and THE Star-3pangled Banner"
There were q few ragged hip. hip,
hoorahs"-then an intent hush, as the
troopships moored.
January 26, 1912: The Yanks were
back; hard, husky giants from the Mid
die Western prairieland. They had
shaved a month OF the starting time Of
the first AEF.
In World War I, the first American
troops reached France on June 26, 1917,
nearly three months after the April 6
declaration of war; this time, it took less
than two months, dated from Pearl Har-
Dor, for the first United States expedi-
tionary forces to reach their bases In
Northern Ireland.
Today, six months after the United
States entered the war, there are thou
sands more Yanks in Ulster with the
tanks and guns and transport which
leave no doubt that this is the start,
at least, of q continental invasion force
Planning Fully Under Way.
Here and elsewhere in the words OF
the best authority on Americas expedi-
tionary forces, President Roosevelt him
self:
bat In the North and South Atlantic. In
the Arctic, in the Mediterranean and In
the North and South Pacific. American
troops have taken stations IN South
America, Greenland, Iceland, the British
Isles, the Near East, the Middle East,
the Far East, the continent Of Australia
and many islands Of the Pacific. Ameri-
can warplanes, manned by Americans,
are flying in actual combat over all the
continents and all the oceans"
OF the Ulster AET, Gen. George C.
Marshall, chief of staff, said during a
recent visit that its primary purpose was
to expand"
At West Point last week he was even
more specific:
American soldiers ARE landing In
England, and they will land in France"
The planning for ultimate Allied in
vasion of France. or Belgium. or the
Netherlands, or Norway, is fully under
way in the British Isles themselves.
Men and machines of the. United States
air forces are moving into British bases.
Senior American officers, specialists in
tanks, infantry and supply are at work
in London.
Well established by now are Admiral
Harold r. Stark, commander OF United
States naval forces in European waters;
Mai. Gen. James E. Chaney, commander
of American Expeditionary Forces in the
British Isles. and, in Ulster, Maj. Gen.
Russell P. Hartle, who came with the
first Of the Yanks to be their commander
in Northern Ireland.
Germany's own position certainly has
deteriorated in recent months on the
battlefield, at home and In the seething
occupied countries of the continent.
Real Aid for Invaders.
There are innumerable indications that
In Norway, the Low Countries and
France the conquered people are ready
to provide real assistance to Allied in
vaders.
The main energies of Hitler's army
are strenuously engaged again on Rus
sian soil, where they were driven back
during the winter. Directly behind this
front there is serious trouble for the
"pacifiers" of old. unbowed Czecho-
slovakia. which never had chance to
fight.
Naturally, American and British hopes
are high for swift invasion, swift German
knockout
But 1t isn't that simple. The conti-
mental invasion picture is far too broad
to be seen in perspective from across
the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
First Of all, there are the ships, and
they are spread thin across all the Allied
sea courses. Second, there is Russia and
the aircraft and weapons she needs right
now and is getting. Third. there is
the Middle East and the urgency of hold
ing it-especially important since the
latest offensive by the German Afrika
Korps.
These things are first things, which
must come first. That is why some ana
.s.,;. . .->.s- ,.se~s. SO