Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-14
Comment on Africa
Betrays Big Effect
On German Morale
Nuzi ApoIoeists Contend
Any Defeat Outside Of
Europe Is Indecisive
BY ALVIN STEINKOPF.

The crushing effects of North
African developments on German
morale and on high command cal
culations are betrayed by Berlins
propagandists.
The best conclusion of the nimble-
witted apologists of the Wilhelm
strasse is that North Africa is Just
a lot of sand anyway The great
military DECISIONS it was argued, will
not fall in Africa. So why worry
about it.
This attitude was expressed first
by Hitler, as the swift American oc-
cupation was unfolding, to Nazi
party veterans at Munich on No
vember 8. Worried Axis commenta-
tors have stuck pretty closely to the
text as it was laid down by Der
Fuehrer
Berlin's professional explainers
have been stressing relatively new
conception, which they call "the
fortress of Europe" It's an inva-
sion-proof continent, protected all
around by Axis steel, and it is argued
in Berlin that anything happening
outside the fortress really is not de-
ciSive.
Once in Fortress"
North Africa used to belong to the
fortress. Economically and politi-
cally, it was held up to few weeks
ago that Spanish, French and 1tal-
ian colonies along the southern Med
lterranean belong to Europe. Yes
terday a Berlin radio commentator
said that "functionally, politically
and economically" North Africa is
still part of Europe, but no longer
! Is part of the fortress.
1t can only be regarded as an ex-
tension of the continent, so far as
military considerations are con-
cerned," he said. ...
1t Is a familiar device of German
propaganda. What cannot be had,
or what's being lost, isn't worth
while anyway. Stalingrad was not
taken, not because it was too tough,
but because it wasn't worth the cost
in German blood that its capture
would have involved. Now North
Africa is becoming sand of no stra-
tegic Importance.
1t had strategic Importance when
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was
going strong, and when the Panzers
were heading toward Alexandria
and the Suez Canal Then the Red
Sea was vital Allied route to the
Near East, and German observers
spoke enthusiastically of the pin
GERS, one prong represented by Mar
shall Rommel in Egypt and the other
by German armies in the Caucasus,
which were supposed to meet some
where east of Suez and eliminate
the United Nations from Asia Minor
Now no more is said of these plans.
Weak Spot Strengthened.
These African battles lie far from
the real decisions of this war" a
Berlin commentator said yesterday
The decisions will be made on the
big fronts of this warm the east
against Bolshevisim, and in the west
within the living space of the British
Isles"
1t was admitted that Anglo Saxon
armies have come closer to "the for
tress Of Europe" But the last weak
spot in that fortress walls has been
strengthened, it was said. The
speaker obviously referred to France
and It's complete occupation by Ger
man and Italian forces.
Berlin last night, contending that
the American occupation of North
Africa is pretty feeble effort, pro-
duced one argument which held its
validity for just 80 minutes.
TT must be remarked" said a Ber-
lin broadcast, that Moscow even
now has not been moved to alter It's
opinion, and according to United
States news agencies, Is still main
tanning that the invasion of North
Africa did not relieve the situation
of the Russians on the eastern
front"
Half an hour after that statement
was released, Premier Joseph Stain
of Russia sent his letter to Henry C.
Cassidy, Associated Press bureau
chief in Moscow, praising the British
and American offensive in Africa.