The Wilmington morning star., 1942-11-16
Trans-Channel Attack

| It is now revealed that the present opera
tions in north Africa were conceived two
weeks after Pearl Harbor, when Prime Min
ister Winston Churchill and certain Of his ad-
visers were in Washington. At the same time
a frontal attack on France was given full
consideration but it was found that the linn
iting factors Of men, material and transporta-
ton were too great.
| In the intervening time, the program, in
its broadest terms, has been developed to the
extent that the African invasion could be
launched How long it will take to get the
French invasion under way is, necessarily,
matter of deepest secrecy, but President
Roosevelt told his press conference last week
that it will surely come.
Roscoe Drummond, whose understanding
of the war situation is probably as clear as
any correspondents, following the press con-
ference, listed seven reasons for the Christian
Science Monitor, which he represents at Wash
ington, which indicate that an attack across
listed here at length:
l. In disclosing at his n1id-week press
conference some Of the secret history Of
the long planning which went into the
North African invasion, President Roose-
welt stated-with no unawareness Of what
he was saying-that the limiting factors
which prevented a frontal attack across
the English Channel six months ago no
longer prevail
2. The President declared with equal
candor that the total offensives in pros
pect are by no means embraced by the
North African operation but are enhanced
by that operation.
g. Tens of thousands of more men are
being transported from the United States
every month to strengthen the fighting
fronts and to support the holding bases
in every part Of the world
4. The United States by decision of
the White House, intends to put the up
building Of the armed forces ahead Of
every other manpower priority.
S. Preparing for the offensives which
Mr.. Roosevelt more than limited to cor
respondents Tuesday afternoon, the Arneri-
can Army will be doubled in size during
the coming IL months and the armed
forces of the United States will total about
9,700,000 men by the end of 1913.
6. There is now no doubt but that the
Army and Navy will have the 10 and 10
| year olds with which to invest its forces
| with greater numbers and greater vigor.
7. AS if to sum it all up, the United
| Press carries censor-approved dispatch
from London which reports that an Allied
spokesman, broadcasting to France, said:
"Frenchmen will be told and told soon
when the moment for a general uprising
| has arisen.''
The invasion of North Africa, which Mr..
Drummond views more as curtain raiser
than the principal drama, is also a test Of
United States and Britain's striking power. 1,
is proving that the military leadership Of both
countries is capable Of planning great ven.
lures and executing them successfully. Il
is not too optimistic to think that what has
been started in Africa can be completed in
Europe, say, within year, the time depend
ing in part upon the speed with which up
risings in conquered countries can be imple
mented and German home morale cracked
The next calendar year could see the enc
of the war in Europe. There is no reason
however, to assume that the war in the Pacific
can be brought to a successful conclusion a!
quickly. It will require the combined nava
power Of America and Britain in addition tt
their united air and military forces to brinl
Japan to its knees.
Il -V