Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-03
Double BIi+z
Expected in
Next s Weeks
Near East and Caucasus
Prepared for Attack
BY PAUL MALLON

By PAUL MALLON
WASHINGTON, March B.
w Heavy movements of
troops and material have been
observed going from Germany
through Rumania into the
Ukraine.
Despite the Nazi gossip about
General Rommel being removed
from Libya 10 the Russia front,
stronger Nazi firepower is also
being built up on the south
shores Of the Mediterranean.
NaZi transports are stealing
frequently out of Greek ports
and down into Bengazi
These two noticeable ventures
are linked together in the minds
of authorities here who have
thus been led to expect a dual
spring blitz on the Near East
a straight blow at Egypt and
the SueZ. coupled with a swing
ing are down through the Cau-
caSus.
DOMMEL Will have 10 move
~ fast if he Is going to fulfill
the implications of his SubStan-
tial rCintorCementS.
SandstormS have held him up
re Gently. Temporarily bad
weather has kept his planes on
the ground and practically
blinded him. He has been unable
10 observe disposition of the
British forces. AS no fifth col
umniStS are available in that
desert battle-ground, he must de-
pend for observation entirely
upon his air force.
But the storms should soon
clear. The season for them does
not usually begin until the
devastating heat starts the lat
ter teEApril- or May. -
After that operations must be
restricted. but Rommel still has
about six weeks in which TO use
the strength being piled up on
his front.
GOOD spring fighting weather
" will not come to the Ukraine
until after this six weeks period
is over. so the northern drive is
not expected to operate stimuli
taneouSly.
Indeed, some things have been
h appening on the northern
Russian front TO cause doubt as
TO whether Hitler'S fanatical
energies can be spared for this
move 10 encircle the Black Sea
by moving around Turkey.
All is not well with the Ger
man plan of defense in the
north. Hitler wanted TO hold GER
tain positions at all costs. He
wanted TO obtain certain Objec-
tiveS with counterattacks. In
both efforts he has been unSuc-
ceSSful.
The Reds are driving in now
upon his so-called line of defense
in-depth. They are pushing
down from Staraya. Russo. to-
ward the Latvian border to such
an extent that it is now appar-
cnt to all Hitler's calculations
have been seriously upset.
4 DEVASTATING Red cam
"a paign into the heart of
Germany itself has for the first
time become conceivable as
result of the Nazi defense line
being edged out of desired posi-
lions. No one is claiming such
vague possibility as prospect
yet. Even Stain has never
hoped for as much Of this in his
public utterances.
1t all depends on how much Of
a force Hitler has maintained in
reserve in. the North. to what
extent he has gambled by de-
pleting his home armies in prep
aration for his threat to the
Near East oil fields. how much
he is leaving in France and
Norway TO meet inVaSionS by
the British, which Berlin news
papers are saying they expect.
Certainly he will have to draw
some troops from the Southern
front if the Northern Russian
winter fails him as an ally.
THE swinging pendulum Of eX-
l. pectations egarding the
Near East $ tops now at the
opinion that Hitler intends TO
surround Turkey with his gigan-
tic pincerS. but not invade it.
II is now though he will not
try TO move through Turkey un-
less his alternative plan fails. If
il works, Turkey will be within
his grasp anyway.
His pressure on Spain too,
seems relaxed lately.
STRANGELY, few authorities
- here seem to agree with the
Berlin newspapers in eXpecta-
ton Of British invasion of the
continent. Raids in force are
certain 10 increase (like the Fri
day Sortie of the parachute
troopS). But there seems TO be
4 l. IL.