The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-11-12
LET'S CONTAIN OURSELVES

LET'S CONTAIN OURSELVES
From the dark continent comes bright news Rom.
rePs forces have been smashed and appear to be in
olmost ponicky retreot Any attempts they may
make to stand at natural borrers short Of coastal
strong points, would not seem promising
Meanwhile, far in their rear, large American fore.
es ormed to the teeth With the most deadly Of modern
equipment, taking over the French northern COL
onies with minimum Of resistance. Soon, it seems,
the axis forces will be crushed ito extinction between
the jews Of wise.
Moreover in their haste to get away, the Ger.
have left their Italian allies without food water
fuel or ammunition This might indicate any of sew
eroI things, Of which is possibility that those
necessities have become virtually non-existent in axis
iAfrico by reason Of United Nations blockade Of SEQ
lanes At any rote, the ItoIions can hardly be ex-
pected to love the Nozs any for this codbood-
ed desertion.
All OF that is nightly encouraging. 1t has been
50 long since we have had really good war news thot
we hardly be blamed for feeling that this is our
night to howl.
But we have had enough cruel lessons to make US
remember that pride goeth before destruction, and
an naughty spirit before fall.
There is q tendency on the part Of some connrnen-
totors to that the war now is nearing an end
victorious for U.s. We must not let enthusiasts de-
ceve This is only the first upward step, and the
rnounton top lies SO for above thot as yet we can
not see it through the dark clouds.
Let's assume thot present operations are conclud.
ed with speedy success, so that soon we hold all Of
North Africa unopposed Let US assume thot we des-
stroy or mmobize the Viohy fleet; that we find
It possible to transport all the troops and armament
and munitions and other supplies we wish from Emo
land and America to this potential invasion base.
Then what? Then, soy the exuberont connen-
totors oflore with innpetuous hope we leap across
the Mediterranean, conquer the unenthusostc ItoI-
ions in few weeks, march to Gernnony squeeze the
Nozis between the Russons and an AngIo-Amercon
second 'front.' and plant the United Nations standards
unter den Linden.
Swell. if we can do it, But let's be realistic
Emphasis must be the longtime feoture We
must not forget thot the Ito|ons little as they seem
to have heart for this war; still possess substantial
nuisance value once we land on their home SOIL
We must remember that Noz defects thus far
have been far from home; thot any military nation
fights best when invaded; thot just as Hter's VIC
tories became thinner as his military lifeline extended,
when become the invaders will be our lifeline
that stretches and his that tehtens up
TIME TO BEGIN REAPIkG
There has been criticism Of our policy toward Vic
ny France Thot policy rested upon gamble. One
element in the gonnbIe it be disclosed was the
hope thot by over-toIeronce we could convince the
French people Of our deep sympathy against the
time when we might come to their deIiveronce with
orrnies.
Thot time may be close. tThot is logic; the high
command hos not told u.s. Soon we shall see wheth.
er we have helped the French to salvage the sef-re.
spect and fighting spirit to refuse to heed their oxs
controlled government when it seeks to make them
resist our efforts to free them from Slavery
- STEA SMITH
- tire before election GeroId L. K. Smith, fos-
independent candidate for the u S. Sem
& otpnsd 10 drive from Detroit to Kalamazoo
~ hour to see whether Leon Henderson
k - r. yAkhjoon