The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-09-03
EZZZZZZZ0Z.ZZZ
How Long Will War Last?
Answer Remains in Doubt
Successful American Offensive Result Of
Thorough Planning; Two Possibilities
May Alter Picture in Russia.
BY BAUKHAGE
Ne,us Analyst and Commentator.
WNU Features, 134s H Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C.

Ne,Us analyst q
WNU Features, 134s H Street, N. w.,
Washington, D. C.
How long will the war last?
Two things have happened in the
last weeks which have made people
ask that question again even II the
answer remains as deep in the mire
Of speculation as "
The first event is the significant
passing of the first milestone on the
road to Tokyo. On the little islands.
and about Tulagi harbor which Brit
ish Admiral Jellicoe in the last war
said contained the finest natural har-
Dor in the world, the marines landed
and now have the situation well in
hand.
The first American offensive in
the wal was accomplished. not with
out losses but with success and as
q result Of a plan worked out nearly
five months ago. It was a surprise
attack and yet there were many In
Washington who guessed that some
thing was about to pop in the Pacific.
They did not know what. They didn't
have any idea that it would be on the
scale Of the battle Of the Solo
mons. But for a full week before
1t took place. I found great interest
In certain quarters in the activities
Of the japanese in those islands.
The people I talked with probably
didn't know what the navy was plan
ning-they were not naval officers
but they did know that the Japs
we're busy as bees completing a fine
airield on Guadalcanal and getting
ready to prepare other complete in
%stallations on the nearby islands,
especially developing and protecting
the Tulagi harbor for a submarine
base.
Also, Japanese forces there would
be too near the island Of New Gale
donia, on which American forces are
stationed, for comfort. New Gale
donia is much further south, oppo-
site the western coast Of Australia.
I mentioned this activity Of the jap
anese in the Solomons on the air
more than once, right up to the eve
Of the battle. and nobody ques-
toned my script mean there was
no question from the censor. Per-
haps ever the censor wasn't in on
the secret! Anyhow the blow was
just about to be struck. It was
struck and it may near the turning
point in the battle Of the Pacific.
So much on the credit side.
Russian Picture
But in the same weeks which saw
this achievement of American arms.
the Russian picture began to I'm.
fold as darkly as the pessimists
pictured it. The story of the cam
paign Of the Caucasus is not yer
yet, but the Nazi armies have car
ried on so far at a tempo beyond
that which even the pessimists did
not calculate upon.
Two things may brighten the Rus
sian picture: The sudden appear
ance on the northern fronts Of a
mysterious army Of red reserves
which some believe have been hid
den in the long shadows that cloak
all Of Russia's war plans. Second.
the revelation of much greater
losses on the part Of the Germans
than are evident at this writing.
Based on developments to date,
however. Washington hopes for
a short war;" as n military man
put it to me. but is preparing for
a long one" I suppose a short one
would be defeat Of Hitler by 1914
a long one. any longer than that,
with the fighting in the Far East
to continue still longer. and then
the indefinite period when United
Nations troops will have to patrol
the world to keep a semblance of
order.
The reasons for these prognosti-
cations are: first. the fact that Hit
Ter now has food and oil in his grip;
second, with a strong German army
in control Of the Caucasus and Rus.
sia's chief area Of raw materials
and war industries cut of. the Red
army ear be Of no positive military
assistance to the United Nations.
(Unless those mythical reserves
turn up.)
This means that Germany cannot
be broken by blockade; that a pow.
erful expeditionary force will have
to defeat Hitler's armies.
More Predictions
Speaking of predictions there have
been many Of late concerning the
war and a number have been gath
cred together in a very readable $50
page book called Prophets and
B r FS .