Evening star., 1942-03-22
By Blair B0Hes.

| now that at least one member Of each
fishing boat crew was employed in naval
espionage, making charts and observa-
tions.
From now until the defeat Of Japan,
Gen. Macarthur will rely in great part
on the American Navy to keep open the
long line of supply across the Pacific to
Australia. The United, States has sent
a special lease-lend mission to Australia
to step up the war production Of Austria
liam factories, but one great problem
there is the complete lack of natural oil
The appointment Of 1t. Gen. Joseph
w. Silwel, U. S. A., as commander of
the 5th and 9Th Armies in China is
corollary of Gen. MacArthur's installa-
ton in command in the Southwest Pa
cific. China is the land base nearest
Japan. India can serve as a training
base for armies and airmen to partici-
pate In the Chinese offensive against
Japan. Gradually the broad scheme of
Allied operations in the Far East be-
comes clear The geographical bases are
Australia. China and India The COM
manders are Macarthur, Wavell In India
and Chang Kai-shek in China
For the people of the Allied nations to
look today or even soon for major,
smashing United Nations offensive oper-
alton would only invite disappointment.
But the tide will turn against the Axis.
in the Far East and in Europe The
change Of prospect, which until recently
has been gloomy, comedies with the
coming of the third spring of World
War II.
Spring Is Invasion Season"
The spring of 1910 took the war to
Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Bel
gium and France. The spring of 194l
took the war to Yugoslavia, brought the
Axis mastery of Greece and provided
the season of decision in Berlin which
led to the attack on Russia the day after
spring ended. Spring, in other words,
has proved to be the invasion season.
What will the advent of spring of 1912
in the northern half of the globe mean?
There is one profound difference be-
tween this spring and its two predeces-
sors For the first time the Allies are in
a position to contemplate making the
first move on major scale. Until now
the Allies have had to guess where the
Axis will strike and make preparations to
thwart that stroke as best they could.
The Axis has had the strategic mastery
in the war. Slowly now they are losing
INf>
moves on land and sea in Northern
Europe.
The foremost factor in the changing
balance of power which is developing is
the presence of the United States and
Russia in the war. Both of these powers
were showed into the battle by the Axis.
When England gained the United States
as an ally, Germany gained Japan. But
the military and material weight of the
U. S. A. and the U. S. S. r. in time will
effectively offset any advantage for
Germany in having Japan on her side,
no matter what early successes Japan
has accomplished, if the United Nations
carry through with their production and
supply programs.
Military Views Changing.
1t is still question whether the Allies
will consider themselves in a position to
strike at Europe in a real offensive this
spring, although Allied political and
military leaders are emphasizing day
after day that the offensive is the thing.
A great change has come over Allied
thinking since the robins songs marked
the winters end last year. Then the
paramount idea was protecting areas
from attack Now the idea is to attack.
The philosophy that inspired the Magi-
not Line is dead.
1t is certain, however, that the Axis
will strike. The Germans have to fight
an offensive war for variety Of mill
tary. economic and psychological rea-
sons. Where will they 60?
British Intelligence u almost sure that