The Wilmington morning star., 1942-11-16
interpreting
The War
BY EDWARD F po,,,

1 y
North Africa and the fight for '4c'
solomons, it appears from ne
days dispatches, have rasol . yle
new critical stages. "''''
In North Africa what takes n,..
this second week seems HkpI. p.'ve
determine in substantial mea,,.,V ~
the long range success or fsIn
OF the vast venture which w., wa
launched so favorably. "'S
In the Solomons, the Nsyv.s l..
est communique lifted little ot ,S' ,S
suspense felt since the first na1 ~V
came of the determined Japano'ss "s
attempt to take advantage of Nv
disclosure that much of or sa ae
power was committed thousan".
Of miles away. l4'
Anxiety of official 'Wasbirn..
and London over the course wi u.
events of the next few dayx u :.
centered on North Africa rs
Solomons fight is similarly h.
clouded by uncertainties but th. M
land and air defenders OF Gnada'
canal are stronger than ever marr
earlier major sea assaults hayo
been beaten off, and the Nsvv w
ports that the japanese naval
forces are scattered, hence tbs
main enemy invasion force NAV
already have been turned back
If the promise of initial triumpA,
in North Africa is fully realized
tine Allied spearhead under Brihsb
Lieutenant General Anderson nns
win quickly its race with an M
creasing Axis holding force, large.
ly airborne, to seize Tunisia.
Possibly of equal importance j,
prompt settlement of the involv,
ed political situation so as 10 per
nit establishment of a Friendly
stable French regime which would
free American and British troops
from the necessity of imposing
military rule over the Colonial TN,
pire.
Involved also in the political
crisis is the fate of Dakar with
all their possession of this KEY
port and the remainder Of mid,
Africa would mean to the United
Nations by shortening and safe.
guarding the long air and sea route
to the Middle East and India
Much of the present phase Of
the North African campaign is
obvious, but in the confusion Of
fast breaking developments will
bear recapitulation.
Immediate prize in the race for
Tunisia is the air fields, wAere
Nazi transport planes have been
landing troops from Sicily, less
than 100 miles distant, and along
with the fields the port cities Of
Bjzerte and Tunis where the foe
may have managed to put ashore
some reinforcements from surface
craft as well.
Once these are in Allied hands,
Italian Tripoli would be the last
and shaky Axis foot-hold on The
African continent, and closing OF
the trap of the remnants of Rom
mels desperate army could hard
ly fail.
The pause that preceded EiSen'
hower's announcement that Allied
forces had pushed eastward over
the Tunisian frontier from Algeria
is explained largely by the MIL
tary necessity of setting up opeEai'
ing air fields at Bone, Philippe
vile and elsewhere to permit Co.
ordination of air with land forces
These bases require bringing up
of anti-aircraft and othed defenses'
along with vast supplies OF gaSo
line, ammunition and other mum
tions.
Through strange combinaa@
cf circumstances, Admiral Dafla
has emerged as the key TO Il'
political crisis. AS the represeh,s'
tive of Marshal Petain and 'De
V1chy regime which retains
somewhat puzzling vitality OH!
Darlan seems to WELD authori3
which all the chief French COW
NAL commanders are ready to ac'
cept.
If Darlan gives the word tnefs
is hope that strongly delella.0
Dakar will fall into our hands wiz,
out a struggle, just as Fre9Vn M
Morocco ceased resistance on ln'
order. l.,
On the Admiral's influence aEg
hinges what part will be playeu
bv the French garrison OF lAA''s
General Giraud, of whom mut"
was hoped at the outset, mas w
ccme subordinate and Geheio
de Gaulle appears destined 10 w w
Kept out of the picture for the 'lH'
being to prevent added coniuSlO"
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lCivi1ian Defense