The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-01


 Offensive strength from Amerce now is pumping into the scattered battlefronts of the world IL is fell against tsle enemy spearhead on tho sweltering beaches of the Solomans tt is maSSing on the hot Egyptian desert at Fl Alamein, It is striking 5y the skies over western Europe and it is bolstering the Red Army with machines before Stelingrad.
 But we have made only the meag arest beginnings.
 A second front success and al aat means is up to America prob. ably to an extent far greater thar we realize at home. It is up to us whether the lifeblood of the Allies men, tanks guns and planes - pours into the worldwide system of war arteries in a stream vast and steady enough to seize and hold the Initiative.
 GrimmcSt Year of War
 This may well prove the grimmest year of the war. It would be foolish to suggest that the tide of conflict Is going to turn suddenly toward us or that the lessons of Dieppe point to anything except how tough the going will be. But the British, after showing they are able to take it, now are waking up to the sacrifice and effort required if they are to go all out. They hope America, toe is waking up.
 Because this is a frontline capital and because it's people are front line people 1t may be possible to assay the stern anniversary from the van tage point of the British Isles.
 The British frankly are fed up with a losing war. They are not war weary. On the contrary they are firIner and more determined than ever to accept only complete victory. But the fury that marked their stand against the blitz as well as the inspiration that speeded up the factories in order to aid Russia has now died down.
 They lack inspiration for the mo- ment; something that will inspire that still unwritten war song for which London has waited for three years.
 Experienced American observers touring Britain have remarked that the people are stale = like fighter who hasn't had fight for too long And American trainer knows the answer to that get into the ring and fight. That's what must be done, probably with an American general in command, some time dur tng the next 12 months.
 Enough Defensive War
 As the party of the first part in the democracies contract to lquidate the Axis, the British have had enough of defensive warfare. From the viewpoint of daily life = side from the blitz they have had an easy time compared with the Rus ssans, the Germans and the people fthe occupied countries. IL hasn't been as easy as in America but noth- ing now compares with the worst phase of the first World War.
 Bread and Macaroni in Britain today are brokn instead of white The once green and idle fields are yellow with grain. Crowds wait in line for busses and prices - except for necessities - have scared. But these are mere inconvenience con- pared with what's ahead.
 The blodoy sacrifices of the com lng year won't all be made on dis. tant fronts. The Allies closest tC \ Berlin must steel themselves to pay Akhe price in what they know i, going to be long costly job. The British are impatient to get or with it.
 Berlin Is Not Told
 Naturally, the leaders are not tell, ing Berlin whasfe and how-but pos sibly there's some significance il that fact that at the moment publi, agitation for an immediate invasion of Europe is less strident.
 There are other battle-ground than Europe, of course. And in re, cent days attention has been turned to Africa where the armies of Lieut. Gen. Harold Alexander and Marsha Erwin Rommel seem almost read! for another round of the gruellinl desert war.
 Should Alexander win that battli and start the Axis back to the Wes for the third time since the Afri can fighting started there is soml belief that the time might be rip for a grand Allied attack whicl would be designed to clear the Axis A.out of Africa.
 Mhat might mean action in west eFn Africa, too, where the strategic port of Dakar faces across the mar r0wed portion of the South Atlantic toward the Brazilian bulge. Snei 6eeVlopments might bring a fina American showdown with Vichy ana a chance for a new military military show.
 On the highways and byways ol Britain today American uniforms are seen ln increasing numbers, em' phasizing the confidence Of the Al Aed high command in a program Of steadily intensified aerial and eom' mando 0ffensiYevg until the day fol 4lae actual European second front,
 The Americans in Britain are eHeeIlenfly equipped. They are lay fnR down the groundwork for a Waek armed force. But there is a distorted idea in Britain as well aa America regarding the forces available for various tasks,
 Dor instance, announcements ol tlo arrival Of large American cons #ngs give the man in the street llla impression Of enormous troop msnVements. The same thing was nEnatnd bv the first announcementl o4 khe Americans in action iH X1aeppe.
 As matter of fact the flow ol American forces ie somewhat bette. iann Ind been expected but auth critics are most eager toa or sei seh wildly optimistic FuInofs as e.e wlsIrh spread through q group nf informed reports recently thal avefai thousand American bono &s# had arrived n the British fslea
 matfIe wf Atlantic 1f Ahe second European fEoat ' afad until spKina. Eha AAkies sS'