Evening star., 1942-12-26
Second Front Opening
Is Ranked by A. P.
As Top AZ News Story
U. 5. Offensive, Russian
Stonds Placed in Second,
Third Positions
BY CHARLES HONCE,

The big news as 1912 closes is that
the United Nations are on the Of
fensive on virtually all fronts.
In Russia, in Africa, in the
Southwest Pacific-in the air, on
beginning to crowd the Axis in the
first real show of concerted global
strength.
A year ago only Russia had taken
the offensive at Rostov Elsewhere
the United Nations-far fewer than
today's 30-Were suffering series
Of tragic and humiliating defeats.
A year-spurred by the vast pro-
ductiveness Of America. the dogged
defense of Russia and British
block busting air raids-has seen
the tide turn.
Only One Story.
In a general sense there was only
one big story this year-the war.
Almost every happening of moment
was tied up directly or indirectly
with the main event. Likewise,
there were so many stories of an
important or dramatic nature that
even by telescoping and combining
it is impossible to fit them into a
formal 40 best" as in other years.
A dozen make very minimum.
Here is the news roll call for 1912
based on the selections Of A. P.
editors, over whose desks flow mil
lions of words week:
/. A second front" Is opened
(November D-At the very moment
discussion of a second front was at
white heat, the greatest amphibious
expedition in history, involving $50
ships, a vast American Army ac-
coutered with 100000 articles of
war was converging on North Africa
to make 1t a fact This invasion,
combined with Britain's smash Of
Rommel gives the United Nations
a springboard for European at
tack. North African aftermaths saw
Germany occupy the rest of France
and the scuttling of most of the
French Navy.
2. America takes offensive in Pa
cific-When the Navy released the
blood-chilling pictures and story of
Pearl Harbor, America already was
secure in the knowledge that the
sneak attack had been avenged,
that the Japanese had suffered a
series of disastrous defeats climaxed
by the destructive Solomons Islands
engagement November 1919 and
that American forces were on the
offensive on Guadalcanal and in
New Guinea. American victories in
the Coral Sea and Midway battles
were previous omens Of Pacific re-
covery.
8. Russia holds and counter
attacks-On September 80 Hitler
shouted that Stalingrad was a city
which we shall take; you may de-
pend on it." But the Fuehrer was
wrong again. The Verdun of World
War II held through four terrific
months of NaZi assault, and then
almost from it's battered buildings
came an amazing Russian offensive
that spread like wildfire along the
vast Russian front.
4. Japan carves out an empire
After mouthing about its greater
East India co-prosperity sphere for
years, Japan set out forcibly to win
1t, and did. In few short months
the Nipponese overran the whole of
the South Pacific and were batter
Ing at the gates Of Australia. High
spots IN this sweep Of conquests were
the fall Of strategic Singapore, the
stubborn American resistance at
Bataan and Gen. MacArthur's es-
cape to Australia.
5. Two party COVER nment
strengthened in United States
November ga favorite theme of
some alarmists was that American
two-party government was a dead
duck. Wall. the Republicans not
only came back in the off-year cleo
tions to greatly strengthen their
congressional power, but provided
evidence Of coming struggle.
8. Toxic is bombed april 49,
The Germans took President Roose-
welt strictly at his word when they
broadcast that Toxic had been
bombed by American planes based
on Shangri-La. And Shangri-La 1t
remains.
7. America Goes on Wartime Econ
omy-One cup of coffee a day per-
haps may epitomize Americas con-
version to a wartime basis, with
every citizen touched by vast sys-
tenn of price controls, wage stabili-
zation and rationfhg, accompanied
by looming taxes. An incidental
phase was the passing of the WPA.
8. Saboteurs Executed (Aug. 81
Six of eight Nazi saboteurs who
came ashore from German sub
marines, paid for their daring in
the electric chair In Washington,
to bring to . close one Of the most
extraordinary incidents Of the war.
8. Eddie Rickenbacker Rescued
tNov. ll--'T never lost faith and
knew he would be rescued" Those
vsre the words of Mrs. Eddie Rick.