The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-08-27
WNU Features, 1343 H Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C.

V3NO 1CdtuICS, 1910 n OtTcet, N. w.,
Washington, d. C.
Just at the time when Washington
was anxiously awaiting news of the
battle Of the Solomon islands and
the reports from Russia seemed to
grow worse by the hour, the curtain
was pulled back for a little group
here and they were shown a dis
turbing picture of the mind of the
common man in Russia.
I say the picture was disturbing.
To those who read between the lines
it seemed to reveal the possibility
that the United Nations were about
to lose the sympathy if not the
material support Of the single Ally
which has been able to engage the
Axis effectively.
Not only the common man in Rus
STA, but everybody from Stain
down, divides sharply with the ma
jority Of United Nations military
opinion about a second front. That
split Of opinion it was made plain,
may affect not only u military
relations with Russia, but postwar
relations as well. Naturally the
Axis is promoting such disunity.
Briefly the two views are these:
The Allied s~trategists say Inva-
sion Of the European continent now
might mean another Dunkirk. An.
other Dunkirk would be worse for
the Allied cause than to let Russia
continue alone as she is now doing.
The Russian common man, &C.
cording to the analysis Of this mind
to which I referred above, says: If
you do not divert Nazi soldiers from
the eastern front Russia cannot hold
out. We have sacrificed greatly.
Except for a few divisions in Egypt
which are not fighting (at this writ
ing) no Allied soldiers are attacking
Hitler's armies except us.
We have died by the thousands, if
not millions, making last-ditch
stands that gave you time to pre-
pare. Why should you be unwilling
to die, too, even if you cannot be
Immediately successful with an in
vasion to save US now, and, as a
result, save yourselves later on?
Russia's Opinion
That seems to be the Russian rea-
soning. 1t is understood that after
the Molotov visit to the United
Cfofoc opH tho NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. - A..
Anglo-Russian pact, that hopes ran
high in the bosom Of the ordinary
Russian. Since then nothing has
happened-except the victorious adj
vance Of the German armies which
now either hold the richest parts Of
Russia in their grip or bar them
from the rest Of the country.
This attitude has become evident
and supposedly wellinformed OBJ
servers predict that the disappoint-
ment IN the part Of the general
Russian public will have a bad ef-
feet on the morale Of the Russian
army.
There are. Of course, advocates in
high places in the American gov
eminent as well as in Britain. for
the opening Of a second front. But
even If the American high strate-
gists were unanimous on this SUBJ
ject they would have to defer to
Great Britain since the brunt Of an
invasion at this time would have to
be borne by British troops.
OF course. it must be realized that
the Russians IN their side and the
British and Americans on theirs are
each thinking to some degree in
terms Of their own welfare, as well
as in terms of the common objective
defeat Of the enemy. But there
may be also a philosophical differ
ence. American and British officers
have been trained in a school which
makes them hesitate to sacrifice
men in what seems a futile effort,
that is an effort which they are not
sure has at least a greater chance
of success than of failure. The Rus
slams have shown that they are quite
willing to die even when they know
that they are already beaten and
further resistance, although it takes
greater toll Of enemy lives, cannot
he c,,ccecsfu1