The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-08
~. S. Striking
Big Blow

CONTINUED from Page u
are beaten into complete submits
sion"
Marshall dwelt enthusiastically
and ct length upon Allied use OF
air power. His statement on that
subject appeared highly significant
In view Of the current debate In IN
transitional political circles as 70
whether Anglo-American armies
should launch an immediate offen-
sive in western Europe to match
that OF Russia In the east.
"The combined American British
bomber offensive against the conti-
nent Of Europe" he said, to-day
gives promise Of being decisive
factor In the ultimate destruction
Of the German Citadel
'"The objective Of the combined
bomber offensive Is the elimination
Of both +he German ability and will
to continue to wage war"
The Allies, Marshall indicated,
intend to use their superior
forces efficiently, avoiding prodigal
waste.
Strength Declining
1.-THE strength Of the enemy Is
steadily declining" he said, while
the combined power Of the United
Nations Is rapidly increasing, more
rapidly with each succeeding
month.
"There can be but one result,
and every resource we possess Is
being employed TO hasten the hour
Of victory without undue sacrifice
Of the lives Of our men,"
The U. s. Army, Marshall said, is
reaching the end Of its expansion,
and the time has come when 1t Is
possible to reduce many training
installations to q maintenance and
replacement basis, lengthen the
basic training period for soldiers,
and extend the training period for
officers. In the two years covered
in his report, Marshall said, the
army's strength jumped from 1,443,-
900 officers and men to about T.
100000. The air forces share In this
total is 1920 officers and 100000
men.
Perhaps the most important and
significant single Allied action Of
the war to date, he said, was the
prompt establishment Of complete
unity Of action, notably In North
Africa where United Nations forces
were welded together under Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Marshall's report did not deal
with the Sicilian or italian opera
tons but gave this generalized pic
ture Of the world wide war picture:
Enemy Driven Out
Across the Atlantic the enemy
has been driven from North Africa,
and Europe has been encircled by
constantly growing military pow
err.
1.-THE Russian army, engaging two
thirds Of the German ground forces
and one-third Of the German air
fleet In deadly and exhausting COM
bat, has dispelled the legend Of in
vincibility Of the German panzer
divisions.
THE British isles are stronger
than ever before and a new France
Is arising from the ashes Of 1910.
"Strategically, the enemy In Eu-
rope has been reduced to the de-
fensive and the blockade Is COM
plete.
I'm the Pacific the Japanese are
being steadily elected, or rather
eliminated, from their conquered
territory. rtf
I'm the south and southwest Pa
cific our progress has
been accompanied by q terrific de-
Struction Of enemy planes and sur
face vessels.
Appalling Problem
"This attrition must present an
appalling problem for the enemy
high command the destruction
Of their airpower and shipping con-
tinues on an increasing and truly
remarkable scale"
Marshall said the Coral sea and
Midway victories won by Allied
forces and two major Japanese mis-
calculations assured Allied victory
In the Pacific.
The Japanese enormously ex.
pected the Russian army to coll
lapse, thus adding to Allied burdens
In Europe, and expected to conquer
the Philippines much sooner than
they did, he said, adding that the
battles Of Bataan and Corregidor
upset the Japanese timetable and
-