Evening star., 1943-07-21
Sicily Invasion Seen
By Gen. McNaughfon
As Warning 10 Japan
BY JOHN GUNTHER,


ings is the evidence they provide
that the Allies are now capable of
striking with tremendous efficiency
and force on any front.
ct was announced officially at
Allied headquarters in North
Africa last night that Gen. Nc
Naughton had been to the Sicilian
front and had returned to North
Africa. Mr.. Gunther's dispatch
carried no date.)
This correspondent, who is the
only American newspaperman at
tached to this advance headquarters,
got q sharp impression that the
veteran Canadian general spoke with
Japan in mind. In fact Gen. Nc
Naughton said our invasion OF
Europe, began so auspiciously by the
Sicilian operation, is certain to dam
age the morale of the japanese as
well as the Germans and Italians,
since the Japs now know we can
marshal overwhelming pressure to
bear on any place, at any time, from
the four corners of the earth.
Proud of Canadians.
Gen. McNaughton naturally Is
proud of the part played in Sicily by
his Canadians, whom he has care
fully nurtured and expertly trained
for the past several years in England
Just as there is an underlined and
unfortified boundary for 5000 miles
between the United States and Can
ada, SO in Sicily today there is
common front between Americans
and Canadians fighting side by side.
The first impression gained from
the interview with Gen. McNaugh-
ton was that everybody seems to be
delighted at the way things are
moving and satisfied that every
thing is according to plan and, If
anything, ahead Of schedule. Speak
ing particularly of the Canadians,
Gen. McNaughton said:
TT was a pretty remarkable feat.
We assembled our force on plans
worked out in England and Africa.
Very few officers had any personal
contact and there was very little
conversation.
when plans were transmitted to
us in England we went to work.
Landings had to be scheduled, vari-
Gus craft waterproofed and every
thing loaded so the right stuff
would be on top and come out first.
The ships were marshaled in perfect
order; they made the correct rem
devious to the minute; they carried
out intricate maneuvers as planned,
and they landed on the right beaches
at the right time.
II call it a marvellous avhieve-
ment."
The operation as a whole, Gen.
McNaughton said, was the most per-
feet example of combined operations
the world had ever seen. Co-ordi-
nation and cooperation started
with Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
and his staff, went down through
the various commands of the land,
sea and air forces, and reached
every man in every theater.
What wonderful augury for the
future" the general exclaimed.
What's more, he proceeded, cor
relation had been remarkable Ca
nadians never served in this theater
before, but there has been no diff
fculty whatever in fitting them into
the general picture. The whole SyS-
TEN has proved most flexible when
''our troops were complete strangers
to Africa, yet there was no friction,
no sIpup, no difficulty in the staff
organization or system of COM
mand"
Had Three Impressions.
The general, asked to summarize
his impressions, said he had three
things In mind:
First, the operation gave me a
sense of the tremendous power we
have-that plus disciplined nerves.
That's the chief thing to say.
Second, I want to pay tribute to
the quality and equipment. Some
of us remember the early phases of
the war when equipment was most
notable for its absence or the fact
it was out of date. Now that former
situation is well behind us. Keen
new minds in the United States and
Canada have been at work on new
methods of fighting the war. Much
credit is due to the National Re
search Council at Washington"
Gen. McNaughton mentioned in
detail two items of equipment which
are still secret, then talked of one
weapon that may be mentioned, the
Sherman MA tank This, he said
was produced in the United States
with the cooperation Of Canada
and includes the British type tur-
ret. It Is now universally acclaimed
as the best tank ever seen.
Equipment Problem Being Solved.
THE unending struggle for equip
ment is being won not only in guam
tity and quality, but as regards the
factor of time. It's one thing to
have perfect weapon, but we must
have mass production, too. For this
We must look on and rely on the
great American continent"
Third, the general wanted to en-
phasize the factor of youth. Modern
war, fought with mechanical weap-
OIlS OH WlQe Variety Oh iTVltS, Qe-
mands field officers picked for
physical fitness and endurance. This
means that it is a young mans war
The general concluded that we
should recognize that this great
combined operation in Sicily repre-
sents the coordination Of four
forces, not merely three-land, sea
and air. The fourth is the civil ad-
ministration which follows the in
vasion and makes the occupation
work.
"I hope, that's enough" the gen.
eral concluded. I'm a factual sort
of bird. I don't suppose I'm break
ing any state secrets, but If so, the
censor can cut 'em out"
Our amiable and totally efficient
censor-in the room with us
winked.
PIon to Boost Ceiling