Detroit evening times., 1943-08-09
Tbs
War Today
Defeat oHAKies
Averted byWisest
OF Strategic Acts
Nv MAJ. PAUL c. RABoRG
Notsd Military AHsl't
Nrttea Especially for l,NS,

By MAJ IAlL - hNbONp
Not.d military Auslyst
Nnusa Especially for ms.
THE DECISIVE strategic ac-
complishments OF the United
Nations in the last year are
nothing short Of amazing. The
great leaders of the demOcra-
cies have been ever-wiSe and
more than far-seeing.
The high command and staff
has been made UP Of the finest
professional military officers,
who have been left free 10 put
, into execution the plans of the
leaders.
Much has been written and
said in regard 10 fighting the
war in the west before we un-
dertook all-out offensives in the
Far East. In this matter the
heads Of the United Nations had
no choice. The war in the west
had TO be fought first
NOT MANY persons have
realized that the entire global
war rested originally on two
cornerstones. II at any time the
enemy had acquired control Of
those cornerstones, the Axis
..,-,,lL .ttlv, The xHrar
Number one cornerstone and
Of greatest Importance was
naval control Of the water high
ways of the world. From the be-
ginning. in spite Of the awful
submarine offensive. the British
navy successfully held the wa
ter highways OF the west.
BY gentlemen's agreement,
prior 10 the entry OF the United
States into the war, the u. S.
Navy held the water highways
of the Far East. Without the
water highways of the world,
the armed forces OF the democ-
racies could not have been sent
20 and supplied at the four COR
ners OF the earth.
THE SECOND great corner
stone, which is now entirely
safe, was the Middle East. Had
that area fallen. three conti-
nents would have siInultane-
ously fallen-Europe, Asia and
Africa.
Just a year ago this month,
the Axis armed forces in the
west were pounding ahead in a
great pincer drive TO capture
the Middle East and then drive
on and join hands with the
japanese.
Popular opinion thought that
Hitler's armies in Russia were
after the grain of the Ukraine,
Stalingrad and the oil Of the
Caucasus. They were, but only
as secondary detectives.
The main objective of Hitler's
armies was TO cross over the
Caucasus and then in Iraq or
Iran join forces with the over
rated Marshal Rommel. A year
ago this month they were close
TO that accomplishment.
THE ADVANCING Nazi
hordes were stopped. then
thrown back, and then the
great strategic wedge was
driven across North Africa
which not only separated Hitler
from that continent but from
the entire Western Hemisphere.
Then the Nazi and Fascist
plague was surrounded and iso-
lated. and next the walls OF
fortress Europe were preached
by the invasion of Sicily.
In the Far East the Japanese
war lords attempted to continue
their conquest of the Dutch
East Indies by driving south
through the Solomons TO where
they could cut our sea line Of
supply from Hawaii TO Aus
. tralia.
Macarthur had 10 stop that
southwark drive. A year ago
this month. he drove his wedge
at Gusdalcanal, regardless Of
the strength OF his command.
He couldn't wait. The wedge
held.
BUT NOW we come 20 an
other great popular misconcep-
ton. Even though we had 20
fight Hitler's gang first, Hiro-
hito's warriors were and always
have been, far more danger
Gus and deadly enemy.
The United Nations have not
even tasted what war is going
10 mean with our fanatical Jap
enemies. We have not assaulted
a single objective in the Far
East. as yet, which is vital 10
the existence Of the new Japa-
nese empire.
When we do, then there will
be combat which will make the
fighting in the west fade by
comparison.