Evening star., 1943-08-10
Davis Says Germany
Cannot Be Defeated
By Bombing Alone
Asserts Decisive Victory
Must Be Won by
Ground Forces

Following a three-week tour of
the European war theater, Elmer
Davis, director of the Office of
War Information, is convinced
that Germany cannot be beaten
by air raids alone, but must be
defeated decisively on the ground
before the European war will
end.
Mr.. Davis told a press conference
yesterday there was little doubt that
large-scale air attacks had seriously
injured Nazi production and morale.
He pointed out, however. that
large number of German Army di-
visions were still intact and ex-
pressed the conviction this land
army must be beaten decisively.
This defeat, he added, may be in
hicted by the Russians in the east
or combined British and American
forces somewhere on the continent.
Asked If he believed there would
be a second front" soon, Mr.. Davis
said he expected third front
to be opened, though he did not
specify where Or when. The Allies
have pretty good second 'front.'
already operating in the Mediter-
ranean, he added.
Il don't think Germany can be
beaten from the inside entirely"
said Mr.. Davis, commenting on the
effect on Nazi morale of the air
poundings. Everybody agrees the
bombing of Germany will have an
enormous effect of ending the war
more quickly, but the experts don't
believe bombing alone can do it,
Mr.. Davis described as pretty
dubious" the reports that the Nazi
war effort had been taken from
Hltler's hand by military trium-
vlrate headed by Reichmarshal Her.
man Goering.
If the reports are true, I don't
know what good it would do" the
Owl director said. He pointed out,
smlhngly, that such a move would
mean we would no longer have
advantage OF Hitler's intuitions."
Hitler's particular genius" bull
doing, was useful at Munich and
IN the early days of the war when
the Germans were sweeping all be-
Tor them, Mr.. Davis said. He added
that Hitler's talents had outlived
their usefulness.
MIR. Davis said he was impressed
greatly by what he saw of Amer
ica's armed might in Europe.
IF everybody could see the United
States in action in foreign parts all
would feel well satisfied with the
job this country is doing" Mr..
Davis declared. ITO see the fin
1shed products of our efforts, the
tremendous outpouring of men.
guns, planes and tanks, is certainly
impressive. 1t is like a great lava
how, and I think the opposition will
fnd 1t just about as hard to STOP"
Mr. Davis said he inspected owl
outposts in Iceland, London and
North Africa and was convinced
the agency was doing IAN excellent
JOB" Gen. Dwight Eisenhower
spoke highly of owl activities in
the field, he added.
The incident which occurred in
his absence in which Owl referred
to Victor Emmanuel in a foreign
broadcast as "the moronic little |
king" was described by Mr.. Davis
as unfortunate. Despite this Incl
dent, he said owl was doing a
good job and following closely the
policy OF the State Department and
leaders. He said the broad
cast drew very little reaction in
London.
Mr.. Davis branded as lies" the
charges made that Owl does not
follow policy and that the agency
is filled with Communists. He de-
scrlbed the charges as "old stories"
and said he thought he had answer
ed them finally already.