Evening star., 1943-04-25

The next few months may be the most
momentous of the war. Important mill
tary developments We are expecting may
be overshadoWed by political surprises.
The situation in nutshell is as fol-
lows: In the winter OF 1912, within a
few weeks after we entered the war, the
major strategy of the Allies was decided
on. 1t was then established that the
main task of the United Nations was to
crush Hitler by the concerted effort Of
the United States, Britain and Russia.
Only little headWay was made last
summer. Hitler was somewhat shaken
by his failure to pulverize the Russian
armies or to reach any of his major OBJ
jectives. The Russians were demanding
loudly that the American and British
troops invade Europe and thus force Hit
Ter to fight on two fronts.
This was not possible. We had just
entered the war; were still shaken by the
misfortunes in the Pacific and our indus
try required some time to become geared
for mass production. The Russians ac-
cepted grudgingly our explanations, al
though they were disgruntled over the
fact that the British alone had not at
tempted large-scale attack on Europe.
They spoke their minds without pulling
any punches-particular when Prime
Minister Churchill visited Premier Stain
In Moscow. President Roosevelts ennis
saries heard the same plain talk,
In order to show our determination to
defeat Hitler the African campaign was
decided on. Africa, in the opinion of the
American and British high commands, is
strategically part of Europe. 1t offers,
according to our own war planners, the
best places from which to jump into
Southern Europe But apparently this
view is not fully shared by the suspicious
Russians, who consider it as a mere side
show to assure Britain complete suprem-
acy of the Mediterranean during and
after the war.
Knew Stains Opinion.
The feelings of the Russian Premier
and his chief military advisers were we'll
known in Washington and London. A
meeting among the principal leaders of
the United Nations. President Roosevelt,
Prime Minister Churchill and Premier
Stain. was decided on to permit them to
discuss frankly the strategy for 1943 and
1914 on the same fundamental principles
which had been agreed on in Washington
in 1912. that is, the utter destruction of
Naziism.
Stain decided OF remain in the Krem-
lin and refused to attend the conference
or to send a military or diplomatic rep
resentative Ambassador Ivan Maisky
was in London and could have flown
across to Casablanca if for no other pur-
pose than to show to the world that the
three mainstays of the United Nations
were pulling together.
Stain does not believe in make
believe diplomacy He could not see
what Russia had to do at that con-
ference which was attended not only
by the keenest political minds of the
United States and Great Britain
MesSrs. Roosevelt, Churchill and Harry
Hopkins-but also by the chiefs of the
army, navy and air staffs or both
cCuntrier
His reaction to the invitation extended
to him was that the representatives of
the western powers were gathered for
another palaver. The chief aim. the
defeat of Hitler. had already been agreed
on in Washington 18 months earlier
The Russian Premier had to be shown
that this was not palaver-just another
spectacular conference. Definite pledges
Of
American and British forces would cross
the Atlantic or the Mediterranean or
both in such number as to force Hitler
to divert large portion of his armies
to resist the European invasion
Stain was satisfied with this pledge,
but wants to see it put into effect. The
military advisers of President Roosevelt
and Mr.. Churchill were all on hand at
Casablanca. Hence. it is assumed that
their technical knowledge was fully taken
advantage of by the American and Brit
ish leaders and that the formal pledge
which ensued was the result of serious
and careful consultations between the
civilian and the military.
Expect End by June IS.
The war in North Africa is progressing
satisfactorily. Some observers believe it
will be finished before June Is. the tenta-
tive schedule. To- us this first direct
contact of the American forces with
Germanys Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Is Of considerable Importance.
The British will be delighted that when
Iunlsla is captured the African CAM
palgn, which at one time threatened
their hold over Egypt and the Middle
East, will indeed be in their favor and
the concentration of forces in Syria and
Palestine will no longer be delayed be-
cause of the long around the-ca trim
which our merchantmen must make to
reach that potential theater of opera l.
tionS.
But Stain does not seem happy about
II. He does not see how this military
operation fits into the pledges given him
by the Allies. He continues to grumble.
The Nazis have sent about 10000 or
10000 men from their reserve pool to
strengthen the Rommel army and are
willing to sacrifice about 100000 Italians
In the holding operations in Tunisia.
But three or four divisions which are
supposed to have been dispatched from
Italy and France to Tunisia are a mere
drop in the bucket as far as the total
strength of the Nazi forces is concerned.
Moreover. within a few weeks aftersthe
formal pledges that Europe would be in
vaoed this year. the Nazis began to take
troops from the various European ter
ritories and rush them to the Eastern