Evening star., 1943-06-06

longer
We should learn to think clearly
on this subject because it is of the
greatest importance that We should
not expect too much and then suf-
fer the reaction Of disappointment.
1t is perhaps Of even more impor-
tance that the starving and suffer
ing pepoles Of occupied Europe
should not get the idea that the
day of immediate deliverance is
at hand and then have to realize
that it may vet be a long way off
and yet they must have some tan
gible sign that it is really coming.
These considerations as we'll as
the purely military aspects of the
question, must have been consid-
cred by MI. Roosevelt and Mr.
Churchill when they conferred in
Washington. and both of them must
have realized that some sort of
invasion of the European Cont
nent must be attempted within the
immediate future.
Many Divisions Required.
Yet it seems unlikely that this
Invasion can be directed toward OBJ
tanning an immediate military &C.
cision over Germany. Such an in
vasion would have to be carried out
by a force of from 40 to 60 di-
visions-that is. force able to deal
with the major part Of the German
strategic9l reserve.
Since it would have to be landed
at place where fighter cover could
be obtained, it is restricted, roughly
speaking, to the shoreline Of West
ern Europe. from the mouth Of
the Scheldt to the mouth Of the
Seine. The landings would have to
be on broad front j. G., at many
places: for trying to push a large
force through Just one or two beach,
heads converts these into danger
Gus bottlenecks and focal points
for enemy attack.
1t does not seem likely that the
United Nations now have ready in
the British Isles sufficient troops
material and Shipping for so gigantic
an effort This oeinC tho case. il
follows that for tie time being the
main Anglo American effort against
Germany will be made by increased
use Of the means nov available for
that purpCse-that is to say, bom-
bardment aviation.
Ground operations against Ger
manv, since they cannot in the i'm
mediate future enek to be decisive,
must be diverSionary in intent. or
must seek local successes which can
be obtained without bringing on a
fight with the main German reserve.
Must Be An Invasion.
Nevertheless there must be an in
vasion. There must be Allied armies
In Western Europe this year. and
soon, Since decision cannot be
sought against Germany under
present condltione a decision must
he sought against Italy. the weaker
OF the two Axis partners in Europe.
We are better placed to do this,
and probably quite strong enough.
II the Germans want to come and
night lis in Italy, they will be fight
ing on battlefield of our choosing
and under extraordinarily unfavor-
able conditions for them. Nothing
IN TACT. should be more pleasing to
our combined chiefs of staff than
TO md the Germans sending their
Strategic reserve across the Alps
INTO the Italian peninsula. where it
"ould become completely unavail-
aole Tor use on the Russian front
We must keep in mind that as far
as ground operations are concerned
the Red Army is still the largest and
most important United Nations force
IN Europe and that everything that
We and the British Go there must be
designed to give the maximum aid
to the Russians.
But 1t may be asked, how will an
offensive against Italy-or perhaOs
against the Italian army in the Bal
kans.-which is another wav of
striking at Italy's armed forces
meet the political and moral re-
qulrements mentioned at the begin
nlng OF this article? The answer is
that it will meet them very we'll, pro-
Vlded the Russians are satisfied with
Its military results.
Italy Held In Contempt.
In this country we have become
accustomed to regard the war effort
OF Italy with supreme contempt. so
that it doesn't seem very big business
to most Americans to be preparing
to knock Italy out of the war.
But from the point of view of the
injured and oppressed peoples of
occupied Europe, Italy holds quite
different position. 1t is true that
the Italians have not been of much
military help to the Germans. but
at the business Of oppression and re-
preston. of massacre and mayhem.
of roprlSals against the helpless for
the deeds of those whom they are
unwilling to face in arms. the ltal-
lans have shown themselves apt
pupils of their Hitlerian masters.
The destruction OF the Fascist
power in Italy by an invading army
would certainly have tremendous
moral effect throughout occupied
EUROPE, quite aside from the very