The Wilmington morning star., 1943-07-12
Interpreting
The War
BY HAMILTON W. FARo>

BY HAMILTON W. FAPov
Spectacular landings of
forces on the shores of Sfcuv
the beginning of the e0r
Axis power, but it is well i
member that d long road re.. ~
ahead marked with bl,t.
ting and heavy casualties e.-
the end itself is victorlous,y {
tanned. 1'
Even compete Conquest ot .-
big island off the toe of ,-a +. .-'
ian boot-and that re~z,,.
be accomplished ed-will be b.,
step down the road.
Immediately, of Course
principal proolem on Sicily
gushing the estimated 3s- a
Axis troops stationed there .
can hardly b expected to - '
up without a fight. '
Then there is the less .-.
tacular but equally ima,@ .
problem of reinforclng ar
troops and providing suppl los
equipment. That major r,.
taking must come in the f.o, i,
Axis aerial opposition. and
IDLY of a concentration OF ers-
submarines in the Med,er..
can to repel invasion movero,..
Originally American C4rs5
and British forces moved
the island with compars,,,..
minor opposition. But
isn't another Pantelleria or S.
pedusa. Its size is such that crs..
al defenses necessarily We're 14..
TO ring the entire island ,,5
can be assumed that Allied
telligence reports pointed Vs..
first landings at the mos. ,.
nerable point in the ligbr loe.
Initial thrusts, it has b,,,
learned in other invasion mor..
always throw the defendna forc,.
back. But that can be eyno,,,5
10 last only for a day or ,r,
Then comes the test when ,,o u,
vading force attempts 10 nmo
forward to complete occpDa,o.
On Sicily it cannot be assumed
down.
Strategically, Sicily IS Of first.
rank importance in the weru
Mediterranean picture. B-g,
reasons for its importance Myo
Allied drive, might be sumna..
lied as:
l. 1t provides some 70 air.
fields from which bombing raids
might be launched on all of Italy
10 force that nation out Of tie
war.
2. 1t could be the stepping.
off place for a pinGer5 move.
ment against the Greek PENN.
sular with the other arm reach.
ing from the Middle East
4. 1t is part of a group Of is.
lands, including Sardinia, wa0
could be stepping stones to south.
ern France.
5. Control of Sicily would pr.
vide domination of shipping N
the Mediterranean.
Assuming that the drive c'''
tinues from Sicily into Italy ard
up the peninsula it would o'@
two routes. Cne would be west
ward into southern Franco S@
a thrust would carry out plcds
OF President Roosevelt that tie
people of France shall be hrd
from Axis domination Too. Cc.
eral Henri Giraud has said tt
French forces in North A'un
number 100000. men, ready r.
strike when supplied with Are.
lean arms. The other wouH he
across the Adratic and thmna
north, cutting off vitaly neo-ei
oil for the German war machine
Also, conquest of northern I"'"
would provide airdromeS much
closer to the heart OF GeWI
for bombers blasting Nlz' ird"s.
try.
Crete-Already stune By cH'
mando raids and Greece %e'
the Axis is reported c-og''
ing Italian troops under Ger"
officers, would be ano6ey .''
iterranean route. 1t has a'.''
tages in that the people ge'
could be expected to ~'c'"'
the coming cf Allied annie,
The channel route
ing at the western shores Of y,
rope. remains stronq oo'S0'
ity despite the fact that ro.'
Notifications would have n
surmounted. 1t is short. the ''
ment Of surprise would be 'f
to maintain and it can be 2"'
complete umbrella Of air pm
fonfiny, fh,~oJo[,o,,{ +I,o ,,-ovp