The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-01-01
rAE NEW NEAR

THE NEW WEAR
As We wish our friends a Happy
New Year, the thought foremost in
our minds is naturally that the war
may be brought to close before
the year has passed. There IS little
10 indicate that such a wish may b.
fulfilled. and yef as we look at the
change in trends during the past
few weeks. We see that the swing
Is definitely in favor Of the Allied
nations
As the year 1913 begins. We find
Japan pretty well occupied and on
the defensive. isolated from Ger.
many and Italy, the European az
tressors who are themselves on the
defensive as fronts are narrowed
in Africa and Russia
Germany has been forced 10
spread her resources more thinly
over France TO find reinforcement
Tor Tunisis and Tripbl, to face the
potential threat OF eventual inva-
sion anywhere along the Mediter-
rsnean coast from the Spanish To
the Turkish frontiers. and to deal
with a ma or defensive campaign in
Russia which bids fair TO negste
German hopes Of a creative pause
during the winter.
While We give much credit TO the
work OF our own armies and TO Rus
sia, We cannot overlook the fart
that the British army has played
no mean part in the combined
United Nations offensive
After smashing the German at
tack on the Alamein line at the
end OF August. the British Eighth
Army took the offensive Oct. 23 and
has greatly reduced the German
Afrika korps. From this campaign
comes promise even more impor-
tant than the immediate achieve
ment. We have seen the first fruits
OF three years efforts by Britain 70
create an army trained and
equipped 10 fight the enemy on
level terms.
Libya showed what can be
achieved by the perfect cooperation
OF air and ground forces under
skilled resolute and tested leader
ship.
The Dieppe raid and the landing
In Algeria gave proof Of the sound
ness OF organization in enterprises
in which military and naval CO
operation worked without a nitcn.
The victory OF FL Alamein showed
the British infantry coming once
more into its own-no longer the
plodding. mud-eucumbered poor
bloody infantry of Passchendaele
Gin the last war), nor the ineffec-
tusl fighting men swept back By the
weight OF metal TO the beaches OF
Dunkirk. but mobile infantry.
master OF varied and effectiye
weapons, confident it has how the
measure OF the enemy
Last winter when Singapore thu
Philippines. the Netherlands East
Indies and Burma fell and the AXE
had pushed the British back into
Egypt. as the Germans In Russia
oyer-ran the Eastern Ukraine and
the Donets basin and reached
Stalingrsd. the picture was dark.
y But the Russians retired fighting
and in perfect order and, in bat
tie on a smaller scale the British
stopped the Germans in Egypt; and
Malta held out
Further the Allies firmly held
sue h key communications points a
Iceland. Gibraltar, West Africa and
Iran
Then Russian resistance steadily
stiifeued. and Field Marsha Erwin
Eommel g great attack was
smashed in Egypt. The German.
failed 10 reach the Caucasus OF
fields and in mid-August the Rus
SLAMS COunter-att3 cked
Allied forces meanwhile launcaet
successful operations against ta'
Japsuese in the Solomon Islands
and New Guinea and on Oct. 20 th'
British Army attacked IN Eg p'
On 10. 8 advanced clemens o.
the British First Amy with Amer
lean assault troops Ian led near Al
giers while United States forces
began to occupy Oran and Moroc
can ports. the whole expedition b.
ing under the command OF Genera
Eisenhower. and with that m1ueu
ycr the ar picture frightened ua
III. on this New Years DAY IN.
world may LOOK forward TO a better
happier future.
Buy More war Bonds -
NCx Ork-Dr. Nicholas MURRAY
Butler. The war may end Garlic
than We expect through sAeer *
haustion in Europe Of men ma
terials and resources ant
when that time comes. those Wh,
are responsible may be forced q
plead for mercy
buy More war bonds