The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-07-03
Observations Your Health
Balkans-Theater
For Invasion, or
Diversion Thrust?
BY Charles p. Stewart

WASHiNGTON-On the eve Of
Allied invasion OF Hiller-held
Europe these thoughts present
themselves as possible lsSt-min-
ute forecast OF where the United
Nations may choose TO strike.
Salonika and the Nardsr and
Suuma River valleys stand out like
sore thumbs among the score or
more natural invasion routes from
which the Allies may chose TO open
the long-awaited second front.
The Balkans may be the theater
for the main invasion attack or ior
a diversion thrust to feint the AXIS
out of position for the real assault
somewhere in western Europe.
Whatever the decision Of the Al
lied high command, recent events
in Turkey. the Near East and Norlh
Africa are hardly reaSsurlng 10
Axis commanders in southeastern
Europe
The closing OF the TWhish-Syrian
frontier for 80 hours recently might
have been 70 screen movements OF
the British Ninth and Tenth armies
in SyI1a and lrsQ. These armies
have been heavily reinforced in re-
cent months The Polish army
alone in the Near East, now num-
herring 100000 men, is probably be-
ing re-equipped with arms and mu-
nitions captured by the Allies IA
Tunisia
This force has asked the Allied
high command for permission to
spearhesd an invasion in the Balk-
ans
The Whereabouts Of Montgom-
ery's veteran British Eighth army
that smashed Rommel at RI Ala
mein. the British First army and
the United States forces massed in
were recently reported 10 be rein
forcing the British garrison al Cv-
prus. a strategic springbOard for a
thrust into the Aegean or At Ger
man-held Crete-are secrets the
Axis would ike TO know
Turkeys attitude too, is a worry
Following British Prime Minister
Winston Churchills talks with
Turkish President lsmet lnonu
near Ankara in February. Admiral
Sir John Cunningham. British COM
manderin-chief in the Near Fast.
conferred win Turkish military
leaders less than two weeks ago.
Turkey can put a rugged army OF
close TO 100000 men in the field.
II has been receiving lend-lease
equipment from the United States,
fighter planes and medium bomb
ers from England.
Furthermore. Turkey could give
the Allies a foothold on the contin-
European Turkey on the west
ern side OF the Sea OF Marmara--
from which Bulgaria. most reluct-
ant OF Hitler's satellites. could he
invaded through the Maritsa River
Valley.
However, n the Allies strike
through Grecisn Salonika and the
Nardsr and Struma River Valleys.
they will he repeating the strategy
they used successfully in World
WarI.
In 1918 the situation was very
much like II is today. Though Ger
many controlled most of the contin-
ent and was fighting on a single
front IN France, her great summer
offensive TO end the war had failed.
The Allied high command, realiz-
ing that the great bulk OF the Ger
man armies was pinned down in
France. ordered an attack through
the Balkans, the backdoor TO
Europe"
ON Sept /. 1918. the British,
French Serbian and Greek troops.
which had been massing at Ss-
lonika. moved north into the Var.
dsr and Struma Valleys Within
three weeks the Bulgarian army
was defeated at Doiran-Nardsr
Allied columns famed out into Bull
baris and Serbia. captured Skoplje
on Sept. q.
The road TO Sofia was open and
the Bulsars surrendered on the
29tn. Turkey followed Bulgaria
into surrender in a month, and then
Austria-Hungsry. and finally Ger
many herself threw in the sponge
in rapid order
This time. according 10 indica-
tions, the BulRars would put up
even less OF a fight Rumania and
Hungary. too. would like TO find
way TO MAKE peace They have
suffered terrific casualties fighting