Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-06

Unfortunately for the United Ma
tons most of the dealings with CT
william populations have been in the
hands of the Axis commanders, for
the war has been a series OF re-
treats--out of the treaty ports Of
China, out of the Philippines, out of
the Dutch East Indies, out of Ma
laya and Burma, out of Norway, out
of Holland, out of Poland and out
Of Belgium and France.
Gen. Eisenhower has been given
the first opportunity to turn the
tables. The Axis commanders make
short shrift of opposition, especially
from local politicians or local
elements that appear contentious.
The American commander has been
patient and restrained He has faced
a difncult situation in trying to
straighten out the tangled problems
of the Free French and the North
African government. He had had to
deal with the military problems OF
land, sea and air. He has had COM
mand of British troops and British
sea and air forces as well as Amer
lean units.
Cooperation by Allies.
Under the circumstances, critics
who don't think he has acted quickly
enough or that he hasn't worked
miracles in reconciling differences
among the French might better be
patient. There are plenty of elements
in the world, perhaps, which look
askance at an American general who
is in command of an Allied Army,
but those elements are not military
or naval. The finest kind of CO.
operation has been given by Admiral
Cunningham of the British Navy
and by the British air and army
chiefs.
But back in London some sort OF
longrange criticism has begun
which is not understood here. 1t
seems to center in the matter of
censorship, though this appears to
be a vehicle rather than a reason
for airing some dissatisfaction.
Maybe the London critics are in
nunced too much by some overzeal-
Gus Free French adherents who seem
to wish to undermine Gen. Eisen-
hower's position.
The following two press dispatches
by United Press from London in the
last "a hours are bit puzzling. The
first was as follows:
The London Times charged today
that delays and censorship of news
from North Africa have encouraged
criticism of Allied policies on that
front. A Times editorial expressed
hope that the British press and
public would benefit by 'prompter
and fuller information on North
African affairs from the appoint
ment of Harold Macmillan as resi-
dent British Minister to Allied
African headquarters"
Tunis Action Urged.
Here is the second dispatch:
The London Daily Mail, urging
faster action in Tunisia, said that
the Russians need Allied help to
open spring offensive.
"Only when we have cleaned up
North Africa shall we be in a posi-
ton to open a second front in
Europe, the Daily Mail said. If
spring finds us still begged down in
Tunisia, the enemy will have won
valuable time and a considerable
victory. We must control the Medi-
terranean before we begin to beat
the Axis and We must knock the
Axis from Tunisia before we can
control the Mediterranean
This sort of pressure implies that
our American commander ism t doing
his Job the way he ought to. AS a
matter of fact, what has been
accomplished in less than three
months by the American expedi-
tionary forces, aided by the British
and French units, is truly remark
able from the standpoint Of United
Nations progress on the offensive in
this war.
No Need of Reminder.
The detectives outlined by the
London newspaper editorials were