Evening star., 1943-08-19
Where to Strike Next
Is Allies Problem
BY Maj. George Fielding Eliot.

og "by. oCoF SC tCC1bby GttOLs
The conquest Of Sicily Is complete. In
five weeks the Allied armies have put
10000 square miles of mountainous ter
rain. From first to last, the result was
never in doubt.
The initial surprise, by which the ports
OF Syracuse, Augusta and Licata became
the tunnels through which the Allied
troops poured into Sicily in irresistible
strength; the overwhelming air supe-
riority, so constantly maintained and ex-
plotted; the magnificent power drive OF
the British 9th Army against the strong
German positions on the Plain of Ca
tania and the slopes of Etna; the no less
magnificent sweep of the American 7th
Army into Palermo and along the north
coast; the smashing thrusts of the Ca
nadians in the center; the steady support
of naval units, both by gunfire and in
the covering Of amphibious thanking
thrusts-all this was co-ordinated into
one mighty operation Of war on which
every element played It's part and worked
harmoniously and terribly for the at
tainment Of victory.
With that victory, the name Of Dwight
David Eisenhower takes its place among
the great captains of American history.
This is said in no spirit of disparage-
ment for the great achievements of his
British, Canadian and French associates.
Every one of them, from Gen. Alexander
and Air Marshal Tedder and Admiral
Cunningham down through the long
hierarchy of command, deserves his full
share of credit for the Sicilian victory.
1t was Gen. Eisenhowers great task to
take British, French, Canadian and
American troops, air forces and naval
forces. and to weld them into one hard
hitting, smooth working machine of war.
He had to overcome all the obstacles
that national pride, personal jealousy,
the differences in systems of tactics and
administration, differences in armament
and equipment, and political complica-
tions could throw In his path, in addition
to overcoming the resistance OF the
enemy.
1t Is no simple task for an American
oficer. Of no previous great reputation
in the military world, to take over such
command and to assume authority over
officers of other Municipalities some Of
whom at least, were generals or admirals
when Gen. Eisenhower was a lieutenant
colonel of infantry.
But Gen. Eisenhower has done Il, done
1t thoroughly and successfully. Twice
the forces thus placed under his COM
mand have struck the enemy--once in
Tunisia, once in Sicily. On both occa.
sions, the enemy has broken under the
blow. Every American may well feel
proud that our Nation has been able to
give to the common cause Of all free
peoples, not only sacrifices of blood and
treasure, but leadership Of such splendid
quality.
And now that Sicily is ours-what
next?
No doubt that has all been thought of
long ago; for if one blow is to follow
swiftly on the heels Of another, the
plans must be laid and the preparations
begun long before the first blow has
been struck.
There was time when it seemed that
Sardinia would almost certainly be the
next target after Sicily. Sardinia leads
the way to Corsica and the beaches Of
Southern France. But the fall Of Musso-
ltni and the consequent political chaos
in italy raises the question of whether,
after all, a landing on the Italian MAIN
land might not have become more at
tractive than it seemed few weeks ago.
OF course, whatever is to be done must
be well within our means. The Ger
mans would like nothing better than
to draw the Allied forces into an inva-
sion Of the continent at a point where
superior German forces could be brought
to bear. A bloody repulse Of the first
serious attempt at landing on the con-
tinent would, above almost anything
else, suit the enemy's purposes.
It would reinforce his frantic propa-
ganda to the effect that the Festung
Europa is impregnable; 1t would have
a very bad reaction on the Russians who
are hoping for a permanent diversion
Of German land power as well as air
power; and 1t would strongly reinforce
the coming German peace offensive,
whose only real bargaining point is the
cost Of continuing the war.
Therefore the Allied high command
must continue to see to 1t that its blows
are struck in measure with It's powers;
that the advantages of air and naval
superiority are made full use Of, to
support land operations in areas where
the advantages Of time and place and
communications are on our side, and
where the enemy cannot, without dis
proportionate effort, oppose us in equal
or superior strength.
Whether Southern Italy is such a
battle area, must be left to the Judgment
Of the high command. Sardinia GER
tainly is; and there are Crete and
Rhodes as possible objectives.
One thing does seem almost certain
and that is that we shall very soon have
an answer to our question: What next
after Sicily?
Copyright. 1943, New York Tribune, Incl