Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-06-03

WV CAtA OAAACAJ AAAAKOAS~~@~S
tors which do not appear as a
part of communicates. Rather
are these factors noted grad
uaIly because neither comes over
night. First, is the worlds APP
probation of the ability of the
American forces to top the
''best" coupled
The with the knowl-
Fighting edge that the
Yanls United States is
really putting
forth a full and complete war
effort. Second Ia corollary of
the first) is the gradual but
plainly evident disintegraticn of
the Axis forces both on the
fronts and at home.
For months prior to and fol-
lowing Pearl Harbor military
observers and experts at home
and abroad were unable to
measure the quality of Ameri-
can soldiers. Based on history
There was every reason to
assume that our men in arms
would prove at least the equal
Of the worlds "best." Yet,
with such great changes made
in the waging Of war there was
actually no basis upon which a
comparison could be made until
our men went into combat.
Now, the heroic defense of
Bataan, our great naval vic
tories against the Japs in the
Pacific, our capture of Guadal-
canal, the great rebound fol-
4 lowing early disaster in Tu-
nisia and now the capture Of
Attu where the Japs had more
than a year in which to en-
trench themselves, there remains
no further doubt that Ameri-
can soldiers of 1913 are capa-
BILE Of carrying on the tradition
started with our Colonial troops.
AS to the second intangible
the most important and evident
deterioration is among the Ital-
ians. To begin with only the
strong arm of Mussolini's
Fascists forced the Italian peo-
pie to accept war against their
former allies. Soldiers and
civilians alike have been half
hearted since the beginning. Mod
ern history doesn't record them
as topnotch soldiers under
favorable conditions and in this
war there has been evidence
that at times there was almost
open revolt. Mussolini has lost
prestige. His navy has been
shattered and driven to shelter.
His highly touted air force is
almost completely destroyed.
His "African Empire" has been
wiped out. His armies have
been beaten in every encounter
and his soldiers
The have begged to
Quitting be taken pris-
FasciStS oners. Reports
from neutral
sources indicate that great
portion of the population has
increasingly demanded a sepa-
rate peace. Now, with Italian
island possessions being pounded
from the air; with each day
bringing more frequent and
devastating attacks on the main
land and with the Churchill
suggestion that the Italian peo-
pie rid themselves Of Musso-
lini and Fascism in order to
avoid continuation of these at
tacks indications are that Hitler
win lose his ally before autumn.
From Germany we get only
piecemeal bits Of information
CLEANED from sources in neutral
countries. However, the tremen-
dous wound to German pride
as well as to armed power in
fiicted by the Red Army at
StaIingrad and in the winter
offensive together with the de-
feat and practical humiliation
Of Rommels African army,
have served to reduce the high
morale Of German soldiers re-
sulting from constant victories
4 Of earlier years. These military
.setbacks, followed by the great
air attacks ever dreamed
on the cities of Germany
1ve rise to frequent rumors Of