Evening star., 1943-12-28

o W-Or e I'VE n
Berlin-hold the full answer. But
none in the Allied or Axis capitals
now can doubt seriously that at long
last the United States, Britain and
Russia are agreed and determined
that 1914 must see the final account
ing in Western Europe-at no mat
ter what cost.
Few politico-m military subjects have
so gripped the Imagination of so
much of the world as has the
second front" Called for by the
Russians as they reeled under the
impact of the German invasion in
the summer of 194l, it quickly be-
came the touchstone for political
sentiment and tinder for oral con-
fagration in millions of drawing
rooms, offices and bars.
But, for reasons daily becoming
more obvious, Washington and Lon
don decided on the North African
occupation first and, to take this
initial big offensive step, stripped
the British Isles of most American
units and left no more than a
safe garrison strength Of British
and Canadian soldiers.
This African testing of the
British American military team
stemmed but did not stop the second
front agitation and, as the spring
of l943 came, appeals again were
sounded more loudly.
May Have Been Planned.
History may show that much Of
this agitation was part of scheme
between the Russians and the west
ern Allies to maintain German ap-
prehension. Regardless Of whether
this is the case, it is true that the
German high command kept 4O-odd
divisions on guard in the west
against an invasion that simply was
not coming in 1912 and 1943.
1t was not coming because Wash
ington and London were committed
to knocking out Italy first and at no
time up through the summer of 1943
had gained the strength necessary to
tackle Hitler in his own front yard
In fact, it can be told now that not
until the early summer of 1943 were
American units left in England by
the African hegira reinforced by
more ground fighting units.
The German commentator Serto-
rius has estimated the combined AL
lied strength in Britain at so divi-
sions, or an army Of around 100000.
No one here would want to conrm or
deny such a figure but 1t is hardly
secret that any invasion landings
may be expected to eclipse those in
Sicily where an amphibious record
was set by putting 10 divisions ashore
in about 48 hours.
Details naturally will be shaped
largely by the effect OF intensified
bombings and Russian pressure in
the next few months. If these
should force German withdrawal
from outlying sections Of the con-
quered continent-say Norway and
Southern France-the Allies un-
doubtedly are prepared to pour in
troops at furious pace in an effort
W SoeSll anu engage lllC tllcIly Ue-
fore he completed the withdrawal.
Many Landings Probable.
Similarly, to expedite the master
plan, there may be feint landings
and bluffs at many places. Almost
certainly, when the big day comes,
there will be landings at several
places simultaneously to force dis
persion of the enemy's efforts.
Meanwhile, there is reasonable
chance that the coming winter will
breed a despair black enough to
force the Reich's collapse; but all
plans are being made on the as
sumption that the fiercest kind of
resistance will be offered by the
Germans, who still can muster a
force of 100000 men in short time
to battle for the west.
What this could mean was shown
starkly few weeks ago when some
1000 United States marines paid
price of 1000 killed and $500 wound
ed for tiny Tarawa Island in the
Gilberts. And that was after $500
tons of bombs and naval shells had
all but pulverized enemy defenses