The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-22


can anticipate all that can hal
The European Axis can appar-
entity try in any one Of four di-
rections:
ta) Against Russia. The fanat-
ical resistance of the Russians
and their superb tactics in turning
the cities into fortresses indicate
that another great attack will so
further increase the huge Axis
losses as finally to weaken their
whole military structure. The
present advances OF the Russians
give every confidence that with
support on their home front they
cannot be overcome.
BRITAIN TOO STRONG
(b) Against Britain. Here they
have to cross the water against
the enormously increasing British
American air and naval strength,
and American-supported land de-
lenses. This seems futile to at
tempt.
(c) Against Northwest Africa.
Here again they have to cross the
water. II seems unlikely that they
can hold the bridgehead In Tunis
and Tripoli that they already
possess. Even If they succeeded
in holding it and extending their
operations TO include Spain. Gil
braltar and Morocco, there are no
supplies in North Africa in
amounts that would relieve their
home front.
Id Against the southeast,
either through Greece. Crete and
Syria, where again they have TO
cross through the Caucasus and
Persia. In this the Soulful East
movement alone, in conjunction
with successful Japanese invasion
of India, can the European Axis
secure sufficient relief for the
home front TO assure long contin-
uation of the war. With the full
British-American occupation of
North Africa and the Mediterran-
can route under possible protec-
ton, it would seem that such a
movement could be stopped.
AXIS ARMIES POWERFUL
The degeneration upon the Eu-
ropean Axis home fronts has an
other bearing upon military STRAIT
egy. Their armies Of six 10 seven
million men behind their control
Of the whole European seaboard
and with their interior lines are
exceedingly powerful. They great
ly exceed any land force that
the United Nations could bring
to bear in 1913. The European
sea coasts have been enormously
fortified. For the British and
Americans to attack their central
position on land during 1913. will
be a bloody business. On the
other hand, IL the Axis for some
time yet be held within Europe
and constantly compelled TO guard
this enormous coast line. the de-
cay on their home fronts from in
ternal degeneration, from short
ages Of supplies by blockade. and
from aggressive attack from the
air will weaken them enormously
and their defeat less costly in life.
One conclusion seems certain.
The European AXIS military
strength will be less In 1874 than
in 1e43. Ours will be greater in
1914 than In 1913. The European
AXIS home fronts will degenerate
in 1913 and 1914 while the United
Nations home fronts grow In
strength.
The whole Axis fabric will be
much easier TO crumple with
blows on land later on. And there
is the possibility that Italy. es-
pecially. may erumple up with
out the blows.
FOUR MOVES OPEN
The japanese home front IL
not under interior pressures az
yet. They have aggression still
within them. They might 90 in
three directions:
fs) Against the United States.
Their experience at the Coral Sea,
Midway and Guadalcsnal would
seem 10 dampen any such notions.
lb) Further action against
China 10 prevent the establish
ment Of large air bases there by
the Allies. Owing 20 enormous
spaces they did not succeed in
overwhelming China when they
had only China for an enemy
tej Against Russia through 81
IBERIA. This would no doubt aid