Evening star., 1943-11-14

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half the distance from Stalingrad to
the German border and in many places
within less than 100 miles OF the Russian
border.
The arrival of bad weather in Italy
has slowed the tempo Of the fighting,
yet some forward progress was made
during the week by both the American
5th Army and the British 9th.
In the Southwest Pacific American
aircraft, some of which were carrier
based, struck another telling blow
against the reinforcement fleet at Rabaul
which came down from Truk in prepara-
tion for the defense of New Britain or
In an effort to drive the Americans out
OF Bougainville Island. Striking sharply
on Thursday, the American planes sank
Japanese cruiser and two destroyers.
damaged another cruiser and II other
destroyers and shot down or blasted on
the ground SO more japanese planes.
Loss to the American side was limited
to minor damage, none of which made
any OF the ships involved unseaworthy.
A Lot of Talk.
While the action on the war fronts
was relatively light during the week
there was lot of talking going on.
Hitler, almost hysterically it seemed.
told the German people in another beer
cellar talk Monday, that the fighting
might even reach German soil, but that
Germany will never capitulate. He as
sured the people that his nerves would
never crack, but added that no one knew
what he has had to suffer recently, He
added that If the Germans lose their
courage and fail to give their utmost
they Will deserve the fate which will be
their lot. Altogether it was not a pep
talk OF Hitler's usual standard, being
concerned largely with frightening the
homefolks into greater effort rather
than the rest of the world into yielding,
Prime Minister Churchill, across the
channel, warned the British people not
to expect miracles or look forward to an
easy victory now He assured them
that the defeat of the enemy will occur,
but that in the lighting on the continent
when the invasion comes, casualties will
be heavy and the nation will have to be
prepared for new and grave sacrifices
Despite Mr.. Churchill's speech optimism
is mounting in Britain and bets are now
being made, though at fair odds, that
the war will be over before the winter is
Mr.. Churchill, in his speech, said that
the war cannot end before 1914, which is
now only Al days off. He made no effort
to set time in 1914 when 1t might be
over. n,..' --~'-~' "a =
On this side of the Atlantic. Mai
Gen. George v. Strong, acting chief
OF the Military Intelligence Division.
IN a report released at the Capitol,
declared that there must be no re-
laxing of war production because in
the American ability to produce weapons
lies the advantage which the Allies
now hold. He added as discouraginp
factors that should dispose of undue
optimism the fact that Germany has
more than 300 divisions we'll trained
and equipped, that 100000 are now
employed in German war industries
in contrast to 22oOO,000 in 1899: that
German food is in far better quantity
than in the first war: that German
science has produced some excellent
new weapons. including the rocket gun;
that despite a decrease in petroleum
supplies Germany can. lay her hands
on plentiful quantities, and that the
Ploesti oil field raid and the damage
to synthetic oil plants has not been
sufnclently destructive to cripple Ger
many.
In the Pacific, Gen. Strong declared
that geography is against us and he
reminded that the Japanese fleet is
still intact and powerful.
Optimistic in Pacific.
However, other experts on the Pa
ciflc situation take a different view
OF conditions there. Premier Toto
warned the japanese people that they
must mobilize their complete war
strength to cope with the present seri-
Gus situation.
Secretary of the Navy Knox stated
that the loss Of six heavy cruisers
recently suffered by the japanese was
Gripping blow which may be felt
disasterously if the Japs should decide
to go to sea with their now-hiding
battle fleet. Mr.. Knox added that
the japanese position in the Southwest
Pacific Is critical a sentiment which
was echoed by Admiral Nimitz, who went
further and said that the time is now
ripe to really take the war to the
Japs. Our position in the Aleutians is
secure, the admiral pointed out and
the Japanese in the South and South
west Pacific find themselves in a pre-
carious position. He said that in other
areas In which the Japs have been
mostly unmolested the American fleet
now proposes to disrupt their plans.
He pointed out. however, that naval
ships and planes cannot do the lob
alone, that the enemy has dug in and
we must land and dig him out before
victory is achieved
1t was revealed that in the raid on
Marcus Island some weeks ago, at least
fiye aircraft carriers were in thesattack-
ing force, Undersecretary of the Navy
Bard stating that there was a greater
concentration of carriers than ever be-
fore operating together. As the Japs
used four in the Midway battle, it follows
that five at least went after Marcus.
During the week 1t was announced
that the United States had lost four de-
stroyers, the four-piper Borie which
opened her seams after ramming a sub
marine in the Atlantic; the Beatty.
which was sunk in the Mediterranean by
German planes; the Henley, which was
the victim Of torpedo in the Southwest