Evening star., 1943-07-11


paved the way for many landings on
island at points which will make leas
islands terminal for the ferry connecting
with the mainland, only two miles away.
Reports in the first few hours after
the landing are, of course, fragmentary
and somewhat confused, but from them
1t is clear that the invasion is full
force expedition, composed of American,
British and Canadian elements deter
mined to take possession of the island.
Subjugation of the island will not be
easy If reports of Axis strength are
true 1t is believed that there are at
least 100000 on the island and these,
with natural defense positions in the
mountains, will be difficult to conquer
though bombing and shelling have no
doubt softened them considerably.
From Sicily the war can be carried to
the Axis along many routes and all of
Italy will be brought within easy bomb
ing range.
The invasion was described by Presi-
dent Roosevelt as 'the beginning of the
end" while London warns that this is
not the only landing nor even THE
landing.
Bitter fighting ragged as the week end
ed. The long quiescent Russian front
erupted into extremely violent action,
though confined to a limited area, last
week and a. the week ended the Nazis
held some slight gains, purchased at an
lob IN, NJ
failure to attain a serious penetration
of the Reds defenses.
The first three days of the battle alone
cost the Germans 10000 in killed and the
destruction of 1,539 tanks and 649 planes,
according to Moscow's claims, which
were countered by Berlin statement
that in one day alone, the Nazi forces
had wrecked 400 Red tanks and shot
down 1873 planes. BY Friday German
losses had risen to 5000 killed and 1,843
tanks destroyed and 8l0 planes shot
down.
The fighting centers around the Bel
gorod sector where the comparatively
straight battle line turns suddenly oeep
into German held territory to form a
great bulge, menacing German advance
positions around Kharkov on the soutn
and Orel on the north.
There is considerable speculation
about this present German offensive and
its objectives, the most widely supported
theories being either that Germany
seeks to straighten the line before SET
Ting down to a defensive campaign or
that the high command hopes, by seri-
ously threatening the Red Army, to force
the Allies to open a second front pre-
maturely and, as a result, at great cost.
Whatever the purpose the opening OF
the attack has brought the greatest
clash of mechanical forces in history
as two tremendous armies stand lace
to face and slug it out.
Over in the Pacific battle-ground, espe-
cially in the Middle Solomons waters,
the Japanese have received a serious
setback and American naval forces nave
scored the most one-sided naval victory
OF the war, sinking between nine ana
il japanese cruisers and destroyers,
an entire task force, caught in Kula Gulf
between New Georgia Island and Kolam-
bangara and forced to stand and fight
American losses were limited to the ngnt
cruiser Helena, whose crew of about 300
officers and men were largely saved.
On the diplomatic front, Gen. Henri
Giraud, commander of French forces in
North Africa, arrived in Washington for
q series Of conferences which has as one
OF its basic purposes the perfecting of
plans to arm his force of 100000 we'll
trained soldiers now in North Africa. 1t
Is probable, also, that during Gen. Gil
raud's stay here some settlement OF the
status of the French Antilles will be
reached which will bring the possessions,
including Martinique, under Allied con-
troll and release for use against the Axis
the aircraft carrier Berne and two cruis-
ers which are in the harbor.
The Allied cause received one setback
when plane carrying Polish Premier
Wladislaw Sikorski crashed as it was
taking off from Gibraltar, killing the
Premier and others aboard. His loss will
be severely felt because he was a leaven-
ing force capable of ending the disagree
nent between Russia and Poland.
Thailand, whose Quizling-like CO.
operation with Japan materially tacili-
tated the conquest of Singapore, received
its reward during the week by the an
nexation of four of the Malay states
with the consent of Japan, which had
anticipated ruling them all anyway un-
til her aviation, navy and army discov-
cred the caliber Of Americas fighting