Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-11-25
NEWS
BEHIND
The News
BY Paul
lI MaIlon


WASHINGTON, Nov "a
w Weakest bastion in Hitler's
fortress is the Balkans.
He has been moving reserves
i'm there until now he has ac-
cumulated about 20 divisions
5000 menl. His capture now
Of the three islands north Of
Crete and Rhodes has reinforced
the Aegean approaches TO the
mainland.
Pictures were sent out Of
Germany recently representing
German army officers showing
off some new concrete fortifi-
cations. The propaganda photos
obviously were intended TO make
us believe Hitler has established
works comparable TO those
erected in France and the Low
lands, but obviously his prepa-
rations have fallen short of any
thing like the scale elsewhere.
, But for us to invade, we must
first have Rhodes and Crete, or
be able TO use Turkey (whose
preparations for a declaration OF
war against Germany are sup
posed 10 hinge on our concen-
tration of sufficient aircraft
there 10 protect her cities.
In any reconsideration OF our
grand strategy, this sector is
likely to receive primary atten-
ton.
MILITARY men seldom con-
WI slider il wise TO storm the
enemy head-on at his strongest
point, and the reports concern
ing the formidable emplace-
ments in certain sections OF
Norway, of the Lowlands and
France, including the southern
Mediterranean shore, have been
verified by thorough Allied OBJ
Servation.
The long line of eommunica-
tons we would have TO MAN.
tain to the Balkans would make
preparations for such an attack
a long and difficult, but not nm
possible. job.
Even if our strategy aims the
heaviest blow elsewhere, the
current threat Of attack on the
Balkans may cause Hitler to
weaken his forces at another
rim of the fortress to a Tulner-
able extent.
Rumania's army n N m b ers
about 2S divisions (42S,00
mem, but about II of them
have been used-and probably
used up-in Russia. Some are
now stationed in the Crimea.
Bulgaria's army numbers ID
to II divisions -t249, 900 mem,
but she has not declared war on
Russia, and there is a question
as 10 what her troops will do if
we 60 in.
NAZI counterattacks in the
~ Kiev section showed sur
prrsTn-g but not conclusive
power
No doubt the Reds will con-
tinue with their advance eventu-
ally on that very sector, as well
As following through their GUS
tomary strategy of launching
new attack at another point in
the long line whenever rebuffed
this time in the north, aimed
at Riga.
Yet the NaZiS have surren-
dered surprisingly few prison
ers in all this recent retreat,
even in the south where the
Russian { -prec1prtdted
what appeared to be an initial
rout, the retreat has been sur
priSingly orderly.
The Germans have managed TO
cling to Krivoi-Rog many days
after territory on both sides
had gone.
Consequently. the vague re-
ports coming out of London
lately indicating attempts by
the Nazis TO negotiate for an
have seemed weak
and untrustworthy. One pub
lished report has indicated that
certain German army officers
the British in two
neutral countries, advancing the
idea of an armistice, but these
officers plainly were without
sufficient authority and prob
ably not valid ENJOYS of even
small group of-the Nazi army.
lNIHILE the Russians WIN no
W doubt continue 10 advance,
and the recent Raj raids on
Berlin were but forerunner of
immediate great intensification
of our air warfare. no one in Of
official authority here pretends
10 know, or hazard a precise
guess as TO how soon in the
next few months the break may
be expected
London is the fountain-head
OF both authentic and unau-
thentic inside information from
Europe. mainly because the
refugee governments are estab-
liShed there.
The British have excellent
contacts on the continent, but
the sources Of most of the