Evening star., 1943-01-27
Spring Attack
In Forefront Of
Speculation
By GARNETT d. HORNER.

"A spring dJJdCk deSlgneQ 10
crush Hitler through an invasion
Of Europe from the west or south
was in the forefront Of Specula-
ton today about the new ENTER
priSeS' agreed on by President
Roosevelt and Prime Minister
Churchill in their North African
conference.
The official announcement of the
results of their secret discussions
was, of course, vague, leaving the
AXIS leaders to guess about when
and where the blows will be struck
and stirring flood of speculation in
United Nations capitals.
If the pattern of planning for the
North African campaign itself holds
good for the forthcoming operations,
some details of the Roosevelt
Churchill decisions will become
known generally through action
around the first of June.
1t took little more than four
months of detailed preparation for
the American British expedition in
North Africa to begin last November
7 after it had been decided on by
the President and the Prime Min
lister in their last conferences at the
White House during the latter part
of June, 1912.
Plans Under Way.
The chances may be, however,
that the armed forces are far enough
along already with general prepara-
tlons for an invasion of Europe that
not nearly so much time will be re-
qulred to put the latest Roosevelt
Churchill decisions into effect. Moth
ing can be taken for granted except
that plans for the new United Ma
tons offenSiVes are under way.
Although the supreme strategy is
believed to call for the defeat of
Germany first and Japan second
undoubtedly the plans call for
enough action in the Pacific to keep
the Japanese from having too much
time to develop the resources of the
territories they have conquered.
The assurance by the President
and Prime Minister that the initi-
ative would be maintained by the
United Nations in all war theaters
indicates there will be no denial of
necessary troops and supplies for the
war against Japan in order to con-
centrate on Europe.
Even though victory in Europe is
the United Nations first objective
for 1943, the American high COM
mand holds the view that no matter
how great the need or opportunity
for action in the European theater,
there never should be the slightest
relaxation of pressure in the Pacific.
The obvious primary need in the
European theater is to drive the
Axis forces from North Africa. Mill
tary men here say it could prove a
formidable and me-consuming job,
but expect that it will be accom-
plished this spring, clearing the
"springboard' for an expedition
into Europe from the south.
Hitler undoubtedly will be kept
guessing until the blow is struck
whether the strategy agreed ON IN
the North African conference calls
for complete Allied control of Africa
preliminary to launching of the
European second front, or whether
the invasion might come in the
west, while fighting still goes on in
Moth Africa.
The best guide as to what happens
when and after the President and
Mr.. Churchill get together is the
results Of their meeting here last
June, as announced officially at the
time and disclosed by Mr.. Roosevelt
at press conference on November
10-after the expedition into North
Africa began.
An official announcement last
June 27 noted that while exact
plans, for obvious reasons, cannot
be disclosed, it can be said that the
coming operations will divert
German strength from the attack
on Russia"
Aroused Speculation.
That wording aroused consider
able speculation that British
American move directly onto the
European continent was imminent.
In his November 10 press conference,
however, Mr.. Roosevelt explained
that during their June discussions
he and Mr.. Churchill had decided
that European second 'front.'
considered feasible at the start of
appeared too much of risk
and that they had then given orders
for the more limited operation in
North Africa.
The question presented last June,
he said, was whether an offensive
against Hitler on the necessarily big
scale for a European second front
should be put off until 1943, or
whether something on a smaller
scale could be started in 1912.
{ Thar :><oe