The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-09-10

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his readers His article, serve the good purpose Of
making people think.
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
NEW YORK-One very significant note in
the clamor for an attack by American and
British men the French channel coast is
the loud silence of the American people who
seem to be agreed that they know too little
about the hazards and the relative strength
OF the Allies and the Germans to entitle them
to a firm opinion. Up to now, after flat
footed start, the American arms have done
wonders with few serious mistakes and low
casualties. 1t has not been long since the
Germans were strong and offensive in Africa
and Spain was a potential menace. In a
year, Africa has been cleared, Sicily taken
and Italy surrendered, and Spain neutralized.
Mussolini has Topped, Germanys war fac
tories have been hammered badly and the
German propaganda, once so brutal and ar.
rogant has taken a distinctly defensive
and desperate character. And, in Russia,
last years German offensive was dead loss
and this years wilted and broke into another
big defeat
All this being so, what is the hurry? If
the war can be won anyway and by prolong-
ing the contest for another year or even two,
Roosevelt and Churchill can save million
or more American and British casualties, the
American people and, we may assume the
British too, will not complain. Certainly, in
the meanwhile, there is no danger that Ger
many will get any stronger and therefore the
only ground for demanding that new front
on the channel coast regardless of the cost,
would be to help Russia, which seems to be
in danger, costly and painful though the
battle is.
If we had an overall high command, in
GLIDING the Russian, the case might be diff
ferent. But Russia continues to go it alone,
! Al.
appreciation is heard of the gifts of food and
fighting equipment without which, the Amer
lean people have been given to understand
the Germans by now might have reached their
final detectives and dug in to hold on indef-
initely.
The American people have criticized very
little the management of the military phases
of this war. On the contrary, we are gen.
orally satisfied perhaps too content. and the
people trust the military chiefs and the Presi-
dent and Churchill, too, for that matter, on
the basis of their success to date and at so
comparatively little cost in blood. If they
decide, of their own judgment, to attack
France where Germany appears to be strong
est and the decision is based military
considerations only, ignoring politics. and the
attack succeeds, the people will stand for
high casualties. But the President and Chur-
chill certainly know that the Americans would
not approve an attack made only in response
to the political second-front propaganda, with
horrible losses and no greater result than to
draw off some of the divisions that are op-
posing the Russians in the East. And fail
ure, whatever the motives for the attempt,
would be a terrible shock, followed certainly
by suspicious that the sacrifice had been made
in response to pressure from native radicals
and pestiferous and unappreciative European
exiles in some of our eastern cities.
The fact is too glazing and eXasperating
that few if any of those who cry up the So
called second front have any intention to take
personal part if the attempt is made. OF
the native Americans, several conspicuous in
dividuals notably Joseph Curran, president
of the National Maritime Union, have OBJ
tanned deferments in the draft, and +
BroWder beyond the draft age now, served
a term in LeavenWorth for his refusal to reg
lister for the draft in the first World war.
Even without that particular second front,
Germany apparently is doomed to military
defeat POSSIBLY through internal collapse I'm
der various pressures, including the Russian
pressure on land and the attack on her cities
from the air). within a year. But even if
the end were postponed another year and
the President and Churchill thus were to save
the lives of half a million or more American
and British men, the American people would
make complaint. Thls pressure on the
President and Cordell Hull is, In the MAN.
not American pressure. The American SEN
timent, which really matters arises from the
homes of millions of plain citizens, uninform
ed and not much interested in international
politics and the aspirations OF European
groups And, although it may not De neces-
sary to consult them before such an attack e:
is made, it certainly would be necessary to
reckon with them if it were mace at awful
cost without sound military necessity, anu
particularly if it were made without success.
-V--
Invasion will continue until Naz1 germany many
is dead page in history and the Nazi forces
have surrendered Internationally. ,..,
e"' N'' commander.
We must not let optimism abate our t e1-
forts at home. Quick victory means al ~ q
ba 1Isi IS r. rolling It must gain and not lose
speed ;, .,,,,v Services
-1en D'e'''i' - o~'''N- Of Supply chief