The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-08
Hard Road To Victory

to believe that the war in Europe can be
victory over Japan will quickly follow, their
attention is directed to statement from the
Office of War Information that the United
Nations liberated no more than 5 per cent
OF the territory held by the Germans and
but one-twentieth of the regions controlled by
Japan in 1943, year characterized by heavy
offensive fighting.
Our military leaders, says the owl, do not
anticipate a crumbling Of the German home
front or that German war leaders will sur
render without being completely defeated in
battle. They also deny that when Germany
is beaten the conquest OF japan will be rela-
lively quick and easy. The nature Of Japa
nese soldiers, they declare as well as geogra-
ply and logistics, do not support such an
opinion
They may be correct. Certainly it is safer
to view the situation in the Pacific as they do,
and be surprised, than it would be to think
Japan will fall an easy prey and be disap
pointed. Nevertheless. it is hard to see how
Japan can long hold out after the defeat of
and naval, of the United States and Great
Britain, with the possible assistance of Russia
are free to turn their combined war strength
against her.
OF the actual war situation as OF January
l. 1914, as compared with the same day in
date Germany and Italy held 2,024, 166 square
miles in Europe and 40, 100 square miles in
Africa.
Since then we have liberated all OF the
territory in Africa approximately $1,000 square
miles in southern Europe tSicily, Sardinia,
Corsica and southern italy, and approximately
BE, 1000 square miles in Russia In other words,
out Of total of 1904 1865 square miles OF ter
ritory held by the Axis in Europe and Africa,
we have liberated areas totaling approximately
800, 600 square miles, or less than one-fifth.
The 800 900 square miles recovered by our
side include $1,000 square miles of Russia
retaken by the Russians. The 900 square
miles still held by the Germans include Ger
many proper, since this time it is intention
to invade Germany and Berlin ITSELF if nee
essary, to bring the enemy to his knees
With the same yardstick, says the OWL
the road to victory in the Pacific is found
to be even longer
by the time the japanese had completed
their compassionate is, before the Allies pre-
vented them from taking still more land
their territory amounted to more than 10000
square miles, or almost half again as much
as the Naz domain at its largest. Since then
we have wrested O,150 square miles from
the Japs, or fraction over per cent. In
addition, we have freed considerable ocean
area, thus shortening our supply line"
The War department., we are told, has re-
ports indicating the German army is still
powerful and its morale high German war
production is also high, despite bombngs. The
departments information is that morale on
the home front is far from cracking, too.
With sixty divisions in action, Japan is said
to be able to increase the total by twenty
divisions more She has 100000 men still
not called into service, and 100000 more
between II and 20.
Thus the owl robs optimists Of their false
hopes Of easy or quick victory. Lest the agency
overdo its job it could we'll afford to issue
statement showing the increase in war pro-
duction in this country and England and the
increasing battle power of the Allies, with
emphasis on Russia's growing success in the
East