Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-07

lat casualties. The cost OF treasure
has been S229, 3s8,00o,000,. the sum
Ct defense and war spending from
July !. l94O. through November 30,
1914
VICTORY IN EUROPE
L. S. war leaders are agreed that
l945 should see Germany crushed.
But they do not know when in
ls45 the triumph will come; all
they are certain of is that the
United Nations face a still 6eadly
and fanatically determined foe in
Europe.
Across the Pacific, on. battle lines
$4,000 miles from the western front,
IS an even more fanahcal enemy.
The consensus among military men
is that Japan cannot be conquered
sooner than one and a half to two
years after defeat of Germany
and it may be longer than that.
However long it takes to beat
Japan after Germany falls. it will
cost this country alone $1,000, Co.,
600 a year TO do the job, according
tc an estimate by Lieutenant Gem
eral Brehon B. Somervell. chief of
the army supply services.
In the Pacific, General Douglas
Macarthur is back in the Philip
pines. the U. S. navy has avenged
Pearl Harbor by crippling the Jap
anese fleet, and Tokyo is learning
from B-29 crews that war can be
a flaming he'll.
SOME DARK SPOTS
But there are dark spots in the
picture and a host of impOnder-
ables making uncertain the immed-
late future course of the war and
clouding the face of the peace to
come. They include:
/. A Japanese breakthrough in
southeastern China which threat
ems Doth Chunking, the capital, and
Running, the U. S. l4th air forces
great base on the Chinese side of
the Himalayan hump.
2. Allied supply problems. les-
pecially in the vast Pacific; man.
power shortages and production
lagS at home; and difficulties in
herent in trying to prepare econ
omically for peace while still fight
ing the war.
8. Internal discord in China and
the liberated countries Of Europa
taking in many instances the form
Of an theological tug of war which
conceivably could breed difficulties
among the major allies.
THE YEAR 1914
But these difficulties could not
obscure the brilliant Allied success
es of the recent past. A handful OF
dates supply the main chapter
headings for the story of 1914.
June 6-Allies smash Hitler's At
lantic wall and invade France.
4 June l5-B-29 Superfortresses at
tack Japan for the first time.
Aug. 15-French and American
troops invade southern France.
Aug. 25-Paris liberated.
Sept. 11-Soldiers of the U. S
First army invade Germany.
: Oct. l9-MacArthur returns to
the Philippines.
Nov. 24-B-29s attack Tokyo for
the first time.
This same year also saw the U
8. capture of Peleliu, Saipan, Tin
ian, and Guam, bringing the Allies
1000 miles closer to Tokyo; the
liberation of most of France, all OF
Greece and much of Yugoslavia
and the desertion of Germany by
three erstwhile satellites-Romania
Finland and Bulgaria.
In all, this year, there were "27
different D-Days-each one," in
the Words Of President Roosevelt
"a triumphant success"
Thus far, one of the greatest
contributions of the United States
to modern warfare has been the
perfection of amphibious offensive
operations. The new year may well
see the American amphibious tech
nique. employing concentrated naval
and air might to protect novel and
highly specialized landing craft, di.
rected against Japan proper.
TALK OF PEACE
Despite the fact that 1914 was
the most violent and consuming
Year Of the war thus far, the
United Nations found time and
energy TO plan, at international con-
ferences. for the peace years ahead
The discussion of world peace was
conducted against a background ol
vast changes in the world war since
Japan sought TO insure quick and
lasting victory by her treachery al
Pearl Harbor
Since that day of infamy" tht
United States mas built its army
from 100000 men TO 1900, 900, oi
whom nearly 100000 are overseas
It's navy has grown in personne
from 100000 TO 100000, and In
ships from l076 Of all kinds dis
placing l,s75,O00 tons to 56,270 ag.
gregating 1e,486,l84 tons.
The United States has built 240,-
600 planes, 10000 tanks, 2,800,00t
big and medium guns l,800,C9(
trucks, 100000 machine guns and
rifles, 43,000,000,0L0 rounds of am
nuInition. 43.40O 900 bombs. and