The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1944-01-13
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cheered us with almost daily VIC
tories through 1943, but any sober
contemplation of 1914 must make
us look behind them at the reality
of our war effort.
In Italy, the Pacific islands and
New Guinea, we have been en-
Asaged in costly, brave but token
Rale fighting. A very small frac-
ton of our massive army has even
nova month more than two
years years after the war started
seen the enemy. There have been
official estimates that 100000
possibly about a third of our pre-
pairing army was overseas on New
Years Day.
Official announcements dis
close that we had four divisions in
action in Tunisia, five in Sicily,
and four or five in Italy-about
10000 to $4,000 men fighting at a
time.
About half these divisions have
carried on through, so that only
half of them may be assumed to
be additional troops. These con-
siderations would furnish an es-
innate that a little over 100, 900
men had yet seen action on this
front.
On Guadalcanal and in the Solo
mons, three different divisions
have been mentioned. In New
Guinea, elements of two more have
been officially declared. A divis-
ion is supposed to have been in
volved at Attu.
Thus in the Pacific, the estimate
could be safely placed at around
$4,000 in action, plus the $4,000
regulars who fought for the Phil
ippines.
Certainly few more than 200, 900
,r-.cops-one-tenth of the land force
,rx1posed to be overseas now and
only IN infinitesiual az percent
a the sTnye&se have ;]teen xaisiAg;
and training to beat the Axis
have yet been turned upon the
enemy.
This does not mean their fight
ing has not been great and his
toric. Valor and greatness in COM
bat do not rest on numbers. Nor
will any future action of this war
be more important than the work
they had to do. The only point
Of this cold truth is we are still
in the preparatory phase of this
war now more than two years
after its start.
REASONS FOR FORGETTING
That none Of us has fully appre-
preciated these facts, however, is
due to several natural reasons.
In the first place, collapse Of the
German war machine was antici-
pated because of shortage of oil
and raw materials, and this proved
unjustified.
Secondly, the air corps expected
bombings of German cities to bring
possible capitulation due to the
same reasons, and this may come
any day, but it has not come yet.
Furthermore, it was wise and
necessary for us to make the Nazis
continue to believe new invasions
lof Europe were imminent, in order
keep as many Germans as pos
: Tole away from the Russian front.
Finally, the profound extent of
Nazi stubbornness in continued
ruthless resistance to the Russians
has been truly amazing. Only a
nation which wants suicide could
continue to face what Germany
iaces with the new year.
The end of the war in Europe
s surely to be expected this COM
ng year. Fuller use of our great
power is practically promised Of
acially, not on far scattered atolls
Out in concentrated power. Places
Snere the blows are to be
aunched have almost officially
been suggested.
Disappointment cannot con-
anue to delay the inevitable. Yet
we continue only to plod along
emote sandy island by island in
NE Pacific, and mountain by
mountain in Italy, with no more
aan 100000 men in action on
and, anyone can see this war
"uld last interminably (the long
lard years originally forecasD.
My best guess is Germany will
'et crack, and quickly, that the
var IN Germany will certainly end
the first six months of 1914,
PROBABLY the first quarter, and
aat Japan will. last less than a
'ear longer.