The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-27
PREPARATION FOR OVERLOAD

XIII
 PREPARATION FOR OVERLOAD
 In November and December 1943, the Combined Chiefs of Staff had met with President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill at the SEXTANT Conference in Cairo and then with the President, Prime Minister, Marshal Stalin and his military adviser at Teheran. By that time 1t was clear how the de- feat of Germany could be brought about-but the Allies were beset by ipnumerable specific problems Of implementing the desired strategy
 The greatest of these by far was the critical shortage of landi<g craft Those available for the toc priority operation OVERLORD in Normandy still seemed insufficient and there were many other vital operations that had to be under taken if we were to maintain the initiative on the global battlefronts Even though an attack in the south of France was considered essential to the success of OVER LORD, the Combined Chiefs of Staff had previously directed that 68 landing ships be returned from the Mediterranean Theater to the United Kingdom beginning 15 January to meet the requirements of the cross Channel assault as then planned. Despite these ad- ditional ships, it became evident that there would not be sufficient landing craft in Great Britain by the invasion target date to provide sufficient margin of safety for the hazardous amphibious assault. Therefore, on their return to Cairo from Teheran, the Combined uous measures must be taken to permit a broadening of the initial landing in Normandy. The Medit- erranean Theater could be bled no further. Only sufficient resources were left there for an assault force of two divisions for Southern France, and military intelligence indicated that while this force could probably overcome anticipa- ted German resistance on the Riv = iera coast, the rapid development of the operation EorthWard up the Rhone valley would not permit the further reduction. The remaining possible source for additional land ing ships was in the shipsyards of Great Britain and the United States. Such an increase in time for OVERLORD would require a miracle of production since these shipyards were already over crowded and working at furious speed to maintain the heavy exist ing schedule of landing craft pro- duction, as well as that for the con- struction of destroyers and des- troyer escorts urgently required to combat the German submarines.
 Further Difficulties
 An added complication at this time was the possibility that Fur key might enter the war on the side of the United Nations, expos ing herself to an attack by Bull garia. The possibility of operati s.s to support her in the eastern Med iterranean had to be considered
 At the same time there was grave concern over the situation then obtaining in Asia. The Gen eralissimo Chiang Kai-shek, met with President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and their mili- tary advisers at Cairo, and all were convinced that a determined effort must be made to reestablish surface communications with our Chinese Allies in 1914. Agreement was reached for operation CAP TEAL in which the forces of Ad- miral Mountbatten and General Stilwell were given the mission of investing Northern and Central Burma. It was realized that the