SECOND FRONT SPECULATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 221, 18 September 1942, Page 3

SECOND FRONT SPECULATIONS

AFTER DIEPPE RAID U.S.A. View Of Churchill's Visit To Russia United Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 17. Mr. Quentin Reynolds has just returned from witnessing the Dieppe raid. He predicted tlnat the United Nations second front in Europe would not be opened until the spring. Mr. Reynolds said that about 9000 were in the Commando which participated at Dieppe and which proved four things to t,he satisfaction of the London High Command. It proved, firstly, that a major armed force could be landed on the European Continent, secondly, that as many as 200 ships bearing men and munitions could remain in an important French Channel port for at least nine hours, thirdly, a valuable lift could be given to the morale of the French people, who await deliverance from their oppressors and fourthly, the Russians could be convincingly shown we are ready now to sacrifice some of our own men in battle. Reported Allied Disagreement The New York Times London correspondent says British-American-Russian disagreement about a second front increasingly troubles the Allies, who are painfully aware of the seeds of disillusionment and friction, that could have far-reaching effects on the prosecution of the war and the following peace. It is clear beyond doubt that Mr. Churchill and M. Stalin were as far apart about the second front when they bade farewell as when they first met, but many people do not know that American representatives in Moscow fully supported Mr. Churchill's rejection of an immediate intervention in Europe. Certain circles assert that President Roosevelt's envoys showed a more aggressive attitude than Mr. Churchill, bpt the Americans, who realised their forces would constitute only a fraction of what was required to open a second front, left London for Moscow "in harmonious, if unenthusiastic, agreement with Mr. Churchill." Mr. Churchill not only rejected M. Stalin's demands, but offered alternative suggestions, none of which aroused Russian enthusiasm. These plans cannot be disclosed, but some may come into operation before the end of the year.