GREAT PROGRESS MADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 149, 20 December 1941, Page 7

GREAT PROGRESS MADE

UNITY AGAINST tHE AXIS

LONDON, December 19

"This weekend the world may learn that an Allied War Council, representing the 25 nations which are at war against the Axis, has become an established fact," says the military correspondent of the "Daily Express." "The negotiations have made great progress towards the grand alliance.

"There are three men, and probably only three, who can save the world. They are acknowledged to be the foremost military strategists of their countries. I suggest that the men who will be chosen to shape and execute the future Allied campaign are Marshal Shaposhnikov (Soviet Chief of Staff), General McArthur (United States Commander in the Philippines), and General Wavell (Commander-in-Chief, India).

"Languages are among the many reasons why they should work in the closest accord. All speak good French, General Wavell speaks fluent Russian, and General McArthur and Marshal Shaposhnikov speak fluent German, which General Wavell also understands.

"General Wavell knows both of the others well. Marshal Shaposhnikov has never been a politician, so there is no question of Communism entering into the destinies of the Supreme Allied War Council. Generals Wavell and McArthur have no politics which are not acceptable to the Russians.

"Marshal Shaposhnikov is M. Stalin's one-man brain trust. He planned with Stalin the strategy of the Russian retreat and the present counter-offensive. When Stalin-gave him control of the Russian-Finnish war it was finished in two months.

"It has never been officially stated, but I believe it is true, that Marshal Shaposhnikov and General Wavell met in the Caucasus in September to plan the defence of the oilfields. They have met frequently during General WavelFs visits to Russia in the last 30

years."