EXPRESS TIME-TABLE. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1943. HITLER'S DREAMS FADING.

Evening Star, Issue 24918, 16 July 1943, Page 2

EXPRESS TIME-TABLE. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1943. HITLER'S DREAMS FADING.

" However this war may end in detail, and however difficult and possibly circuitous our road to victory may still be, this much has already been decided: Another and perhaps the most formidable attempt in history by any one man or nation to. conquer the rest of the world has .again ended in failure." This is an extract from an article published several. weeks ago in the ' New York Times,' a newspaper that has never indulged in dangerous complacency. If tho writer of it was so sure at that time that Hitler's cause was doomed, he would have still greater reason to-day to develop his optimistic theme. Provided, of course, that we take nothing for granted and always remain 011 guard, against possible enemy surprise efforts, born of despair, wo can look forward to a complete triumph for Allied arms. The news from Sicily and the brief comments made by General Eisenhower and General Alexander indicate that the Allied campaign in this Axis island stronghold is being conducted ahead of schedule, and with fewer casualties than were expected. Of pleasing signi 7 fieance,' also, is the reported attitude of the Sicilian people towards the invaders. If the demonstrations of friendliness and goodwill are genuine and reflect the feeling latent in the hearts of their compatriots on the mainland, Hitler and Mussolini will find it an insuperably difficult task to defend the leg, heel ; and toe, of .Italy successfully should Sicily fall. Victory in total war can come only through total effort. The British Empire and the United States of America are putting forth that total effort, and the blows they are now able to strike at tho enemy through utilisation of the three fighting services can never be matched' by Axis forces past the zenith of their power. ■ Other fronts besides the Mediterranean must be causing Hitler and his henchmen the' greatest anxiety. Today's tidings of the Russian . breakthrough in the Orel sector, following ■ tho costly German failure to smash the Soviet defence in that and the Kursk areas, furnish proof that our eastern front allies have not been idle during the recent lull. Whereas the Nazis have been unable to bring about some weakening dispersal of the Russian forces by persuading the Japanese to attack Siberia in the Far Edst, the troops of the Soviet Union are- receiving every possible support from their own allies—both by way of material aud : second front help. If the Russians last year were able to turn back the /powerful drive on'Stalingrad, even before the German. Sixth Army had ]*een materially reduced and before the Allies were threatening the- European mainland j it; must be apparent'that the conditions under which they are now fighting must be still more favourable. Another smashing defeat in Russia, and capitulation in Sicily would be two blows from which the Axis armies would find it hard to recover.

There is the further possibility that as soon as the enemy shows signs of reeling before, the onslaughts lie will feel the impact of yet another offensive ih Europe. .Allied planes ,based -hi:Britain are not sallying forth almost daily .over occupied Europe merely in order to participate in some form of aerial exercise. A significant fact is that particular attention is now being paid to the\ disrupting of: German communications. The sudden bombing of Aachen, the important German railway centre near the Dutch frontier, after a, long period of comparative- immunity, is a possible sign that the invasion hour in the north is drawing neary for there would be obvious advantages' in by-passing such plaices till the last in order "to leave no time at.the disposal of the enemy for reconstruction and repair of the transport services. A week of good news is cbrnpleted by".the course of the'_ war' in the •Pacific, where a rod in pickle is surely in store for Japan.