The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29. 1943. THE FOUR FRONTS.

Evening Star, Issue 25034, 29 November 1943, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29. 1943. THE FOUR FRONTS.

Major developments occurred on the four fronts last week. The air war reached a stage of terrifying ferocitydescribed by Sir Archibald Sinclair as " the real stuff "—as R.A.F. bombers rained thousands of tons of death and destruction on Berlin night after night In Russia the Red.army, as the result of a daring by-pass manceuvre, captured the stronghold of Gomel on the White Russia front, completely routing the enemy there; in . Italy the Eighth Army crossed the formidable 'barrier of the Sangro River, and it is evident that a determined drive to take Rome before the end of the year is imminent. "We. will now hit the enemy a colossal crack," General Montgomery has told the Eighth Army, and it is not with mere iparo-, chial pride we mention that he has now with him the New Zealand Division, who, to quote Mr Churchill when the division returned from Syria at the time of the British retreat to Egypt, played "a magnificent, a notable, and even decisive part in stemming the great retreat which might have been detrimental to the whole cause of the British Empire and the United Nations." . While these offensives have been taking place or are being planned in Eurone. in the Central Pacific, at no small cost to themselves, the Americans carried the war well north into Japanese-held territory, occupying the Gilbert Islands. On ail' four fronts the enemy has suffered blows shattering to military and economic strategy and to morale which carrv a terrible, unmistakable message for him. Lord Sherwood, additional Under-Secretary for Air, has promised the Germans that the (R.A.F. attacks will increase in weight and become more deadly in effect until the war power of their country is' smashed and broken. The old argument of whether bombers can win the war has been revived as a result of the Berlin onslaught, and while they may not be able to win the war itself, it is, increasingly apparent that they must shorten it if blows such as those delivered last week can be maintained. It must not be lost sight of that other German cities as well as the capital felt the weight of Britain's might in those seven days.

To counter the Russian gains on the eastern front, the Germans have been playing up their offensive in the Ukraine, with the capture of lightlyheld Jitomir and to-day's claim of having taken Korosten, but in spite of -'Soviet withdrawals in the Kiev bulge there is nothing to indicate that the counter-attack has proved a serious threat to General Vatutin. The Italian campaign, seemingly slow, must be looked upon as satisfactory. The weather delayed operations for a long time, but the Allies have made steady progress, maintaining their strength and always consolidating. General Montgomery's message is the best indication that the campaign has gone well and that greater activity may now be expected. He has not yet been found guilty of talking for mere effect. The occupation of the Gilberts can only be highly disconcerting to Japan, for American forces have now in their possession important bases to enable blows to bo struck against other Japanese targets. Lessons have been learnt in this costly venture that will be put into effect in future operations. Further south, the .Japanese have finally

lost the New Guinea stronghold of Satelberg, the taking of which had been largely delayed by weather, while on Bougainville their positions have deteriorated, although their strength is still great. Their air and shipping losses have been large throughout this protracted South-west Pacific campaign. Taken by and large, the position on the four fronts can be viewed with approval, although on each it is certain that much remains to be'done. It should, however, be remembered that it is only in tho last twelve months that we have really begun to fight, and to overcome the great headway made by the enemy calls for time, but wo are at last taking strides of no inconsiderable length.