Greymouth Evening Star. TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1942. WAR REVIEW.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1942, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1942. WAR REVIEW.

from most of Um fronts continues to be bad. but it might be worse. If Ilio Eighth Army in Egypt is not advancing. it is stopping the enemy from doing so. and there is cause for hope that Rommel will bo forced to retreat as tlm result of the present operations. Tim New Zealanders’ exploits have, won general admiration, and they an* pulling their fair weight, but cannot be expected 1o have an uninterrupted run of success. Any rebuff is but temporary, however, but such cheeks necessarily mean high casualty rates. The lists are now being published daily, and prove, in themselves that the Dominion’s mon face a grim task. Official correspondents habitually stress the gratifying side, but care must be taken

by those at home to remember that there is no “come, see ami conquer” about the fighting in Egypt, or anywhere else for tliat matter.

In the most important area of the world war, Russia, .the developments are disquieting, despite the Soviet Forces’ comeback' at Voronezh. If the Red Army can continue this successful counter-attack, the German progress further south will be indirectly hampered. The fact has to be faced, however, that the Axis advance in the Don-Donetz area and towards the Caucasus has been more rapid than expected, and no serious check is yet in sight. However, the Russians show no sign of a general collapse, and lheir endurance mav succeed in overcoming

enemy enterprise. Russian official communiques do not help to make clear just what is happening, ami the Soviet Press ami Moscow radio are often 100 optimistic. 'That tin l position generally is critical cannot be doubted.

Advocates of an immediate invasion of the European continent by the Adies, see in the Russian present plight, their main argument. Demonstrators in Sydney pass resolutions demanding the immediate opening of this second front. So far. no report has come from London that Hyde Park orators have insisted similarly on a second front being startl'd from Australia. Il is easy to urge second fronts when the scene of the operations will be many miles away, and when no personal application is involved. Most people will he glad when the Allies can strike at Germany on land, but only a few are in a position to know when and where such | blow could be attempted with a reasonable prospect of success. Air. Churchill is usually credited —or debited—with being the chief opponent of an immediate invasion effort. Whatever else may be said of him, he is more aggressive than conciliatory. and if it is true that he advises against an early attempt to land an army on the Continent, his opinion will carry weight, lie has promised to strike every possible blow, by land, sea and air. against the Nazis, even to Berlin, itself. Meanwhile, some of the Russians’

warmest supporters are losing patience, ami insist that far more be done by Britain chiefly, to relieve the Axis pressure on the Soviet troops. The cabled publicity is confined to a few, Air. Shinwell, a Labour Leftist getting more than a fair share of notice. His criticisms probably leave Whitehall calm, but he helps to limit administrative complacency. Britain is more than keeping her promises of supplies to Russia, if not all she sends reaches its destination. The P-boal

campaign is Britain’s worst enemy, and until Anglo-L.S.A. efforts Io lessen shipsinkings succeed, there will be some ground for Mr. Lyttelton's alarming statement that Britain’s peril is as greatnow as at the Bailie of.* Britain, lie appears to have exaggerated the crisis, especially as Mr. Churchill said a few weeks ago that the general position of the Allies had improved. In the Ear East, lhe Chinese have gains and losses, and are far from a spent force. Little news comes of active operations from American headquarters. in any part of the Pacific, but something big must be preparing.

The erection of a memorial to the late Dr. .1. W. Mcßrearty, of Greymouth, has been hold over on account of war conditions. The Mayor, Mr. F. A. Kitchingham, stated to-day that the proposals for a memorial acceptable to the family of the late Dr. Mcßrearty had been narrowed down to two: A bridge over Sawyer’s Creek in the Children’s Park, and a bust of Dr. Mcßrearty to be placed in the entrance lobby of the new Plunket Rooms. He added that rough estimates of the cost of a bust had been obtained, but war conditions had prevented the matter being finalised.