SECOND FRONT

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1942, Page 3

SECOND FRONT

British Opinion i nO'A AGREEMENT. LONDON, April 27. The possibility of. tne tinned Na tions forming a second front agamsj .Germany is one of tne topic of conversation in Britain. L°id Beaverbrook’s speech has forced it into the', limelight, 'the interence drawn that, since Lord .Beaverbrook General Sikorski, and-jM. Bitvinox have urged a second front 30 ediy, there may be some mdecis.on in tne highest circles. ’ There are ,c.ertainiy iavo points q.i view'lP Britain. ‘"l.’he. advocates of an uivasip'ri eXpi;ess'tne opm.on that there dan" ne'veX be a bener opportunity than "nW, when half tne imitwafie’s. 'fijgjiter' strength, is diverted to the Russian front, and Hitler is fdl-iy involved in Russia in Ins longneralded smashing Spring offensive. The key point of tne argument, is that the world battle depends on whether Russih"holds'oh breaks, and, for that reason, everything possible should oe done to 'Help. her. Many agree with Lord Beaverbrook thaVthe United strike “even reckifessly?’" ? ■ The opposing viewpoint, while agreeing \yith the desirability of a sepopjp fxorit, bears in mind/ that a sepMd Dunkirk' would; not be of service 1,0 Russia or the Al.liqd Nations, a.h<l expresses the opinion that it is ho,t a' question of guns, tanks, aeroplanes, dr men, tjut of ships. This vietypolnt agrees that, whue speed is iriiperatiyej yet improvisation is inadvisable, At. the same. time, Britain thust/not dVerlook ’ the fact that she is. still' facing' invasion herself. Some pepple are of the opinion that a second front is inadvisable, and prefer more and bigger commando raids.

If the second front discussion has no othei' value, it is- certainly giving the Germans a taste of their own “war of nerves” methods. The fact that Runstedt. who is regarded as one of the best of Germany’s Generals, is putting l the western defences ,m order, is an indication of the seriousness with which the Germans view the possibility of a second front. An indication that it is openly discussed ip Germany was an article by Hauptmann Ritter von Schramm, in the German Press, who estimated that 80,000 to 100,000 fuliy-equipped men would be needecMto meet. an Allied Continental invasion. Meanwhile, the R.A.F. pounding of Germarfy is .of the greatest possible assistance in the. world battle. The value of such assistance must not be overlooked.