The Vital Points

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1941, Page 4

The Vital Points

THE world’s attention is still focused on three theatres of war in any one of which dramatic developments may occur without delay. In the Far East a crisis has been reached. Japan and the United States have carried discussion to' a point where finality may be expected. The United States has given undeniable warning to Japan that the issues of peace or war in the Pacific rest with Tokio, which may, if it wishes, remove the risk of a conflagration by accepting the conditions laid down at Washington. Will Japan do that? Can she do so without suffering humiliation calculated to disrupt the nation? Time alone can provide the answer. Meanwhile there is little doubt that Germany’s showing in the western war is being anxiously watched by Japan, who, in the matter of adherence to the Axis, is patently opportunist.

It is for this reason that the defeat inflicted upon the Germans in the southern sector of the Russian front is a matter of far-reaching importance. There seems to be no doubt that Marshal Timoshenko and his generals have shaken the Germans very badly, and, though it would be foolish to exaggerate the victory of the Russians, it is nevertheless of a character most unwelcome to Hitler at the present time, when he must either pile victory upon victory or lose the moral and material support of nations upon whose assistance he is dependent to a large extent. The tremendous effort which the Nazis are making to capture Moscow proves Hitler’s recognition of the fact that he must stimulate the confidence of his allies.

The same considerations apply to the campaign in Libya. If General Rommel were overwhelmed while the Germans in Russia were retreating before the victorious Russians, a deadly blow would be struck at German morale, as well as that of the Japanese. This accounts for the ferocious nature of the Libyan struggle.

At the moment hostilities have been halted by atrocious weather conditions, but it is clear that both sides are taking advantage of the lull to prepare themselves for resumption of a battle upon the result of which will depend in large measure the future course of the war.

General Rommel is making desperate efforts to escape from the trap in which his main armies have been caught. Whether he will be able to keep open the door he has partially unlocked is a matter which the next day or two will reveal. The odds are very heavily against him, but,wvhatever the result of the battle, there is little doubt that it will be of a most determined character.