DEMAND FOR ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 24756, 29 May 1942, Page 5

DEMAND FOR ACTION

RUSSIA DESIRES SECOND FRONT (Rec. 8.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 27. The Washington correspondent of The New York Times says Russia is exerting new pressure in Washington, as well as London, for the quick opening of a second front in Europe. However, the United States Government is countering with requests for an opportunity to obtain reliable first-hand information regarding conditions on the Russian front. In the latter connection it is pointed out that although Russia is being given the fullest possible information regarding United States intentions and the progress towards attaining them, British and American observers have not been permitted to see enough of the activities on the Soviet fronts to obtain an accurate idea of the situation there. Officials here, therefore, want closer army staff co-operation with Russia, as well as adequate advices from American observers. There is unanimity in - high quarters in both Washington and London that a second front must be established. There are also strong grounds for be-

lieving that sufficient shipping is available to make this possible faster than has been widely believed possible. However, Washington, like London, is anxious to avoid a premature move which might cause the United Nations to lose their present advantages over the Axis. Diplomatic circles here today expressed the opinion that the British and American Governments were being pushed towards a second front faster than is wise as a result of their own legitimate propaganda holding the defence of Russia to be vital to the United Nations war effort. . In the United States, as in Britain, left wing groups are taking the lead in publicly urging the establishment of a second front. However, the pressure here comes chiefly from intellectual circles, whereas in Britain organized labour is strongly supporting the demand. PLANS DISCUSSED IN LONDON (Rec. 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 27. Commenting on the arrival of Lieut-enant-General Breton B. Somervell, Chief of the United States Army Supply Services following that of Lieuten-ant-General H. H. Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Forces, and Rear-Admiral J. H. Towers, the Naval Air Chief, The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says the broad outline of the plans for the widest strategy of the United Nations have already been accepted on both sides of the Atlantic and are now being completed in detail by the American missions in London, working with the British chiefs of staff and the parallel organization in Washington. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that the high American staff officers newly arrived in London are mainly concerned with the best ways and means of striking against Germany from the west while she is engaged in developing the maximum thrust against Russia in the east. The weight of the British and American attack from bases in the British Isles is necessarily conditioned by a variety of facts, for instance, the maintenance of trans-ocean supplies. The American contribution of land, sea and air forces is piling up at an impressive rate.