OTHER VITAL FRONTS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21600, 10 December 1941, Page 4

OTHER VITAL FRONTS

Concentration upon the new war in the Pacific has for the time being placed the two other most vital fronts in the background of thought in New Zealand. That was Germany’s if not Japan’s wish. Germany cannot contemplate without misgiving the facts that the Russians, where they are not holding their ground are counterattacking, and that in Libya the fortunes of war are steadily turning against the Axis. From Germany’s point of view these are circumstances which precipitated Japan’s entry into the war. The Russian and African campaigns are still the most vital phases of the whole war, for the very good reason that the German is a greater menace to the world than the Japanese. The most important task in Libya seems to be to smash the main concentration of German armoured units so that reinforcements can be dealt with as they arrive on African shores. At present it is admitted that perhaps 40 per cent of ships laden with men and materials in Italy and elsewhere succeed in crossing the Mediterranean. It is not yet clear whether such reinforcements and supplies reach the Axis forces in eastern Cyrenaica. To the westward at least the way is open to maintain communications, although the lines are constantly being subjected to aerial attacks. Presumably the port of Benghazi is still operating, and possibly others of the small ports on the Cyrenaican coast are making their contribution. It is still clear the destruction of the main body of the enemy, now apparently moving slowly westward south of Tobruk, is the chief tactical aim of the Allied forces. If success is achieved in that direction the stage will be reached when reinforcements in Cyrenaica will be no better than cannon fodder.

Developments on the Russian front give substantial reason to hope that the Germans have met their match and are slowly exhausting themselves against an impenetrable wall of resistance. For three weeks they have been engaged in the latest desperate and unceasing assault on the Moscow front and have little to show for it apart from an appalling casualty list. There must be an end to such carnage. The Russian defence of Moscow is already assured of a place in history. It might well be the rock upon which the great German wave will break and spend itself. Hitler certainly needed to create a diversion. Japanese archives would probably throw some light on the mental condition of the thwarted dictator.