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Show to give full expression to all phases of the war. It is going- very well for the United Nations and has reached the stage so aptly, described de-scribed by Ambassador Halifax who said "anything can happen." of a modernized form of slavery, under which millions of workers from captured land3 have been forced to labor in German industry. indus-try. I Thus, we see, that Germany armies ar-mies have not done as much fighting fight-ing in this war as in the former struggle and German industry has been strengthened by the importation impor-tation of millions of laborers. The observation should be made at this point that it is extremely difficult to appraise the cost of the Russian campaigns against Germany's potential po-tential strength because of the secrecy se-crecy which has surrounded operations oper-ations in Russia. Aerial Offensive A New Factor . . . Upon the above analysis of the exertions of the German armies and their losses, as reflected by the fighting fronts, it would seem foolish to believe that German military power has been dangerously danger-ously weakened. However, there are other factors to be considered. The chief of these is the aerial offensive which has carried warfare war-fare into German cities and destroyed de-stroyed considerable segments of Nazi industry. It is impossible to assess the damage that has been done to Germany's Ger-many's war machine by the bombing bomb-ing of the R. A. F. and the U. S. Air Force. Whether it has been sufficient to equal the absence of incessant fighting to second front is questionable. At the same time, because of the dependence of armed forces upon industrial support, sup-port, it is possible that the bombing bomb-ing has weakened the Nazis more than enough to offset the absence-of absence-of a full-scale second front. We do not overlook the importance impor-tance of the operations around the Mediterranean but in the grinding of German war strength they have not been important factors. The political and strategic value of the gains scored since El Alamein cannot can-not be overestimated but only a tiny fraction of Germany's land power has been involved in these operations. Other Facts influence Decision . . . This discussion should be linked these matters in connection with rumors of German collapse and an early peace. Our readers should have them in mind. Nevertheless, they should be considered in connection con-nection with the record on the battlefields, bat-tlefields, which show definitely that Germany is not able to hold her own against her foes, even on the fronts that now exist. The writer calls attetion to more closely with facts that have been stressed in earlier articles but it is impossible, in limited space, FORWARD MARCH By II. S. Sims, Jr. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 COMPARISON OF THIS AND LAST WAR REVEALS UNCERTAIN FACTORS TO WEAKEN PREDICTIONS The present war in Europe will equal, in length, the first World War early this month. On Dec. 12 the struggle will have been underway under-way four years, 103 days, which s the time that elapsed between Germany's declaration of war against Russia in 1914 and the-Armistice the-Armistice in 1918. The time is interesting in connection con-nection with speculation as to the duration of the present war, which seems to depend, in large degree, upon the ability of Germany to take it. The question is: How much can the Nazis take? There are interesting parallels and differences. In both struggles the Germans scored amazing early victories only to succumb to the massed strength of the coalitions brought into action against her. Many wonder whether the Reich can last much longer in this conflict con-flict than the Kaiser's empire lasted. last-ed. Bow Strong Is German Army? . . . The strength of Germany, as everybody understands, is on the land. Her campaigns have been based upon complete faith in armed forces. In the present war this was enhanced by possession of the world's greatest aerial forces. The combination looked like a winner to the Nazis when they started their invasions. So far, in land fighting, the Germans have not been compelled to use large numbers of soldiers on two fronts. Moreover, the Russian "ront was non-existent until June, 1941, when Hitler attacked his ally. Consequently, in this war Germany has been fighting a land war on one major front for about two and a half years. More Fighting In First War ... In the first World War the Germans Ger-mans had major land fronts in France, Russia, and subsequently, in Italy and the Balkans. The land fronts in France, Russia, and subsequently, sub-sequently, ih Italy and the Balkans. Bal-kans. The land front in Russia disappeared in the latter part of 1917 with the revolution but it was in full force for more than three years. Thus, in the first war, German soldiers were busy for more than four years in France and more than three years in Russia. Rus-sia. ' The fighting in France in the present war hardly bothered the Nazis. Certainly, it did not deplete de-plete the military strength of Germany. Ger-many. Against the two fronts of the earlier struggle the Germans have had only the Russian front and such campaigns as have been developed in Africa, Sicily and Italy. It-aly. There is, however, this to add: the fighting in Russia in this war, while shorter in time, has been more costly to the Germans than all the battling in Russia during the first war. Germany Imports Needed Labor ... The German situation has been improved in this war in another important way, which is not altogether al-together recognized everywhere. This is an industrial war, in that the fighting men must be supplied on a vast scale. Workers contribute contri-bute to victory, as never before. The German manpower problem has been relieved by the adoption |