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Show I It I I I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 I I I I I ) FORWARD MARCH By H. S. Sims, Jr. WAR GOES WELL ON EVERY FRONT BUT DATE OF VICTORY DEPENDS UPON STRENGTH OF AXIS Since Germany invaded Poland in 1939", precipitating the present titanic conflict, we have attempted, attempt-ed, every week, to make an intelligent intel-ligent appraisal of the progress of the war. It is impractical to attempt to relate, in detail the progress of the armies and it is of little value to set up a forecasting department to peddle guesses as to the future. In general, we have tried to summarize the outlook confronting confront-ing the embattled alliances and to assist readers in understanding the trend of current campaigns. Naturally, our conclusions have been based upon various and conflicting con-flicting reports but in the main they have been substantially correct. cor-rect. Many Factors Remain Unknown . . . We have seen detailed information informa-tion as to where the Germans have their soldiers but, frankly, most of these outlines must be discounted. Their authors have little more information in-formation than that available to the man on the street. The only important fact is that with the exception of Stalingrad and North Africa, the Nazis have waged a very successful war on the land . It may be assumed without violence, vio-lence, that the leaders of the German Ger-man army know what they are doing and are carrying out a predetermined pre-determined plan to meet future movs against them. This largely explains the necessity of establishing estab-lishing a shorter line in Russia, which would release fighting men to meet the expected Allied thrust in western Europe. At this time it is impossible to guess how successful the Nazi maneuver has been or to" estimate the number of divisions that have been freed from service in Russia. Rus-sia. The Soviet officials assert stantly urge their people not to become optimistic as to the early I conclusion of the war. This is good j advice but it in no way impairs the conclusions that are brought to us from events upon the far-flung far-flung battlefields, where the Axis has been on the defensive for more than a year and a quarter. massive array of ships and equip- ment available for use eagainst the enemy. It is not possible to go into details de-tails as to these items but each has a major significance and together to-gether they explain the optimism of all Allied leaders as to the outcome out-come of the struggle. Until the Anglo-American army goes into action it is impossible to forecast anything except that heavy losses are to be expected. The length of the war is a mystery, depending entirely upon German strength, a factor which we have no way of discovering. Same Rules Apply to Japan .... Much the same general result comes out of any calculations about the war against Japan. We know by this time that we have the men, ships, planes and tools to defeat the Japanese bat when the end will come depends entirely entire-ly upon the strength of Japan, a factor which is uncertain and unknown. un-known. Because of this doubt the leaders lead-ers of the United Nations con- that the Red amy's attack has been so severe that the Nazis have not been able to accomplish their basic strategic purpose and that it has been necessary to reinforce the armies in Russia. Time And Place Of Invasion . . . The Cairo and Teheran conferences, confer-ences, it is assumed, have completed com-pleted the strategic plans of the United Nations for 1944. Plainly , everybody expects a terrific land-sea-air invasion of western Europe Eu-rope in the next few months, with most experts concluding that April Ap-ril or May offer the best weather. It is also assumed that prior to the invasion, diversionary landings may be witnessed in the Balkans, in southern France and even in Norway, or other coastal points along the 2,000-mile western front. Development of these attacks at-tacks would depend upon German reaction. At least it is said the would compel the Nazis to scatter their forces and thus weaken the reserve which they have assignel to defend western Europe . We have no idea where the decisive de-cisive attack will occur. Our presumption pre-sumption is that the lowland of western France will be the place because both areas are close to English air bases, thus permitting maximum utilization of preponderant prepon-derant air power. We have no idea as to the time but the tip-off will come when American and British planes begin to concentrate their attacks upon a comparatively narrow nar-row front, where they will undoubtedly un-doubtedly attempt to blast everything every-thing off the surface of the earth. Vital Victories In Other Areas . . . Certainly in any general survey of the war we must take cognizance cogni-zance of the complete defeat of the U-boat campaign, the shattering shat-tering aerial bombardment of Germany, Ger-many, the huge success of our construction program and the |