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Show 4 I , III I I I 'I I l.il.il I .1 I l il ; I mi FORWARD MARCH By H. S. Sims, Jr. tlllllllliilllllllllllllllillltlllillltllllllllllHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIiiHIIII RUSSIAN ATTACK OVERWHELMS OVER-WHELMS FOE IN THE EAST BUT DECISION MAY BE LONG DELAYED The amazing sweep of the Russian Rus-sian arnjies into Germany easily overshadows other developments in the world-wide conflict. It is difficult to appraise., the tremendous tremen-dous consequences that flow from the rapid advance of the Red armies. ar-mies. The surge of Soviet troops toward tow-ard Berlin has not been accompanied accom-panied by reports of many prisoners pris-oners taken. This would tend to establish something of a planned German withdrawal before the nrlvartrinp hnrdps of fhp Rnvipt idea that the Soviet is not seek- ing an all-out victory. Last year, when the Russians failed to attack at-tack East Prussia or to seek an advance in Poland the suspicion was freely voiced that the Soviet was setting its borders in order, preparatory to letting the British and Americans fight the war against Germany in the west. It is now explained by competent compe-tent military observers that Soviet Sov-iet strategy deserves no criticism. Any attempt to move earlier would have met "soft" ground, presenting . handicaps to speedy progress. Consequently, it is now said that the round-about campaign cam-paign into Hungary, which con-pelled con-pelled the Germans to reinforce that southern sector, served an extremely useful purpose and gave the Nazi high command a new area to defend. Two Future Possibilities . . . Despite the remarkable gains scored by the Russians it is too early to write-off the possibility of a stiff German stand along the Oder, or some other line. The Nazis are rushing reserves to the East, calling troops from Norway Nor-way and other areas and beg'eine is quite likely that Allied pressure in the west and in Italy will be Intensified. In-tensified. No effort will be spared to prevent the transfer of German divisions to the East front. The failure of von Rundstedt's thrust through the Ardennes has been followed by a resumption of Allied attacks. While these have been on a small scale they compel the Nazis to closely watch developments develop-ments and it is not unlikely that Gen. Eisenhower will increase the tempo rapidly. Japs Facing Early Blockade ... The war in the Pacific follows its expected course, with the Americans making steady gains on Luzon and the Navy blocking Japanese reinforcements. This leaves the Japanese on the island to their own resources which will not be enough. The enemy is in the same position occupied by our troops in the early days of the war. The intense aerial activity of carrier-based planes, both against Japanese -sea lanes and islands, aided at times by the decisive action ac-tion of surface units, is gradually restricting the enemy and something some-thing of a partial ' blockade is in effect. This will be tightened in the months ahead and intensified by the steady bombardment of Japanese productive centers by our long-range aircraft. The length of the war in the Pacific cannot be estimated because be-cause no one knows where or when Allied ground forces will be able to defeat the Japanese army. Much of the strength of the foe is in Asia and it seems probable that advantage will be taken of Chinese manpower in ousting the foe from the continent. This may prolong the length of the war but it will certainly cut its cost in American blood. The Nazi purpose, no doubt, is to stretch Russian suppliy lines and to place as much of a vacuum as possible between the Soviet bases and the fighting front. Nazis Lose Vital Zones This theory, however, is challenged chal-lenged by the admitted progress of the Russian armies in East Prussia and the Silesian" areas, which were valuable to the Germans Ger-mans as extended bases for possible pos-sible effective counter-attacks. The rapid progress of the Russians Rus-sians in both sectors has about removed the menace of a German Ger-man counter-thrust from these places and thoroughly protects the all-important advance in central cen-tral Poland. East Prussia and the Carpathian zone, in the plan of the Germans to defend their nation in the east, served as fortress-areas, with the former being the more important of the two. The Russians launched a concentrated attack against East Prussia, capturing Inster-burg Inster-burg and Allenstein, after breaching breach-ing the Niemen line, and moving toward Konigsburg. In less than two weeks the Prussian defense of East Prussia all but collapsed. Soviet Seeks to Reach Berlin ... The strength of the present Russian offensive negatives any the home front to put forth its utmost efforts to stop the barbarous barba-rous Russians. It is possible, and in our view probable, that the Red armies will come up to something some-thing like a fortified line inside Germany. There is an equal possibility that sweeping advance of the Red army will enable it to breach such a line in short order. Nobody can predict what will happen but unless un-less the Germans manage to make a stand soon the Red army may decisively defeat the Nazi armies and move into Berlin with amazing amaz-ing rapidly. This is an extreme possibility but it is one of the things that can happen. The German forces opposing the Russians are fast reaching the place where they must stand and fight or lose their entire country. The strategy of yielding space for time has been played exceedingly well by the enemy but, at last, his tradeable space is exhausted. From now on it must give up parts of Germany or risk all in a battle that may easily be the most titanic land struggle in the history his-tory of the world. Attack In West to Be Developed . . . Because of the fast-developing situation on the Eastern front it |