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Show I I I I I liit:'l;':i..i' 1 1 ; : 1 1 1 1 r i. r ; f 1 1 .iHitf FORWARD MARCH By H. S. Sims, Jr. WHAT WON THE WAR? Radar performed wonderfully and was one of the most valuable instruments in the service of our armed forces but there is nothing noth-ing to be gained by exaggerating its role. For example, the assertion has been made that without radar we would have lost the anti-submarine campaign. This might be a matter of argument if it were not for the fact that in World War I we won a similar contest without with-out radar. So far as submarines are concerned, con-cerned, the convoy system, based upon adequate protection for ships moving in packs, broke the back bomb saved the lives of one mil- lion Americans and 250,000 Britons. Brit-ons. While we have a high regard for Mr. Churchill's intelligence, we are not inclined to agree with his estimate of the casualties that would have occurred in the invasion inva-sion of Japan. The idea that such an invasion would result in prohibitive pro-hibitive casualties is in line with the dire predictions of unbearable casualties that preceded the invasion inva-sion of France, the breaching of the West Wall, the crossing of the Rhine and the subjugation of Germany. Ger-many. While the invasion of Japan would have involved heavy losses, there is little reason to suspect that they would have been more than those incurred in the complete com-plete defeat of Germany. Despite the oft-proclaimed recklessness of the Japanese with the lives of thei soldiers, the unconditional surrender surren-der of the Emperor proves conclusively con-clusively that they are not immune im-mune to military pressure and a heavy dose of hot lead. U. S. Airmen Murdered . . . This is not a pleasant story but it is one that every American or tne u-boat campaign in both wars. The heavy losses suffered in the early days of both struggles were due to a lack of destroyers and escort ships. The amazing ability of radar to pick up enemy vessels and locate them undoubtedly made our task easier. Moreover the device was of tremendous importance in nav-ial nav-ial and aerial warfare. The extensive ex-tensive assistance that it gave to our fighting men provided a decisive de-cisive margin of superiority in combat. This is only a part of the service thaat radar performed and the full story is not yet recealed. Even so, it is foolish to ascribe victory to any single weapon or accessory. The fighting bravery of men in uniform was the key asset of our nation at war. It was theh factor that beat the U-boats, the luf twaff e, the kamikaze . and everything else that the enemies possessed. Over-Exaggeration . . . Mr. Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, and probably the best commentator commenta-tor on the war, thinks the atomic should read because it tells what happened to six or seven American Ameri-can airmen who parachuted into Germany after their plane had l been damaged by flak The airmen were led through the streets of Russelsheim several days after they had been captured. cap-tured. Two women spied them and shouted, "Beat them! Beat them!" That is what the Germans did and here is how they did it: Following the fliers the infuriated infuri-ated Nazis pelted them with rocks, bricks and pieces or slate and beat them with sticks, clubs and even metal weapons.' One boy, unable un-able to walk further because of a piece of slate sticking in the back ! of his head, knelt in the street, putting his face in his hands. A Nazi walked up and kicked him in the face. Finally, the American airmen were down and helpless. They were attacked with sticks, stones and metal hammers. Finally Fin-ally the unconscious men were shot. One German witness said: "They were strong men, -the fliers and they were very young. Young men, like that, can bear much, and suffer much, and these young men suffered like Christ upon the cross before they died.'' The names of the young Americans Amer-icans have not been revealed but some of the guilty German civilians civil-ians have been apprehended. ,No doubt they will be punished, as they should be punished, and the method of their punishment should be sufficient to warn all- people, everywhere and for all time, that mistreatment of an American fighting man carries, in time, inevitable in-evitable penalties. There will be some muddle-headed pacifists in this country to ex- cuse the Nazis, and to suggest that their crime be overlooked, now that the war is over. This is a foolish argument. The United States has overlooked too many affronts and indignities in the past, including the sinking of the Panay. It is time for this nation to serve effective notice that there is no excuse for mistreating American Amer-ican citizens, including those who fight for their country. |