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PERTH, THURSDAY, NOVIMBZR 5, 1942.
NO. 3,048.
A Second
SIXTY-NINTH YEAR.
ront would not be necessary . . .
If Russia Would Accept Allies'
Soldiers ott
w oi.I iC
Reliable figures disclose terrible risk of proposal * Some hard facts that agitators should be told By Conrad 11. Lanza in "Americo, August 8th, 1942.
Agitation for upening a second front in Europe against the Axis Powers has
existed for over a year. In "America" May 23, 1942), several plans for doing so, each proposed by a prominent statesman or writer, but all different, were discussed. Those writers did, however, agree that the matter was so urgent that immediate action was imperative. Both the American and British Governments have announced that they have approved the idea of opening a second front, but at a proper time and place which for the present, and for very good reasons, is a State secret, It was further announced at the beginning of June that an understanding with Russia had been reached on a second front. To date there has been no second front, and popular agitation is arising for an explanation as to why all this delay. For from Russia comes word that that country is in dire straits and cannot alone bear the weight of a mighty Axis offensive. RusAn explanation is necessary. sia is in a bad way. She has no inexhaustible reserves of men. One-third of her population was lost to the Axis in last year's campaign, and at present the Axis Powers outnumber the free Russians roughly by about three to two. Russia last year lost about sixty per cent. of her food-producing territory, and is daily losing the best of what remained to her, She never had much surplus food. How she is going to feed her millions of people during this coming winter is a problem not yet solved. It is a serious and tragic proRussia also lost last year to blem. the Axis about seventy per cent. of her industrial production and has since been dependent on her Allies for munitions. The current Axis offensive has cut off the line of supply maintained by the United States and Great Britain via the Persian Gulf, except as to
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when it is night for weeks. At this season of the year, continuous daylight exists, and losses have been severe. However, losses in times of war must; of course, be expected. It seems clear that, for more than a year, troops could have been sent to Russia to help her resist her strong adversary. During this long period a very large number of troops might
Litvinov and Maisky sold Washing ton and London the idea of the Second Front,
-
Stalin would not have British troops Why?
in Russia.
Caucasia, still within the Russian lines. The only other route across the Arctic Ocean to north Russian ports is infested during the summer with hostile submarines and planes and a much too small proportion of the goods shipped arrives. It seems amply demonstrated that Russia, outnumbered by her powerful enemy, with insufficient food in sight, with inability to manufacture the munitions needed for her defence and with the routes of supply from her AlIt lies partly cut, is in a had way.
has accused reasonable to our people and to the British that the Russians had a right to demand a second front and that there was an obligation to organise one. Why was it not done? The best method to have saved Russia would have been to have sent troops The sea route to her own country, to the Persian Gulf, while long, has always been open and is still open. Losses on this route from submarines have The route through the been small. Arctic to north Russia functioned quite well during the dark winter days
have been provided. In 1917 and 191S, we sent our troops directly to France, to aid our Allies where they were then fighting. Their arrival and intervention within a year and a half decided the war in our favour. Nobody then suggested a second front. All the Allies worked together, under a single commander, on a single front, and they won. Why is it necessary to revert to a second front in this war? When the present Russo -German war started in June, 1941, the British did rush aviation units to Moscow to help their new Ally and prepared to send more air forces, and tank troops, and experienced generals and staffs. Did the British carry out their intention? They did not. Russia accepted the planes and the tanks, but she would not have British soldiers. Those that had arrived, supposing they would be welcomed, quickly came back home. Russia admits within her borders very few outsiders. Not even the American truck drivers who bring Lease Lend goods from the Iran rail -head to' the Russian occupied zone get in. The American trucks and their contents do, but the trucks are driven over the Caucasian mountains by Russian chafA few leurs to their own railroads. Allied diplomats and high officials are admitted to Russia, They are care(
Continued on Page 4)
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years
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