A Meaning of Reverses

The Allied world had to put some cross-pieces and braces in its frame of mind last week, for the frame was shaken. Rommel having moved before the Allies were set in Africa was one thing; he was an attacker from way back. But for the Germans to attack in Russia, not just locally, but vastly, 80 miles at a clip (see p. 25)--that was different. The knowledge that U-boats were swarming in on American shores, which had been long unmolested (see p. 20)--that was different, too.

Yet the Allies still held the strategic offensive against Germany. On every front they could afford to yield momentarily-- just so the moments were not too long.

Where could Hitler strike without spending too much--too many of his too few planes, too much of his manpower? At Britain? Not without running into the most highly organized defensive net in the Allied world. At Spain? Not unless he was willing to support a very poor cousin and gain doubtful ends (TIME, March 8). Out of the North African trap, at Morocco or Egypt? Rommel had tried and failed. In Russia? Not without beginning all over again where the campaign began last year.

The offensive risks for Hitler were great. If he gambled on one of them, it would be a certain sign of almost final desperation. It seemed more probable--as things looked last week in a changeable war--that Hitler would strike a limited blow here, a pulled punch there, that he would delay as much as possible as he pulled his forces back into the fortress of Europe and waited for the inevitable.

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