Victory by Unity

The Allies think they are finding a way to win the war.

Axis strategy has been to divide enemy forces and demolish them fragment by fragment. Allied strategy, which became obvious the moment the Americas fell into the war, is to prevent any further division. The Allies, possessing the great land masses of the world and the great sea bastions between them, must temper their chain and let no link be broken. Then, with unified, coordinated action, they must use the chain to beat the enemy down.

Fittingly enough, the strategy of unity was first proposed by the first victim of Axis aggression, China. In Chungking Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek last week suggested the immediate formation of an Allied High Command. Britain responded by directing General Sir Archibald Wavell to further British cooperation with China. Anthony Eden flew to Moscow to find out exactly how far Russia would go in joint action. In London and Washington both military and civil authorities of all the Allied nations conferred. President Roosevelt said that plans for joint action were coming along very nicely.

This week's activity apparently resulted in a decision to hold a conference of Allied powers in Washington to be attended by highest officials of participating Governments.

The Allies' front line now encircles the globe. It is hinged on a half dozen great naval fortresses: Britain, Gibraltar, Suez, Singapore, Pearl Harbor, Panama. These fortresses are the key points in the Allies' mobility, vitally necessary if the Allies are to continue helping each other fight on farflung battlefields. By breaking any two of those key points (see below), the Axis could virtually cut hemisphere from hemisphere.

If the Allies are to win the war, they must not only defend their strongholds; they must, sooner or later, attack Axis power in such a way that it is no longer capable of threatening the strongholds.

This will call for consummate timing. Priorities of effort will have to be assigned. Each ally will have to sacrifice a modicum of its own advantage for the common end.

Arranging these things will call for great statesmanship. But they must be arranged for victory.