rapidly developing manpower and industrial strength of America p~omptly to the opening of such a front was manifestly the only way it could be accomplished.
 
3- But the effective ~pplicatior. of America's strength
 
requ~ed prompt, rapid and safe transportation overseas.                            The 'allied
naval power controlled the seas by only a narrow margin.                           There was a
dangerous and increasing shortage of commercial shipping.                          With one
 
exception the Axis Powers controlled every feasible landing spot in Europe. By fortunate coincidence one of the shortest routes to Europe from America led through the only safe base not yet controlled by our enemies, the British Isles.
 
A. Out of these factors originated the Bolero plan.
 
The British Isles constituted the one spot
 
(a) where we could safely snd easily land our ground forces without the aid of carrier- based air cover.
 
(b) through which we could without the aid of ships fly both bomber and fighting planes from America to Europe.
 
(c) where we could safely and without inh erruption develop an adequate base for invading armies of great strength. Any other base in western Earope or northwest Africa co,old be obtained only by a risky attack and the lo~ delay of development and fortification.
 
(d) where we could safely develop a&r superiority over our chief enemy in northern France aud force him
       either to fight us on equal terms or leave a. bridgehead to France undefended.
 
                  5. The psycholoEical advantages of Bolero also were manifest. The mereace' of the establishment of American military power in the British I~les w*~ld be imme~ately e~Ident to Hitler. It at once tended to