HITLER MAY WAIT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 104, 12 February 1940, Page 8

HITLER MAY WAIT

LAUNCH INC AN OFFENSIVE. PROSPECTS FOR NEXT YEAR ,V LONDON, January 31. Instead of launching. , an . offensive in tho coming spring, some observers suggest that Hitler may withhold big attacks until he is better prepared. Among those holding this view is Madame Tabouis, the French commentator, who .credits Hitler with 'having 1 reached ‘this .'conclusion after studying the reports of experts. Madame Tabouis - says ho has deckled that it is impossible to finish the war with a great offensive in 19-10 because, his . reserves . are not largo enough to meet the wastage involved in a Western attack and because the Allies have taken all measures to defeat such an attack, even if it should come through Belgium, Holland or Switzerland.

By the spring of 1941, she says, Germany will have trained large numbers of pilots and the High Command will have immense reserves of men.

Also, Marshal Goering will have reorganised the country’s economy, the Russo-German agreement should begin to show results by the autumn of 1910, and the resources of Central Europe and the Balkans will have been methodically exploited. Accordingly, Hitler during 1910 will probably confine operation to local objectives, including improvement of his position in Rumania. An explanation of why violent air and land operations have not been attempted, suggests “Scrutator” in tho “Sunday Times,” is that Germany may have begun the war before her preparations were complete, Tho pact with Russia may hayo involved a change of military plans as sudden as the political alterations that were neccssar'y.

Germany even now may not have drawn level with the demands that tho. Allied blockade is making oik her supplies. The easiest economy is, in such circumstances, to abstain from great offensives, and it is therefore possible that Germany will remain on the defensive until assured of abundant military material.