BLOWS COMING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 27 September 1943, Page 5

BLOWS COMING

IN EUROPE AND ASIA

Major Allied Developments Expected Soon

Rec. 10 a.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 26.

Simultaneous major developments of the United Nations' offensive strategy in Europe and Asia arej expected within a month, states the New York Times correspondent, Cyrus Sulzburger, in a dispatch from Jerusalem. He says the Germans are rushing strategic reserves from the Russian and Mediterranean fronts and elsewhere to Western Europe, in order to meet the huge assault which the Allies are preparing to launch from Britain. "The United Nations," he says, "are determined to establish at least one —possibly several—strong bridgeheads in Western Europe before the winter, so as to use them as starting points for an all-out drive against ! the heart of Germany next spring. Similarly, the Mediterranean drive is gradually shaping up. The Allied forces in the Middle East, including Greek, Polish, Yugoslav, British and American troops, are getting ready for action against the Balkans. "The spring is likely to bring fullscale offensives against Berlin from France, Italy, the Balkans and Russia." Full-Scale Burma Campaign Mr. Sulzburger adds that heavy reinforcements have been going to Asia for some time. He predicts that a full-scale campaign will soon start in Burma, which promises to reopen the Burma Road before Christmas. The Special Commissioner of the Chinese Overseas Ministry, Mr. Y. A. Bock Hwang, predicts that the Allied assault against Burma will open early in October and that the Japanese will be driven out of Burma within two months. The Herald-Tribune says Australian and American forces are going to attempt to capture Rabaul within six weeks, by which time the weather will be favourable for land and sea operations in the Bay of Bengal. The paper points out the obvious advantage of General MacArthur exerting pressure in the East Indies while Admiral Mountbatten strikes at Burma and other targets. "Renewed Japanese air activities in the Solomons," the Herald-Tribune adds, "is evidence that they are attempting to delay the joint offensive from India and Australia. They will probably also launch an offensive against General Mac Arthur's holdings to tie him down in East New Guinea, for which reason our forces must expect desperate action in the South Pacific."

TARGETS IN BURMA R.A.F. BEAUFIGHTERS ACTIVE British Official Wireless Rec. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 26. Five more locomotives, a number of wagons and station buildings, were damaged yesterday when R.A.F. Beaufighters attacked railway targets at Maymyo, states an India communique. River craft on the Irrawaddy, north of Prome, were also heavily attacked, and damage was inflicted on a large steamer, over 35 sampans and various other craft. None of our aircraft is missing.

DO FINLAND HARM "SCRIBBLIXGS" ABOUT PEACE LONDON, Sept. 26. Deprecating foreign discussions on Finland's reported desire for peace, the Finnish Minister of Finance, M. Tanner, speaking at Helsinki, said: "Such scribblings do Finland great harm. Our only enemy is Russia. Finland wishes to maintain cordial relations with all other nations." WAGES IN MEXICO MEXICO CITY, Sept. 26. The President of Mexico, General Manuel Camacho, has signed a decree, which will become effective on • October 1, freezing for the duration ; of the war the wages of all workers i who earn more than two dollars a > day. Workers earning less than two - dollars are to be granted increases of 5 to 50 per cent.