The Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1942 WAR OUTLOOK WARRANTS OPTIMISM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13014, 4 December 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1942 WAR OUTLOOK WARRANTS OPTIMISM

When we focus attention on the Avar events which have happened since the'beginning of November, there seems to be considerable justification for a measure of optimism, more optimism than was warranted prior to that. The change began when the. Eighth Army started the offensive which met with success at every step. Rommel hoped to get to Alexandria, but instead he has been forced to quit Libva in an ignominious defeat. And what is more, the German and Italian generals soon got to quarrelling. Rommel obviously under-estimated the strength of the Eighth Army and its hitting power. lie is under no delusions now. This successful offensive by the Eighth Army had scarcely ended before the American and British tro.ops occupied French North Africa. True, they met with some opposition, but that is a thing of the past. The whole of French Africa, north and west, are now for the Allies, and many of the French forces are now fighting with them. In these French Colonies a formidable force of French and coloured troops are obtainable, and the United States has undertaken to equip these French troops. There is no doubt that Hitler was cleverly deceived and outmanoeuvred over the North African campaign. It was from Dakar that he was drawing considerable supplies of foodstuffs and raw materials, which he can no longer obtain. The R.A.F. with their effective bombing rendered Genoa impossible as a supply base for Libya, and in connection with this bombing it may not be of place to direct attention to the heavy bombs that are now being used by the R.A.F. on Italy. At one time we thought a 5001 b. bomb heavy and destructive enough to frighten the enemy. But we soon had 10001 b. bombs, and these have now expanded to 80001 b. bombs or about four tons (short tons) which have been dropped on Turin. The Italian people have.been made to feel the weight of the R.A.F. and it is doubtful whether they will stand up to more bombing without'demanding that Mussolini should sue for a separate peace. An organisation for this purpose is said to be agitating for peace now. With Genoa no longer available as a supply base the enemy thought to secure the French Mediterranean naval station of Toulon. It is obvious that Hitler hoped to secure the French fleet stationed at Toulon, for, to prevent the fleet from putting to sea, German aeroplanes dropped magnetic mines at the entrance of the harbour. The French fleet did not put to sea but put itself under the sea. The scuttling of the French warships was a brave act of self sacrifice on the part of the sailors and so Hitler gets nothing. The- big guns on the ' coast defences were also destroyed. Hitler gains an empty shell and will have a hostile population to deal with. It may be necessary for the R.A.F. to bomb Toulon, and the British navy may also have to take action. However, this remains to be seen. The destruction of the French fleet is another win, and an important Win. In Tunisia the First Army is succeeding in it's operations against the Axis, and it cannot be long before Rommel is in the bag. Twelve vessels that were carrying supplies to Tunis and Tripoli were intercepted by a British submarine and sent to the bottom of the Mediterranean. However, Rommel will fight and so would a rat in a trap. Rommel cannot get out of the traps, unless he does a hasty getaway in an aeroplane.

The Russians have staged a successful comeback and now have the Germans on the defensive in some sectors and on the run in others.' Hitler told the Germans that the capture of Stalingrad was certain. This was some weeks ago. Now the German troops would be glad to get out of the trap into which the Russians have pushed them. But no sooner had the Russians arranged one trap, then they started another one, and the outlook here foivthe Germans is very precarious. Christmas will not be a happy one, for the Stalin Christmas is not intended for merry-making. We must now expect fresh sensations. Tlie Allies must have something new to spring on the Axis and Hitler in his extremity will commit atrocious blunders. The end of the not look very far away, but much blood will be shed and much property destroyed before the end is reached.