“FAKE LANDINGS” ON FRENCH COAST

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23915, 6 April 1943, Page 5

“FAKE LANDINGS” ON FRENCH COAST

WARNING BROADCAST BY 8.8.C. LONDON, April 4. A warning to the French people that the Germans may try to fake commando raids on the French coast to discover Allied sympathisers, has been broadcast by the 8.8.C. and the Algiers radio. , . A spokesman on behalf of the Allied High Command said: “We believe that the Germans intend to stage these fake landings. You must receive all rumours of Allied landings ' Vl *h . 9 greatest reserve. Listen to the Allied radios. We will inform you when the right moment arrives to strike.” INVASION OF GREECE PREDICTED AXIS DEFENCE PLANS IN BULGARIA (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. When reviewing Greek Army units in Cairo the Greek Minister of War (M. Karapanyiots) declared: “It will not be many months before the invasion of Greece is begun.’’ The special correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” inside Europe says: “It is authoritatively admitted in Sofia that Hitler and King Boris are discussing plans for the defence of the Balkans against an Allied invasion. It is now expected that Bulgaria will give the Axis full military co-opera-Bulgarian War Minister (General Mikhov) precipitately left for Sofia following an inspection of fortifications on the Aegean coast. New defences are being constructed on the Bulgarian-Turkish frontier and the Black Sea coast.” .. . , The “Daily Telegraph says that although Bulgaria has been ordered to take up arms on behalf of the Axis only King Boris and 3 small coterie favour such a course.

AXIS “DUNKIRK” LITTLE IMMEDIATE LIKELIHOOD (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. Military commentators in London suggest that it is too early to expect an Axis “Dunkirk’’ at present, because the bulk of the Axis troops escaped from the Mareth Line, and in spite of casualties the Afrika Korps is still a hard nut, although the Allied nutcrackers are steadily, if not spectacularly, exerting pressure. Nevertheless, as the Axis defence area diminishes, it will be easier to defend, at least until adequate air support for the field armies becomes impossible. There are as yet no signs that such a danger point has been reached, and until Mar. shal Rommel is too cramped he will continue fighting delaying actions, “It is idle wishfulness to suggest that Marshal Rommel will attempt a ‘Dunkirk’ from Tunisia," says J. L. Garvin, writing in the “Sunday Express.” “The Axis intends to put up the longest and bitterest fight possible.”

“It is thought in London,” says the “Sunday Express” diplomatic correspondent “that Hitler might try to rescue the highly-trained Afrika Korps from Tunisia, but will probably leave the Italians. It is only a matter of time before we control all Tunisia, although sporadic fighting may go on for months after this is achieved.” After a visit to the front, including Gabes, General Giraud said: “The Axis will have to do a Dunkirk. There will soon be lots of white caps floating in the Mediterranean. We are on the road to victory.” The Italian radio spokesman, Mario Appelius, broadcasting on the Rome radio, said: “The war is approaching Italian territory. We must prepare for any eventuality. The entire British and American strength is being concentrated against us. Thus, after three years of facing the might of the British Empire, Italy must also take on the United States.”

The possibility of an attempted “Dunkirk” is apparently exercising the minds of the Axis troops. Reuter’s correspondent with the Bth Army refers to five captured German infantrymen who independently asked what the British Dunkirk was like. One inquired whether the German bombing there was anything like what the Germans were getting now.