EFFECT ON AXIS MORALE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23948, 15 May 1943, Page 5

EFFECT ON AXIS MORALE

VALUE OF TUNISIAN VICTORY MR STIMSON’S VIEWS (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 13. “The Tunisian victory will have infinitely more effect on the ultimate outcome of the war than if we had won the November race for Tunis,” declared the United States Secretary for War (Mr H. L. Stimson). addressing a press conference in Washington. “It we had won the race the Axis would "have attributed the victory to the element of surprise. However, as the campaign turned out we beat the Axis African armies to their knees, despite serious initial disadvantages. “The result of-this victory is now spreading far and wide in the Reich and the occupied countries.” Attributing the Tunisian victory to General Eisenhower’s brilliant planning and to superb execution of his plans in a perfect co-ordination of the land, sea, and air forces, Mr Stimson predicted that similar results could be secured elsewhere. He declared that the Tunisian debacle was the equal of Stalingrad. The Gormans, he said, seemed to have been overwhelmed by the speed and power of the Allied advance. They had fought bravely, but they certainly were not supermen in defeat. Mr Stimson said that the Allied casualties were heavy in the Anal phase of the campaign. “The Allies can and they might invade Europe from Africa very soon,” declared the Berlin radio, “During the African campaign the Allies repeatedly filled in gaps within a few days from the inexhaustible resources at their disposal. The Ist and Bth Armies and the Americans will have regained their full fighting power within one week at the most, after which there is no serious reason why the Allies should not use these armies for an attack. “Even if they were not ready, there are huge masses of Allied troops in Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt, from which several invasion corps could easily bo formed, and there is nothing to prevent them from being immediately embarked from the intact Algerian ports. This, of course, does not mean that such immediate action is definitely expected.” Four words—“ Yesterday Africa, Europe to-morrow” arc being drummed into the oars of French listeners from North African radio stations, says Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers. Round this slogan the Allied transmitters are building up a tremendous second-front barrage, and such phrases as “We promise you that the liberation of Tunisia is only a rehearsal,” and “We will march down the Champs Elysees," are being broadcast throughout the world. The Algiers radio said: “We have more arms, more tanks, more vehicles, and more aircraft than the Axis. We have the means to bring them to you. We are on our way. Prepare yourselves for the battle for Europe, which is about to begin.” THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY SPECIAL PRAYERS IN CHURCHES (8.0. W.) RUGBY. May 13. Special prayers of thanksgiving for the victory granted the forces of the Commonwealth and Empire and the Allies in Africa will be offered in the churches at services next Sunday. Bells will be rung. A national service of thanksgiving will be held at a place and time to be announced later. Ministers have been asked to offer prayers next Sunday by the War Cabinet. with the approval of the King, and after consultation with the leaders of the churches. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. William Temple) has issued the following statement: “The news of the victory in Tunisia is obviously an occasion for thanksgiving to Almighty God on the part of all who believe that the overthrow of Nazism and Fascism is necessary to the welfare of mankind.” His Grace has suggested the following prayer, among others already in use:— Almighty God, Judge of the nations, we come before Thee in penitence and thanksgiving, in humility, and faith. We give Thee hearty thanks for Thy mercy shown us in the success granted to our arms and those of our Allies. We thank Thee for the courage and endurance of our sailors, soldiers, and airmen, for the vision of our statesmen, and the skill of our commanders. And we pray Thee to uphold the spirit of all people of the United Nations that we may be worthy of victory and may so dedicate ourselves to Thy service that we may be able to use it to Thy honour and the benefit of all mankind. RIOTS REPORTED IN GERMANY SWEDISH NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT LONDON, May 13. In a message, which the German censor passed, the Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper “Handels Tidning” reports that rioting broke out in Berlin outside the German Armed Forces Information Office, when 1000 women and elderly men gathered seeking information concerning their relatives in Africa. He states: “They were brusquely dismissed. and told that they .would be given the necessary information at the appropriate time. The crowd then began rioting and Storm Troopers were called outfighting between the crowd and the Storm Troopers occurred, but the troops did not use their firearms." The correspondent reports similar incidents in other parts of Germany. VICTORIES IN NORTH AFRICA RUSSIANS FEATURE NEWS (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 13. The Russian press and radio have given prominence to the news of the complete Axis capitulations in North Africa. The Red Army newspaper, “Red Star,” gave almost an entire page to the Allies’ triumphs, which was the biggest spread for the British and Americans since the outbreak of the war. The news was the main topic in homes and streets of Moscow, with the general reaction that the second front would soon come. NO LISTS OF WAR PRISONERS AUSTRALIAN PROTEST TO JAPAN MELBOURNE, May 14. In conjunction with Britain and the other Dominions and Allied nations, Australia is making the strongest protest to Japan, through the protecting Power, over the failure of Japan to furnish information about war prisoners. Although Australian prisoners have been in Japanese hands for 13 months, the International Red Cross has received only the names of 3000 Australians officially issued by the Japanese.