COMING INVASION OF EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 139, 9 March 1943, Page 5

COMING INVASION OF EUROPE

New Indications Seen

LONDON, March 7.

Decisive Allied action against Europe may be expected at any moment, says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Sunday Express.” “There is clear evidence,” he says, “that the Axis is preparing a double plan of campaign to meet the expected attack by the United Nations. Hitler and Mussolini have drawn up this plan, which involves first of all the concentration of forces inside those parts of Europe which are dominated by them, and, secondly, a political and diplomatic offensive with a view to disrupting the United Nations and thus weakening their armed strength.” The correspondent adds that the main targets in the non-stop air attack against enemy Europe have been transport and supply facilities, this with a view to preventing the speedy dispatch of reinforcements to the scene of attack. “President Roosevelt revealed that the Allies will attack in many places at the same time,” he continues. “Thus, free transport will be a vital necessity to the enemy. Luftwaffe Reserve.

“Largely for this reason, Field-Marshal Goering is holding hundreds of bombers inside Germany. He will not let them 6e risked in attacks on Britain. Whatever we do against Germany, these will be used in an attempt to hold our forces till Axis reinforcements can reach the battlefield.

“As part of the concentration of Axis forces, Italian troops have been recalled from Russia. They will stay in Italy, and it is regarded as certain that they will be reinforced immediately by German troops. This will stretch still more the depleted strength of Hitler’s army. “Authorities in London expect a sharp intensification of German naval activity and the use of both U-boats and surface craft to upset onr convoys. This has been anticipated in our general plans. “More difficult to handle will be the diplomatic and political offensive,, the main theme of which will be the' Bolshevik bogy, which still frightens some of the smaller nations.”