OTHER LANDINGS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 305, 20 September 1943, Page 5

OTHER LANDINGS

Allied Intentions In Europe

ULTIMATE VICTORY LONG WAY OFF (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 17. 'The Allied forces were now engaged in a very hard battle south of Naples and casualties were heavy, said President Roosevelt in a message to Congress today. The desperation with which the Germans were lighting revealed that they were well aware of the consequences to them of our occupation of Italy. Congress and the American people could rest assured that the landing in Italy was not the only landing we had in mind. On July 10 a carefully prepared expedition had landed in Sicily. In spite of heavy German opposition it cleared this large and heavily fortified island in 38 days. The British, Canadian and American losses in killed, wounded, and missing in the Sicilian campaign were 31.100, ot which the American forces, lost (44a. The casualties among the Italians and Germans were approximately 195,000. including 132,000 prisoners. From Sicily the advance of the Aflied armies had continued to the mainland. On September 3 they landed on the toe ot the Italian peninsula. • Mr. Roosevelt referred, to.the downfall of Signor Mussolini as the first break in the Axis leadership, adding that when Hitler and the Nazis went out the Prussian military clique must go with them. Vulnerable Fortress. The President went on to say that the Italian Fleet, which had come over to our side, could be a powerful weapon in striking at the Nazi enemies of. the Italian people, adding: “When Hitler was forced to the conclusion that his offensive was broken and he must go on lhe defensive he started boasting that he had an impregnable fortress. But he neglected to provide the fortress with a roof. He also left, various other vulnerable spots in the wall of the so-called fortress—which we shall point out in due time. “The British and American air forces have been bombing the roofless fortress with ever-increasing effectiveness. It, is now our purpose to establish bases within bombing range of southern and eastern Germany and bring a devastating war home to these places by night and day as it has already been brought to western Germany.” Speaking of heavy and costly raids such as that on Ploesti, the President went on: “We shall continue to make such raids all over the territory of Germany and the satellite countries. With Italy in our hands, the distances we have to travel will be far less and the risks proportionately decreased. “We have reliable , information that there is definite unrest and a growing desire for peace among the peoples of these satellite countries —Rumania, Hungary, Finland, and Bulgaria,. We hope that in these nations tlie spirit of revolt against Nazi dominance which commenced in Italy will burst into flame and become a consuming fire. Striking at Japanese.

“Tlie freeing of the Mediterranean,” said the President, “will lead directly to the resumption of our complete control of the waters of the eastern Indian Oceau and the Bay of Bengal. Thus we shall be enabled to strike at the Japanese on another of their highly vulnerable flanks. “'There has been one serious gap in the lines of our globe-girdling sea power. That is the gap between north-west Australia and Ceylon. That gap. can now be closed as the result of the victory in the Mediterranean. “We face in the Qrient a long, difficult fight. We must be prepared for heavy losses in winning that fight. The power of Japan will not collapse till it has been literally pounded into the dust.” He pointed out, however, that American, Australian, New Zealand, and Dutch forces, in a magnificent campaign in New Guinea and tlie Solomons, had destroyed much of the Japanese strength and gained new bases from which to launch new offensive operations. 'The President- added: “After a long period of defensive strategy in Burma we have determined to take the offensive there. I am glnd to report to you that we are getting more supplies and military help to China. Almost every day word comes that a new air battle has destroyed two or three times more Japanese planes in China and Burma that wo ourselves have lost.

“The process will continue till we are ready to strike right at the heart of Japan itself. It goes almost without saying that when Japan surrenders the United Nations will never again let her have authority over the islands mandated to her by the League of Nations. “Japan obviously is not to be trusted. The same thing holds good in the case of the vast territories which Japan has stolen from China, starting long before this war began. “Britain has already attained full production. Today, the British Empire and the United States together are turning out so much of every essential of war that we have definite superiority ever Germany and Japan, which is growing every minute. “We have come a great way since Congress first met in January of this year, but I state only a 'blunt fact when I tell Congress that we arc still a long way from ultimate victory in any theatre of war, . , . “First, in spite of our substantial victories in fhe Mediterranean, we face a hard, costly fight up through Italy—a major job of organizing our positions before we can take advantage of them. “Secondly, from our bases in the British Isles, we must be sure we have assembled the strength to strike not just in one direction but many directions — by land, sea, and air with overwhelming forces and equipment. “Thirdly, though our Russian allies have made a magnificent counter-offen-sive and are driving the common enemies back day iby day, the Russian armies still have far to go before they get into Germany itself.

“Fourthly, the Japanese hold firmly-es-tablished positions on an enormous front from the Kuriles through the mandated islands to fhe Solomons, and through the Netherlands - East Indies to Malaya, Burma and China.

“To break through this defensive ring we must hit them, and hit them hard, not merely at one point, but at many points, and we must keep on hitting them.”

THREAT TO JAPANESE Allied Gains In Solomons And New Guinea WASHINGTON. September 17. After saying that “Italy is not the only landing we have in mind,” President Roosevelt added: “At Quebec we made specific and precise plans for further blows of equal or greater importance against Germany and Japan, with definite limes and places for other landings on the European Continent and elsewhere.” Referring to (he raid on the I’locsti oilfield. Mr. Roosevelt said : “We lost 53 bombers and more than 500 of our finest men are missing. This may seem like a disastrously h’Jgh loss unless you figure it against the damage done to the enemy's war power. “I am certain the Japanese or German High Commands would cheerfully sacrifice tens of thousands of men to do the same amount of damage to us, if they could. Those gallant, brilliant young Americans who raided Bloesti won a smashing victory which will contribute materially to (he shortening of the war, thus saving countless lives.” In reference to the 'New Guinea and Solomons campaigns. President Roosevelt said : “In the Solomons, with heavy fighting, we have gained so many island air bases that the threat Io Australia and Now Zealand across fhe Coral Sen has been practice Uy dissipated. In fact, our position in that area has become a threat against Hie Japanese in the seas north of Hie Solomons and New Guinea.”