SECOND FRONT COST

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 165, 10 April 1944, Page 5

SECOND FRONT COST

Confident United States General (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received April 9, 7 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. “The reports that the Allied losses will be tremendous when the invasion <n Europe begins are tommyrot,” said Lieu-tenant-General Omar Bradley, commander of the United States ground forces iu the Allied expeditionary force under General Eisenhower, to the officers of a United States infantry division in Britain. "You would know you cou.d not lose it you were able to see what is lined up, he said. "You will be surprised at the naval gunfire and power you will have. Some of you will not return, but this number will be small. We lost only an average of about three or four men per thousand in tlie Tunisian campaign- and seeing a show like the forthcoming one ought to be worth that chance.” The first month of the European invasion would cost the United States forces a maximum of 150,000 casualties, including killed, wounded, captured and otherwise lost for duty, stated Mr. Andrew May, chairman of the House ot Representatives Military Affairs Committee, at a Press interview m Washington. He added: “That is the figure on which lire armed forces are tentatively reckoning for replacements, with the current, attrition of 55,000 men monthly.” SLOW ALLIED PACE Impatience In Canada (Received April 9, 9.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, April b. “The anniversary of the battle of Vim? Ridge has brought into the forefront the impatience of the Canadian people and the troops overseas with the slow pace at which the war is being waged,” says the ’“New York Times” correspondent m Ottawa. "It is fully appreciated that the preparations for the invasion must take time, but ever since the Quebec conference everybody has been living iu expectation which now seems long deferred. “The lack of success in-Italy is openly discussed in the Press aS a disappointment, and it is argued that Cassino augurs ill for an invasion of the French or other coasts where the Todt orgauiza tion ha» been constructing a defence system for four years. There is a certain nervousness about the apparent decision to risk everything in one tremendous blow against Europe. If it succeeds, of course, it will be fully justified, but if it peters out the consequences, will be very grave. Nevertheless, Canadians of all kinds long for another Vimy Ridge. "While the criticism of the military conduct is inevitably restrained, there is a disposition to comment more openly on political questions. Both in Ontario and Quebec newspapers have begun urging that Canada should take an independent line and recognize the French Committee as the authority to administer a liberated France.”