WANING STRENGTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 67, 20 March 1943, Page 5

WANING STRENGTH

GIRAUD'S OPINION OF

GERMANY

NEW YORK, March 18

"The Vichy Government is a German Government, which can no longer exist when French armies enter France," said General Giraud when lie was , interviewed in North Africa by Mr. Hanson Baldwin, of the "New York Times." General Giraud, who impressed Mr. Baldwin as the strongest, most disinterested, and most sincere of all the French leaders, frankly discussed the military situation. The General expressed the opinion that Germany was not yet at the end of her rope, in spite of the heavy losses in men and material, and that she had enough strength left to finish this year, but could not go through another winter. He did not believe that Germany had another March. 1918, offensive in her system. Because of the strength of the fortifications in western Europe, he said, Germany could impose great casualties if the Allies attacked in that area, but a successful conclusion of the African campaign would greatly affect Italy, while a landing in southern Europe would have inestimable results on the entire strategy of the war. Mr. Baldwin says that General Giraud's recent statements and also the resignation of his deputy, General Bergeret, and the probable replacement of General Nogues, have done much to clear the political air. "However, within the next six or ten weeks the political crisis will be paralleled by an economic and military crisis which will have a major effect on the political situation." the correspondent adds. •'The rainy season has ended, and extreme intensification of the fighting may be expected at any time.. Hoarding of food and wheat has created a serious shortage." He concludes that General Giraud's political reforms cannot be fully consummated till the Germans have been pushed out of the Mediterranean and the spectre of hunger and deprivation is eliminated from North Africa.