NAZI STRATEGY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1943, Page 5

NAZI STRATEGY

FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE

STRONG HELP FOR ITALY

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

NfcW YORK, July 5 A fundamental change in German strategy involving strong reinforcement for Italy is now occurring which may affect the course and duration of the war, writes Hanson Baldwin in the "New York Times." The Germans are determined to fight for Italy, Sicily Sardinia, and the other Mediterranean islands.

"No longer can there be much hope for a quick and easy victory against Italy or an Italian collapse—there are too many Germans in the peninsula and the nearby islands," Mr. Baldwin asserts. "The Germans are able to reinforce Italy, without materially reducing the strength of the ground forces on the Russian front, by means of a tremendous national mobil;sation that

started in Germany coincidentally with Stalingrad. "In spite of their losses in Russia and North Africa, the total of German divisions has been increased rather than diminished. The Nazis have tdded at least 20 divisions to tho army by combing industry and effecting economies in man-power By the autumn the army is expected to total 350 divisions. Hungary and Bulgaria are also, increasing the use, of foreign legions." Mr. Baldwin concludes: "Germany lias abandoned the strategic offensive and is now playing a waiting opportunistic game, hoping to force the United Nations to move first, after which she may launch a great counterblow to smash an attempted invasion. The changed strategy is a confession that Germany has lost her unlimited war, but she still hopes to win a limited war."