HARD NUT TO CRACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 63, 11 September 1943, Page 7

HARD NUT TO CRACK

CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Rec. 12.40 p.m. RUGBY," Sept; 10, The Allied commanders, from General Eisenhower downwards, are unanimous in believing that in the new operations now beginning on the Italian mainland, the Allies still have a "very hard nut to crack." This point is made with emphasis by Press correspondents at Allied headquarters.

The surrender of Italy, without doubt, was an outstanding victory, and, even if the Italian troops and the civil population fail to intervene on the side of the Allies their mere failure actively to help the Germans improves the prospects of speedy success in the landings by that much. However, as one correspondent says: "The German policy must be to prevent the Allies getting near its lifeline at any cost, arid the possession of airfields in northern Italy will be bitterly contested" He continues: "The Germans fought a most .bitter fight through Tunisia and Sicily, and there is no . reason to expect that in Italy, where they are much stronger and much more solidly entrenched, they will do " less. Of the three campaigns thus far begun in this theatre—Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy—this is far and away the hardest."—B.O.W.