GREAT EVENTS

Evening Star, Issue 24334, 24 October 1942, Page 5

GREAT EVENTS

LOOMING IN NEAR FUTURE TIDE OF WAR TURNING IN ALLIES' FAVOUR (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 23. That the war is about to enter a new phase and that the Allies stand on the threshold of big events is the opinion held in wellinformed circles in London. This opinion is based on the war’s general position. It was always recognised throughout the summer that if Russia could prevent Hitler alising his objective of smashing Soviet military power, if Britain could .defend Egypt until winter’s approach, and Australia and America could hold the Japanese in check, then the tide of war might turn slowly and surely in the Allies’ favour. The first touch of winter's breath is hoginning to seep through Europe. In Britain falling leaves are now spilling into russet pools, and there is a growing feeling, backed up by leaders’ speeches, that this year’s limited objectives have been obtained and that the gravest period of _ challenge is gradually passing. It is now hoped that Britain is no longer a defensive fortress—a role which Germany is taking on—that Hitler will be attacked, not only in Europe, but also Africa, and that America will get to' 1 fundamental grips with Japan. The present stage is regarded as_ a searching test of national self-discip-line. It is a period when some uncertainty exists, when it is not known what is in the minds of the military leaders, hut their planning must bo taken on trust. A cardinal fact of Hitler's Russian campaign is that he is entering the winter with a defensive line approximately twice as loqg as last year’s. He had hoped by defeating the Red Army to hold down Russia with skeleton garrisons while switching his main forces westward. Although, the German army is better prepared for winter than last year and the Russians have lost valuable territory and resources, yet Hitler, in addition to failing to defeat the Soviet army, has also failed to secure Transcaucasia and its oil. This is largely duo to Stalingrad's heroic defence, which obliged Hitler to concentrate forces there instead of dispersing them to the Caucasus. For this reason It is now thought that he may only bo able to attempt Grozny arid Tuapse and seal the Caucasian range against attacks from the south. Thus, while Stalingrad’s position has deteriorated it would he unwise to say it has lost its strateige importance, while resistance may, continue for some time. But it would be unwise to'believe that Hitler will he content merely to stay on the defensive, or that the Germans will not hit out in the near future against Egypt, to which they can divert some divisions and the Luftwaffe. THE PACIFIC. London opinion is that the Solomons battle will be a long fight, growing in size and intensity. It is also believed that the American chances of holding out are good, despite the difficulties and risks involved. The Japanese still have nava! superiority in the Pacific—a different tiring from supremacy—they also apparently have the advantage of greater naval concentration in the Solomons and bases closer to the scene of operations. America’s defence, of Guadalcanal depends on holding the airfields, which depends on holding sea bases. Retnotion of the Solomons is so important that the. Japanese may go to any extremes to regain their position, which eventuality must be borne in mind; but as in the European so the position in the Pacific is not entirely discouraging. Meanwhile the sea warfare also shows some signs of improving. Mr A. V. Alexander’s recent speech with the statement on U-boat sinkings was most important and encouraging. There is a feeling that the tide is slowly turning in tljo Allies’ favour in the Atlantic. GERMANY’S PROBLEMS. Summing uip, it would seem that the general position is not unpromising, and that if the Allies have grave difficulties so has the Axis. The measure of Germany’s pan power difficulties is the length to ivhich the Nazis arc driving Laval to procure labour. They ore forcing him to a greater pace than he would prefer, and there is a possibility that he will risk an explosion in France rather than be sacked by his Nazi bosses. Whether the Germans will also risk this, which would necessitate further measures for holding down the French, depends on the acuteness of their needs for labour. Undoubtedly there are shadows of great events which can be expected to occur before many weeks have elapsed.

NEW GUINEA FIGHTING HAMPERED BY TROPICAL STORMS SLIGHT AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, October 23. Severe tropical storms ate hampering the Allied offensive near Dora Creek village, where the Japanese are fighting grimly to hold their last positions in the heights of the Owen Stanley Ranges, lint in spite of an incessant downpour the, attacks are still being pressed home. Vesterday a slight further advance was made after frontal and Hanking assaults. Jf tho present rains are the beginning of Now Guinea's rainy season (normally Hue early in November) the task of maintaining Allied supplies over the slippery, muddy trails will be seriously complicated. \ Recent Allied gains have boon made only after stiff lighting, but tho extent of the casualties on either side has not been indicated. A spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters said to-day that it wps difficult to provide aerial support for our troops at the present stago of tho operations because of the closeness of tho combat and tho nature of tho country, combined witli the weather conditions. In the early stages of the Allied advance, when the opposing forces were usually well separated, enemy positions and supply lines were heavily strafed, but as the two forces have drawn together close air support has entailed too many hazards to be practicable. After a month’s respite to the day, Port Moresby was bombed early last night. Taking advantage of the moon, three enemy planes dropped their bombs without causing casualties or material damage.