THE ENEMY IN EUROPE

Evening Star, Issue 24447, 8 March 1943, Page 3

THE ENEMY IN EUROPE

ALLIED ACTION EXPECTED AT ANY MOMENT

DICTATORS' DEFENCE PLAN

(Rec. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 7. Decisive Allied action against Europe may be expected at any moment, says the ' Sunday Express ' diplomatic correspondent. There is clear evidence that the Axis is preparing a double plan of campaign to meet the expected United Nations' attack. Hitler and Mussolini have drawn up this plan:— 1. Concentration of forces inside/ those parts of Europe dominated by them. 2. A political and diplomatic offensive aimed at disrupting the United Allies, thus weakening their armed strength. The correspondent adds that the main targets in the non-stop air ■ attack against the enemy in Europe have been transport and supply facflities, with a view to preventing the speedy despatch of reinforcements to the scene of attack. President Roosevelt revealed that the Allies will attack in many places at the same time. Thus free transport will be a vital necessity to the enemy,, adds the correspondent. Largely for this reason Goering is holding hundreds of bombers inside Germany. He will not let them be risked in attacks on Britain. Whatever we do against Germany, these will be used in an attempt to hold our forces until Axis reinforcements can reach the battlefield. As part of the concentration of Axis forces Italian troops have been .recalled from Russia. They wjjl stay in Italy, and it is regarded as certain that they will be reinforced immediately by German troops. I This will stretch still more the de- ' pleted strength of Hitler's army. Authorities in London expect a sharp intensification "of German • naval activity and the use of both U-boats and surface craft to upset < our convoys. This has been anticipated in .our general plans. More / difficult to handle will be the diplomatic and political offensive, (the - main theme of which will be the Bolshevist bogy, which still I frightens some of the smaller nations. ' I