INVASION OF EUROPE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 July 1942, Page 5

INVASION OF EUROPE

ANGLO-U.S.A. PREPARATIONS

“DATE SET EARLIER”?

NEW YORK, July 18. It may be that an Anglo-American land offensive in Western Europe has already been decided upon, and that the date set is much earlier than was generally guessed, states Arthur Krock in a dispatch to the “New York Times” from Washington. He points out that - some observers in Britain have noted preparations and growing troop concentrations, on which they base the suspicion that this 4s so.

The “New York Times,” in an editorial, states: “To keep the Russians in being is of such vital interest to the British and ourselves that it is inconceivable that anything than can be done to relieve the pressure on Russia will be left undone. M. Molotov, after visiting London and Washington, returned to Moscow satisfied that Britain and the United States would do everything in their power to support Russia. There is no question, therefore, that the Soviet Government knows what to expect, and when to expect it. Still less is there any question that the Russians are any more anxious than ourselves that a blow from the west shall be delivered at the earliest possible moment.” UNIFIED U.S.A. COMMAND (Recd. noon.) LOS ANGELES, July 19. “Voctory cannot be won until the United States Army, Navy, and Air Commands are unified under a single Commander,” declared Mr Wendell Willkie. “This Commander in turn would co-ordinate America’s war effort with the military heads of the other United Nations.”

Mr Willkie urged the appointment of General MacArthur as United Military Commander, and added that the post of Supreme Military Commander for all the United Nations, Armies, Navies, and Air Forces, would eventually inevitably be created. SABOTAGE IN FRANCE.

LONDON. July 18.

Widespread acts of sabotage in France are disclosed in French underground communiques. Sections of the Le Havre and Brus-sels-Lille railway have been blown up, a German canteen at Brest was dynamited, and 800 tank caterpillar tracks were destroyed at Lille steelworks.

Numerous grenade attacks against German troops are also reported. According to the Stockholm newspaper “Svenska Morgenbladet,” a violent street battle occurred in Montmartre when the Faris police attempted to arrest a long-sought Communist terrorist named Eoureillier. The Gestapo co-operated with the police and finally cornered Eoureillier who resisted arrest with a gun until mortally wounded. France’s food situation this Summer is critical and it threatens shortly to become catastrophic, says Professor Leroy Sheetz, one of the last Americans to leave France. He adds that this is one reason why almost the entire French population is awaiting an Allied landing in France soon. Once the Allies have established a footing on the Continent nearly 100 percent, of the French will rise up. The Nazis know this and it is the chief reason why they refuse to release French prisoners, Professor Sheetz said. It is reported in London that fighting broke out at Grenoble on Bastille Day and police and mobile guards, armed with machine-guns, were obliged to disperse the thousands gathered in the main streets. The trouble began when 20 members of Marshal Petain’s Legion shouted: “Vive Petain.” The crowd immediately responded: “Vive de Gaulle. Vive la Liberate. Vive la Republique.” Big demonstrations also occurred in Lyons, Limoges, Toulon, Nice, and Clermont Ferrand. At Lyons the crowds cried: “We want bread and guns. To the gallows with Laval.” Anton van Duinkerton, known as the “Dutch Kipling,” was among seven writers and singers seized as hostages for sabotage. The Governor of Holland (Dr. von Seyss-In-quart) has decreed that . persons knowing of sabotage committed but failing to reveal the facts to the authorities will be shot. JUGOSLAV~GUERRILLAS LONDON, July 18. It is now known that General Mikhailovic, leader of the Jugoslav guerrilla forces, has succeeded in concentrating most of his forces along tne Danube, seriously jeopardising Axis river traffic. New fighting has broken out in Western Bosnia, where, the Germans claim that 2000 patriotis were wiped out in a few days’ fighting. _