INVASION OF EUROPE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 April 1943, Page 5

INVASION OF EUROPE

SPECULATION- IN BRITAIN

HITLER’S RUSSIAN PROBLEM

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

LONDON, April 9

Sooner or later, one topic of conversation which is'bound to crop up in conversation by the man-in-the-street, to-day, is “Where will the Allies open up the second . front?” Guesses range from Norway, Holland, France, and Italy to the Balkans. It is a question which the Ger-mans-would, very much like answered, but nobody knows —nobody except the Allies’ leader, who has chosen the locality and in all probability, the tentative date. A • rough, sketchy, but general strategy of the war at present is seen in London something like this. Germany must put Russia out of the war oi’ she is lost. She must strike against Russia quickly, with all the power at her disposal, meanwhile trusting Rommel and the U-boat campaign to hold off the Allies in the west as long as possible. Can Germany knock out Russia? The opinion is expressed that the Russians are in a stronger defensive position this year than last year. They have better railway communications than they have had since the original German advances. Yet the Germans have been able to deny them possession of strong points for a general offensive —Smolensk, Orel, and Kharkov. The Russians have behind their lines the “scorched earth” of recent battlegrounds.' It is the opinion there are no obvious pointers where Germany may strike,’as there were last year. One suggestion is that Hitler may attack each side of the Smolensk railway, with the object of destroying the Russian armies holding those sectors. It is declared that Germany cannot wait this year, as last year, until well into the Summer. She must strike and soon. Every delay Rommel can gain in TUhiSia is most valuable, if he thereby holds off the Allies from invading Europe, but the opinion expressed is it is not inevitable that the opening of the second front defends on clearing Tunisia. In fact, it may .become necessary to strike before Rommel is knocked out, for the most urgent need of the moment is ■ regarded as hitting Germany to afford the greatest measure of aid to Russia. . The British-American air offensive must be having a serious effect on Germany’s war effort, but this is regarded as not enough, and that a definite land blow must be launched this Summer.

NORWAY’S READINESS

RUGBY, April 9.

'rhe whole Norwegian people now comprise one united front, said the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Nygaardsvold, broadcasting from London. He said that the Norwegian navy and air forces were now m active service, and the Norwegian army was preparing to play an important part during the reconquest of Norway. Speaking of a possible invasion ot Norway, he said it was vital to organise Norway’s comparatively small forces. They could be of the greatest possible use, and it was therefore particularly important to organise cooperation with Norway s allies in advance. As soon as Norway was free again, he said, the Government would ask the King for leave to resign, and he hoped thereafter a Government ol unitv would be formed with the broadest possible basis.

GERMAN defences

RELIANCE ON U-BOATS

LONDON, April 9

The “Daily Mail’s” Madrid correspondent says:—Admiral Doenitz has decided to concentrate all possible efforts against Britain, and above all against her oil-carriers. He intends to do this, not only with the submarines, but also with an increased number of swift torpedo launches. A German naval spokesman said: “A naval offensive, by both undersea craft and surface craft, is Germany s best weapon against two pressing dangers, the first which is a growing rhythm and strength of Allied air laids, and the second ol which—potential, but close at hand, is’ an Anglo-Saxon invasion of Europe. There is no doubt that the submarine is the only offensive weapon that Germany can now use against the Allies, and the greatest possible number of submarines are being concentrated along the sea lanes to Britain.

RIFLE CLUBS

NEW YORK. April 9

The Stockholm correspondent of the “New York Times” says that a new German ordinance requiring all German males to learn to use a rifle and to form target clubs is interpreted as an indication that the Nazis, now reckoning on the possibility of an invasion oi home territory, intend to organise partisan units modelled on Russian guerrillas. The ordinance apparently applies to men not already designated for the newly created Home Guards.

GUERRILLAS IN BALKANS

LONDON. April 9

The Berlin radio stated paratroops, who had been dropped from planes, coming either from Alexandria or from Moscow, are acting as military advisers to partisans that are resisting the Germans in Bosnia. These guerrillas aim to prepare a second Iront on the continent, by forming a vanguard in the Balkans lor an Allied invasion.