Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1943. “GOOD NEWS."

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1943, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1943. “GOOD NEWS."

JJROM all active fronts the news is good, and promises to be better. In the Pacific. American pressure is having its reward, the naval and other losses of the Japanese are mounting, and their aerial inferiority is becoming more pronounced. Dr. Evatt is optimistic about an early defeat of the once dreaded foe, and Australia, generally, has few misgivings about future developments. New Zealand forces in New Caledonia and elsewhere in the South Pacific are less subject to enemy attack, and may look confidently to the day when the initiative is fully in Allied hands. Much remains to be done before unconditional surrender can be forced on Japan, but, predictions that the war in the Pacific will be prolonged for several years do not, to-day, appear to. be justified. The German offensive in Russia has been comparatively brought to a halt, and the latest reports hint that the Russians are preparing a major counter-attack. The resources in men and material the Red Army and Air Force still possess will shape Russian policy. The German losses have been high during the past ten days, but Berlin claims that the Russians have suffered similarly. Nothing more has been heard of the reported Japanese preparations to attack Siberia, and all such stories should be accepted with reserve. The Japanese are not doing so well in China as to encourage further costly enterprises, and must also prepare against the threatened Anglo-U.S.A. campaign for the recapture of Burma, when the monsoon ends about October. Little has happened during the past twelve months in Japanese favour, and they now sop their Axis partners in ruinous plight. Tokio’s propaganda lies to the Japanese about the developments in Sicily betray the official, concern. The Allies’ progress in Sicily has exceeded most expectations, and General Montgomery’s confidence that nothing can withstand the Allied assault is materialising. Warnings are given by oihers against complacency, but it is just as foolish not to rejoice when there is cause, as it was to bo jubilant without adequate reason. The Allies had to withstand much adversity during the dark years, and are entitled to their present and prospective reward. General Montgomery’s promise of “good news and plenty of it,’’ should reassure honest doubters. This is not to say that all unofficial reports and stories can be accepted as handling the truth carefully. The captures in Sicily already confirmed made pleasant reading, except to the Axis, and already the Italian mainland is seriously menaced by active invasion. The first important result from Allied entry into Italy proper would be the facility for dromes, making possible major aerial raids on Central Europe. Hitherto, the enemy bases in this area have been difficult to bomb, but Allied occupation of Italian airfields would change the situation entirely. It is understood that the Germans have not provided adequate antiaircraft defences for their southern and central districts, and the increasing strain on the Luftwaffe would hinder adequate reply to the Allies’ attacks. Germany’s internal communications, so important for her mobile strategy, would be in great danger of disruption, and, generally, the Axis would face disaster. Germany cannot afford the capture of Italy by the Allies, but how she is to prevent it, is her main problem, to-day. An Axis collapse, it not actually in sight, is becoming a contingency more and more likely.