QUEBEC CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1943, Page 5

QUEBEC CONFERENCE

GLOBAL OFFENSIVE PLANNED HARD FIGHTING AHEAD NEW YORK, Aug. 16. “The Quebec conference has so far been engaged on the gigantic military measures that must and can be taken at this stage of the war in Europe and the Pacific.” says the Quebec correspondent of the “New York Times.” “Plans for attack in. every war zone have been studied from every angle, and a blueprint for the war during the next few months has been prepared. These plans will become known only when they are set in motion. However, it can be said that they have been made ruthlessly and in an aggressive spirit, seeking the defeat of the enemy in all zones in the shortest possible time. It is certain that every United Nation will be Sued onto fight harder and work harder, because there is no illusion among the military chiefs about the strong and fierce opposition to be expected from the Japanese and the Gormans Informed circles say that when the new Allied plans go into Operation there will be many surSs—mostly for the enemy-~but the fact must be faced that very hard JiS ‘“rhi? we a ek e£ tlie conference will tackle political questions, the foremost of which is how to treat the Italian Government and people. It is now clear that Mussolini s resignation came too soon or, as some say, that the Allies were not quick enough or powerful enough to take advantage of Ft It seems that German resistance in S’cily succeeded in gaming time for the application of Hitler s plan, which Mussolini accepted and King /Victor Emmanuel re 3 ec .^f-a all practical purposes the Km* isa prisoner of the Nazis, and Government is powerless. A second problem facing the conference IS . recognition of the French Committee of National Liberation. A uiua P lO ,, blem is the relationship to Russia of the other United Nations. MR. ROOSEVELT’S ARRIVAL. RUGBY. August 17. Mr. Roosevelt has arrived at Quebec for conferences with Mi. Churcn ill who greeted him on his arrival. Mr. Harry Hopkins accompanied Mi. Roosevelt.

MR HULL’S COMMENT RUGBY, August 17. Mr Cordell Hull told his Pressi conference that he expected 0 go to Quebec later this week to paittcipaic in the Churchill-Roosevelt confei ence, says a Washington message. Mi Hull said he was not specifically adWsid whether Russian matters would be discussed. He stated, howevei, that Soviet relations were extremely cordial and friendly, and the Soviet Union was showing a maj-vellous spirit of co-operation in the piose cution of the war. Mr Hull added that there was no new information about the Itahai situation. He was unable to ascer tain anything definite regarding a possible early armistice. There was no further word concerning Italian efforts to declare Rome an open city. Regarding Sicily, he said that the successful conclusion of the camnaisn was a remarkable achievement, in view of the low Allied losses and the fact that it was a vital step in the conquest of the Italian area. OVER-CONFIDENCE WARNING WASHINGTON, August 16. “There is nothing to justify the hope of unconditional surrendei the Axis Powers in the near future, said Mr J. F. Byrnes, United States Director of War ‘ Mobilisation, in a broadcast. “We have every reason for confidence in ultimate overwhelming victory over Germany and Japan, but the President has authorised me to sav that in his judgment the major battles lie ahead of us, not- behind 'warning against over-confidence, Mr. Byrnes said that a full-scale attack against Japan had not yet commenced and the Allied armies had not crossed the borders of Germany. lhe roads to Berlin and Tokio would be long, hard, and bloody. Mr. Byrnes paid a tribute to the brilliant Allied achievements in Africa and Sicily, but said the Allies had defeated only 7 per cent, of the total Axis combat divisions in the European area, lhe Russians were engaging 40 per cent, of the enemy’s combat divisions, so that the enemy had been using less than half his combat divisions, while the Allies were' using -nearly threequarters of their combat troops in the European area. “The Axis Powers still have as many divisions as the Allies,’’ he said. “Even when American mobilisation is complete, with a full strength of 90 divisions, only in the air will we be numerically superior. The Allies have gained the‘initiative, which is a priceless edge on the enemy, and Allied morale, material, and resources are increasing, while the enemy’s are decreasing; but we cannot relax for a moment’ in vigorous prosecution of the offensive.”

AIR ACE’S OPINION

(Rec. 11.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 17. “Germany will not crack before the Autumn of 1944, and it will take at least another year to defeat Japan.” declared Eddie Rickenbacker, who returned from an inspection tour of the war zones. He added that only a miracle can bring victory sooner. Describing his impressions abroad, Rickenbacker said the experienced level of German fighter pilots on the Russian front showed a decided decline in the last six months. Everywhere in Russia he found soldiers and officers passionately convinced of ultimate victory. Rickenbacker said: “Bolshevism in Russia is not what Communists in America led us to believe. The truth is that Russia has been constantly turning to the right during the past year.” *