AXIS NERVES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21093, 13 May 1943, Page 3

AXIS NERVES

NEXT ALLIED MOVE GROWINGANXIETY INVASION EXPECTED GERMANS DUMBFOUNDED <By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (!) a.m.) LONDON, May 12. The latest reports from Europe and also the Mediterranean, Balkans, anu Near East countries, indicate increasing Axis uneasiness concerning the Allies’ next move. Berlin correspondents of Swedish newspapers report that Americans nave reached Cyprus, presumably as pan of the Allied invasion preparations. An American divisional commander has arrived in Nicosia and American troops have beeiP going to Cyprus for the past two months. The British United Press’ correspondent in Ankara says it is feared that. Herr Hitler may .try to forestall any Allied invasion move by jumping across Bulgaria into Turkish Thrace in order to close up the socalled invasion gap. The Germans are urging the Bulgarians to wipe out unrest, the spread of which gives the Germans an excuse to move in. Tito Berlin radio reports that llerr Himmler visited Zagreb to form a crack division of Croat volunteers for ligating against the guerrillas, whose activities are spreading throughout Yugoslavia. The Rome radio states that Yugoslavia guerrillas shot hundreds of Italian prisoners and buried them in a huge cave. Defences of Italy The British United Press’ cones pendent in Madrid reports that thousands of Italian workers are hurrying to Italy’s toe and also islands nearby, building concrete defence works and preparing anti-tank ditches in Calabria, Idicily, .Sardinia, and Corsica. There is no confirmation of reports that Marshal Goering has reached Rome for the purpose of conducting Italy’s war. It is learned in London that the Germans within 24 hours of the introduction of martial law shot 30 Dutchmen and imposed the death senenco on an additional 10. The victims were mostly industrial workers from all parts. German police are now patrolling the streets and shooting under the new order immediately they sight more than live persons together. Neutral correspondents in Berlin report that the public was dumbfounded at the announcement oi the simultaneous fall of Tunis and Bizerta, says The Times’ correspondent on the German frontier. The inspired German press to the last moment explained every movement as the voluntary occupation of new and better positions, so that most people really nursed the illusion that a favourable turn in the campaign was still possible. The “Italian” Reverse When the press yesterday announced the painful truth, crowds stormed the news stands and besieged newspaper offices asking: _ “How could that happen? What fate has overtaken the Afrika Korps,” Dr. Goebbels’ propaganda had really succeeded in maintaining the fiction that General Rommel’s retreat was part of a master-stroke destined finally to destroy the enemy. 'Lite morning newspapers are seeking lo convince their readers, that the “Italian” reverse in Africa cannot shako the Axis foundations. Colonel Frank Knox told iiis press conference in Washington that the Tunisian victory will open the Mediterranean to Allied shipping regardless of the Luftwaffe. He declined to estimate how long it would be before the Mediterranean was opened with supply ships operating under an Allied air umbrella on the northern tint of Africa, but pointed out the ! tremendous advantage resulting from shortened routes to .the Middle East, averaging 5000 miles. He said the air umbrella would double the tonnage able to pass through. Colonel Knox admitted that . the Axis possession of airfields in Sicily and Crete increased the dangers of the Mediterranean passage and observed that the Allied possession of Sicily obviously would be a tremendous asset. He refused to answer questions about the possibility of an Allied seizure of Sicily and Crete, saying: “Now you are dealing in terms that might suggest our future plans.”