GERMANY’S POWER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21212, 29 September 1943, Page 3

GERMANY’S POWER

300 ARMY DIVISIONS JAPAN’S STRONG FORCES AXIS COLLAPSE UNLIKELY (By Teloi'i'iiph—Press Assn.— Copyright.) Ml a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 28. The United States Assistant Chief of Stall for Military Intelligence. Major-General George Strong, said ;ht Germany ' now has thrice the number of combat divisions in the field as when she attacked Poland. He added that the Japanese resources were also tremendous. He discounted heavily any likelihood of ihe early collapse of either Germany or Japan. Major-General Strong revealed information collected by the military intelligence showed that the Luftwaffe was now larger than in 1939 despite its heavy losses. Moreover, the Germans have 300 well-trained divisions of which 60 have been re-equipped or raised in 1943. Each division has approximately 600 machine-guns and 300 heavier weapons. The Japanese still have 2,000,000 men of military age not called to the colours because thus far they have not yet been 'needed. In addition, there are the same number in the 17-20 age group who are not yet subject to draft. The Japanese air strength is on the up-grade, both numerically and in quality, he added. "The German High Command abandoned hope of victory several months ago when they drastically reduced bomber production and concentrated on fighters,” declared the deputyChief of Staff, Lieut.-General McNarney, addressing a conference of industrialists. “The Germans are prepared for a savage and bloody struggle, hoping thereby to avoid the penalties of defeat by forcing a stalemate," he added.

Lieut.-General McNarney said the air offensive had been a powerful factor in softening the enemy, but the Allied losses had been heavy.