AXIS FEARS

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1943, Page 5

AXIS FEARS

ALLIES’ NEXT MOVE

Americans Said to be in

Cyprus

UNREST THROUGHOUT EUROPE.

[Amd. & N.Z. Cable.Assn.l

(Rec. 7.10.) LONDON, May 12 Latest reports from Europe and also from .the Mediterranean, the Balkans and the Near East countries indicate increasing Axis uneasiness concerning the Allies’ next move. Berlin correspondents of Swedish newspapers report that Americans have reached Cyprus, presumably as part of Allied invasion preparations An American divisional commander has arrived in Nicosia. American troons have been going to Cyprus for the past two months. The British United Press Ankara correspondent says: “It is feared that Hitler mav try to forestall any Allied invasion move bv jumping across Bulgaria into Turkish Thrace, in order to close up the so-called invasion gap The Germans are urging the Bulgarians to wipe out. unrest, the spread of which gives the Germans an excuse to move in.

The Berlin radio reports that Himmler, the Gestapo Chief, visited Zagreb to form a crack division of Croat volunteers for fighting against guerrillas, whose activities are spreading throughout Yugoslavia. The Rome radio states that Yugoslav guerrillas have shot hundreds of Italian prisoners and buried them in a huge cave. The British United Press Madrid correspondent reports that thousands of Italian workers are hurrying to Italy’s toe and also to the islands nearby, building concrete defence works, and preparing anti-tank ditches at Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. There is no confirmation of reports that Goering has reached Rome for the purpose of conducting Italy’s war.

It is learned in London that the Germans within twenty-four hours of the introduction of martial law shot twenty-six Dutchmen, and imposed the death sentence on. an additional ten. The victims were mostly industrial workers from all parts. German police are now patrolling the streets, shooting under the new order, immediately they sight over five persons together. Neutral correspondents in Berlin report that the public is dumbfounded at the announcement of the simultaneous fall of Tunis and Bizerta, says the "Times's” correspondent on the German frontier. The inspired German press to the last moment explained every movement as voluntary occupation of new and better positions, so most people really nursed the illusion that a favourable turn to the campaign might still be possible. When the press yesterday announced the painful truth, crowds stormed the newstands and besieged newspaper offices, asking how could that happen. What fate had overtaken the Afrika Korps. Goebbels propaganda had really succeeded in maintaining the fiction that Rommel’s retreat was part of a masterstroke destined finally to destroy the enemy. Morning newspapers are seeking to convince readers that the “Italian” reverse in Africa cannot shake the Axis foundations. The U.S. Navy Secretary. Colonel Knox, told his press conference at 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 could be opened with supply ships operating under ah Allied air umbrella, based on the northern rim of Africa, but pointed out that the tremendous advantage resulting from the shortened routes to the Middle East were averaging five thousand miles. He said that an air umbrella would double the tonnage able to pass through. Colonel Knox admitted that the Axis possession of airfields in Sicily and Crete increased dangers in 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. Hitler’s Atlantic Defences CHANGES IN COMMAND SORRY SITUATION IN ITALY <Rec. 12.10) NEW YORK, May 12. The “New York Times” Berne correspondent reports: Hitler, who arrived in Paris after a two days’ inspection tour of the Atlantic defences. ousted General Schaumburg, Commander of the Occupation Forces. According to a well-m--formed Berlin source Hitler intends to extend the shake-un of the Western Command to all ranks, adds the correspondent. General von Arnim is mentioned .as a possible appointee, although it is doubted whether he will succeed in escaping from Tunisia. Competent observers say that an invasion of Italy is likely to reveal a sorry situation, which, in a few months, may lead to a deflection from the Axis. Travellers from Italy tell of automobiles with Rome license plates laden with household baggage, mattresses, dogs and canaries, recalling the exodus from Paris in 1940. Furthermore, reports from private sources indicate that the Italians have done virtually nothing to fortify the peninsula. Despite German propaganda boasts that the Riviera is a coast of steel, it is known that very littjle has been done. Even the rudimentary blockhouses, which the French built in 1939, .are allowed to fall into decay.

CROAT DISSENTION. LONDON, May 10. The Berlin radio has announced that Anton Pavelic, the Croat Premier. has dismissed all deputy leaders, party commissars, and commissars of the Central organisation of the Croatian Fascist Party. The purge followed announcements that Himmler was visiting Zagreb, where he conferred with Pavelic. 36 DUTCHMEN SENTENCED. LONDON. May 11. The Germans in Holland, under martial law, have sentenced to death 36 Dutchmen, says a message from Stockholm. GREEK FOOD SUPPLIES. • RUGBY, May 11. Mr. Dinglefoot said, in the Commons, that food which reached Greece in the last three months comprised 28,703 tons of wheat, .8561 tons of pulse, and 1059 tons of milk. Further shipments had left Canada. TURKEY AND BULGARIA. LONDON, May 11. - The Budapest radio has reported that telephone communications between Turkey and Bulgaria has been discontinued.'.