The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 10, 1943. IN FULL FOCUS.

Grey River Argus, 10 June 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 10, 1943. IN FULL FOCUS.

If the war has earlier had most critical stages, the present stage is probably more critical still, as it is the eve of largescale Allied operations in Europe, the zero hour in Russia, a time of greater tension in the Atlantic campaign, and in the South West Pacific the prospects are for a bigger conflict than any yet. It is therefore reassuring when Mr. Churchill, who, more than any other individual, personifies the Allied policy, declares that it has in both strategy and economy been now brought into full focus. This means operations on all fronts have been co-ordinated, and that full allowance has been made for all eventualities. So much had never been claimed before his latest council of war at Washington, which was the greatest of all, the corollary of that at Casablanca—whc’re enemy surrender was proclaimed the goal—and, as Air. Churchill says, lacked only the presence of M. Stalin to ensure complete finality. The policy there decided, however, includes, he says, the taking of the pressure off Russia, the helping of China, and the protection of New Zealand and Australia. Meantime, the greatest impending battles, in his estimate, are those about to begin in Russia. This estimate, therefore, regarding Russia, must be kept in mind when considering Mr. Churchill’s announcement that "amphibious operations, of pecular complexity and haz’ard, arc approaching.” That, of course, signifies that the long-awaited plan of invasion against the European Continent, Hitler’s "fortress,” is ready to be carried into effect. Indeed, the term "amphibious” prompts the conjecture that a start already may have been made with the operations. While there is no official Allied report, it appears that a commando landing has been made on one enemy island, Lampedusa, between Tunisia and Malta. If so, it obviously has been merely a, feeler. Should the first objective of the invasion strategy be the islands of Italy, it reasonably may be assumed that more than mere commandos will come into the picture, and more also than a single tiny island like Lampedusa. From the great armada of craft, large and small, which the Allies have in the Mediterranean been assembling for some time, not to venture any guess at the strength of men and aircraft, the thing to expect when the amphibious operations do arrive will doubtless be landings by very large forces on more than one Jsland simultaneously, under cover of record naval and aerial support. Such an operation, which might not be limited in conception to Italian territory alone, will obviously be of such dimensions as to justify Mr. Churchill’s intimation that the pressure upon Russia is to be taken off. Incidentally, the enemy’s evident intention to strike at Moscow may yet. be hanging fire simply because of his continued uncertainty about the manner j and place in. which the Allies are j going to launch their amphibious

operations. There are said now to be seventy enemy divisions in front of Moscow, and just twice as many more ranged along the remainder of the Eastern Frbnt. They undoubtedly are being much hampered meantime by the Russian Air Force, which seems to be at least equal to the Luftwaffe, whose growing inferiority to the global air strength of the Allies, and loss of initiative are manifest not only in the Mediterranean, but on every front, including its home front. No- doubt, Hitler has a reserve, but its limits are suggested by the Eastern as well as the Western air position. The significance of this fact is evident from Mr. Churchill’s declaration: “Nothing will turn, the Allies from intensifying bombing from the air. It is necessary to' make

’it plain so that so far as Britain, ithe Dominions, America and Rus Isia are concerned, nothing can turn u$ from our endeavour and intention to accomplish the complete destruction of our foes by bombing from the air, in addition to all other (methods.” It is jcertainly evidence that the Allied air attack is growing in efficiency, if not proving already decisive, that there is such an outcry from the enemy against it. It is in ‘ the air that Germany met her first defeat, and it is in the air that she will encounter her final defeat- .-...i.illfill’ft