INVASION PROSPECTS

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1943, Page 5

INVASION PROSPECTS

Speech U.S. SPECULATIONS. NEW'YORK, June 9. Mr. Hanson Baldwin, writing in the “New York Times” says: It is obvious now that the Mediterranean is scheduled.- to be the scene of one of the next great acts of the war, but the French problems of North Africa must be settled first. The invasion of Axis strongholds in the Mediterranean may come at any time, or may be delayed for weeks. The ‘.‘New York Times” says: Mr. Churchill’s references to amphibious warfare might still indicate a war of nerves, but such war cannot continue indefinitely, because it would ruin Allied morale, and boost that of the Axis. The “Herald-Tribune” comments: Mr. Churchill has told 1 the enemy nothing, while hinting at everything.

The “Herald-Tribune’s” war expert, Major Fielding Eliot, declares: Mr. Churchill’s references to amphibious warfare means we are about, to cash in on our command of the sea in a strictly offensive sense. A point exciting the greatest interest is Mr. Churchill’s references to “the approaching amphibious operations of peculiar complexity and hazard.” The Naw Secretary (Colonel Knox) said this phrase is “a conservative estimate of the facts.” “Secret information reveals the feeling at Tokio and Berlin, at present, is akin to ours after Pearl Harbour,” said Colonel Knox, addressing the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He added that the initiative and choice of place and time for striking is now ours, and America is producing thousands of landing barges this year. “And you may be sure we know why we are building them.” He asserted that America would not consent to scrapping- her vast naval strength after the war. A Swedish sailor told the Stockholm newspaper “Arbetaren,” that Germany is using Swedish-built motor barges for escort duty on canals. The paper published a photograph of onq barge, flying the Nazi flag, addin that Sweden is making 41 of these barges for Germany. It is recalled in London that when Britain recently protested against Sweden building these ships for Germany, the Swedish Foreign Office claimed they were fishing vessels, unsuitable for military purposes. The Official German News Agency describes the Channel forts which are the beginning of the Atlantic .Wall protecting Europe. “At several points off the French coast, anti-air-craft forts of thousands of tons of steel and concrete will secure this no-man’s-land against air attacks,” it says. “It is still a secret how manv of these fortresses there are alone the French coast from the North Sea to the Bay of Biscay. On the towers of anti-aircraft emplacements are light and heavy guns. Extensive minefields surround the forts, and an attack would cost the enemy dear, because the forts would be the first taste of the unpleasant surprises which Germany has in readiness for the enemy along the whole coastline facing England.” The “Afton Tidningens” says: A cool-headed attitude is being adopted by German Allies, who according to Hitler in June, 1941. was marching at the side of Germany. Finns and Roumanians are waging defensive wars. Hitler won’t be able to persuade , the Roumanians to do much more on the Eastern Front. The Italians have now something else to think about besides sending soldiers to Russia. Hungary has withdrawn an expeditionary corps from the eastern front. Bulgaria, who is at peace with Russia, is declined to ■ aeqede to German requests to change her attitude. General Franco realised long ago that it would be unnecessary honour for his Blue Division to be annihilated in the east, so he called: it home. ■