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Grey River Argus, 11 January 1944, Page 5

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INVASION DATES Host of U.S. Landing Craft fAust. N.Z. Press Assn.l (Rec. 9.50 ) LONDON, Jan. 10. The United States Under Secretary for the Navy, Mr. Forrestal speaking at Washington, said that some fortyfive thousand additional landing craft must be completed quickly in the United States so as to ensure success of the European invasion. He said that - dates for the invasion had already been set. He added that four-fifths of the total American Navy expenditure in 1944 will be devoted to the construction of landing craft. LATER. Mr. Forrestal stated that onefourth of the total U.S. Navy expenditure (not four-fifths) would be devoted to invasion craft. April Invasion ? SHIPPING POSITION. ALLIES’ GREAT RESOURCES. (Rec. 11.40.) LONDON, Jan. 10. Commander Eric Oesberg former head of the Swedish Naval College, in an article in the “Stockholm Tidningen,” stated: The United Nations will have forty million tons of shipping bv April. That month German military opinion considers to be the most favourable one for an invasion of Europe. Allowing five tons ot shinping for everv soldier carried, it will be possible to throw a great force against the Continent. This is the greatest Allied strategic success of the war. Britain from the outbreak to the end of November, 1943, built 3,940 thousand tons of shipping. America in the same period built eighteen million tons. Canada built seventeen hundred thousand tons and Australia seven hundred thousand tons. Commander Oesberg rejects, as exaggerated, the German claim to have sunk a total of thirty five million tons of Allied shipping. GERMAN DEFENCES. , LONDON, Jan. 9. Berlin says 7,700 heavy guns have been placed along the Atlantic ramparts from northenmost Norway to the Spanish border, and 3,000 antiaircraft guns between the Atlantic and the North Sea. From Narvik to the Pyrenees is more than 2,000 miles, and if the German gunfire is correct it would suggest, many soft spots that can be attacked. ALLIED LEADERS. LONDON, Jan. 9. Invasion Headquarters in London awaits the arrival of the Supreme Commander. General Eisenhower, whose task is to interlock all the invasion fleets, armies, and air forces. Rommel is reported to be in France, directing anti-invasion manoeuvres along the coast. General Montgomery is hustling to get his group of British Armies ready for the invasion of Western Europe, says Morley Richards, the “Daily Express’s” military writer. He is hand-picking his own officers, re-arranging the commands; and tightening up controls. 'AIR COMMAND CHANGES RUGBY, Jan. 8. The Air Ministry announces that Air Marshal Sir John Slessor has been appointed deputy to Lieuten-ant-General Ira C. Eaker, Air Com-mander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. He will command all the Royal Air Force units under Lieutenant-General Eaker. The .appointment of Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, formerly air commander in the Middle East, as Commander-in-Chief. Coastal Command, Royal Air Force, is also announced’. Sir J'ohn Slessor has commanded the Coastal Command since November, 1942. Mediterranean Commands CHANGES TAKE EFFECT (Rec 8.20) LONDON, Jan. 10. General Maitland Wilson has assumed duty as supreme commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean theatre as from Saturday. General Devers has assumed dutv.as deputy supreme commander. Lieutenant General Gammell has been appointed as Chief of Staff in the Mediterranean. Major-General Bedell Smith will become Chief of Staff to General Eisenhower in the United Kingdom. Gen. Bedell Smith was. until recently, Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean theatre. He signed the Italian armistice agreement on behalf of General Eisenhower.