The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 8, 1944. INVADERS GAINING A HOLD.

Grey River Argus, 8 June 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 8, 1944. INVADERS GAINING A HOLD.

Because of secrecy being so necessary at the outset, the general statement that the invasion of the continent from Britain is already an accomplished fact may fail adequately to impress many people. One reason is that the very fact itself tends to obliterate recollections of the uncertainty to which the'enterprise had given rise, and which had persisted until the first news came that it actually had begun. But the latest news that fifty miles of the coastline of France, and portions of that stretch to a depth oi twelve miles, arc now in the occupation of the invaders is a thing of incalculable importance. American authorities reckon it will take over a month to test the success of the invasion, and this caution only goes to emphasise the fact that success at the outset is a remarkable achievement. It is indeed timely to point out that there is a danger that the ill-informed may become overconfident. The earliest reports, in the absence of official data, would naturally be ultra optimistic on account of the landings alike by sea and airborne forces having succeeded. One reason was the undoubted lack of effective opposition. But the enemy says his opposition at first was that of tactical forces only. Possibly it is in some degree' an admission of a surprise when there only were tactical forces on the scene. But it now transpires that soon enough after the initial landings the opposition became decidedly strong, and that, though Allied patrols reported the Luftwaffe as conspicuous by its absence, German aircraft on Tuesday did get into the affray in the vicinity of the land fighting. Though the Germans yesterday claimed that the Allies had so far failed in their attempt to link up their various landing forces, it appears as if the claim was then! early made lest it could not later I be made. What the enemy can-| not discount is that great forces are continuing to arrive in France, and that they are continuing to come over the sea with practically no opposition. It, therefore, will be a matter of probably but a short time before, the forces along the/ifly-mile coastal stretch arc completely linked, and in a position to start out on a march, say, to Paris, as the enemy has actually suggested. There is apparently some uncertainty as to the fate of a number of airborne forces, whom Allied pilots report to have quickly disappeared, probably into shelter, whereas German spokesmen assert most airborne forces have been accounted for. Until beachhead forces advance further, however, there is do means of checking the enemy claims, and it is certain that the awaiting airborne forces will not turn themselves into targets for the enemy in the meantime. It is of the best import that all Allied circles, while sounding a cautioning note, are unanimous that the opening of the second front has been so far a successful operation. The enemy has indeed been more purely defensive in his reaction than the invaders have been entitled to anticipate. The navies and air forces of the Allies have done everything they have been asked to do. It can therefore be reasonably presumed that, with the vast land forces at their disposal—that is capable of being with certainty landed in France —the enemy will not be equal to foiling the Allied commanders, nor capable of holding back their armies from Paris.— or Berlin.