Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, JAN. 3, 1944. THE INVASION PLANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 29, 3 January 1944, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, JAN. 3, 1944. THE INVASION PLANS.

The manner in which the final mummotii plans lor the invasion of Europe were worked out makes clear one fact —tlie Allies’ determination to end the war with Germany as soon as possible. It was this fact, as reported in the London message describing how the plans were presented to Mr Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill at Cairo, that led to the agreement between the United States, Britain, and Russia at Teheran in the almost incredible time of four days. Germany can expect —and Hitler and his arch criminals of Berlin know this to be true—invasion in the very near future. The Allied determination to attack the fortress of Europe in the west, at its strongest point, is writ large in the appointments to the High Command and in the vast preparations going on in Britain. These are tremendous concentrations of shipping, supplies, and men, and intensive training under the most realistic of war conditions. The amphibious operation will be the war’s greatest, but the men chosen to lead the adventure are ranked among the world’s greatest leaders.

One outstanding fact is the relatively young men chosen for ,the job. In General Eisenhower the Allies have a leader who appeals for his directness of mind and high soldierly qualities. The Russians have expressed their admiration of his leadership in Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy, and the choice of this brilliant American soldier was wise and well governed by all the demands of the task. The appointment of Air Chief-Mar-shal Sir Arthur Tedder as his deputy has the stamp of genius. It shows that precedent can be broken when the need'demands it. Sir Arthur Tedder is essentially an airman, and though the youngest of the Services, the Air Forces will play a most vital part in the combined operations soon to strike against the Huns in the west. The Russians have a very high regard for this brilliant exponent of the use of air power and in welding the fighting forces of the skies.' The road from El Alamein to the present Allied line in Italy is marked by his high leadership in the air war in the Mediterranean and in combining it with land and sea operations. His will be the task to weld the various striking air forces operating from Britain into one to win the battle of the air, which must precede the battle on land and sea. It is in safe and sure hands, and the United Nations must fee] the greatest satisfaction in all the appointments so recently announced.