The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1944. INCREASING PRESSURE ON GERMANY

Northern Advocate, 22 January 1944, Page 2

The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1944. INCREASING PRESSURE ON GERMANY

THERE are different schools of thought regarding the manner in which a war of nerves should be fought. There are those who urge the utmost publicity being given to suggested moves even though it is believed there is no intention of putting these moves into effect. Others believe that the observance of absolute secrecy on the part of an antagonist is the more likely to upset the nerves of his opponent. Which of these schools is in the ascendant among the United Nations at the present time? Two guesses may be made. It is certainly clear that the publicity which is being given to preparations for a'gigantic invasion assault on Western Europe must necessarily have an unsettling effect upon the German people, who, in the face of developments, have good reason to assume that the United Nations are not bluffing, but intend to strike with all their might against the west coastline of Europe. At the same time, they may well question whether the western threat is not really intended as a diversionary movement to compel German concentration upon defence in the west while preparations are being made for a blow in another direction. Between fear of what may happen in the west at any moment—and the indications are that the blow may fall soon—and what mayj happen in, say, the Mediterranean, irrespective of the terrific offensives maintained by the Russians, Hitler and his misled people must be undergoing a nerve test of superlative acuteness. Today’s news strengthens this belief. Correspondents state that the battles at present raging on the Leningrad sector are so gigantic that all other events on the Russian northern front pale into insignificance. In this sector, the Germans are threatened with disaster, while at the southern end of the long front there exists possibility of the early capture of great armies which, it is believed, have waited too long to make a getaway. In the centre, too, the German position is worsening. Hitler cannot look with comfort to the eastern front, and he certainly cannot look confidently westwards, despite his boast that he has built an impregnable western wall of defence. He must realise that combination of an invasion such as would seem to be imminent, the increasing pressure of Russia, and the bombing of Germany which will be facilitated by the United Nations possession of airfields in Italy, will constitute a devastating power of destruction. The United Nations are evidently determined that airpower shall shake Germany before an invasion of Europe is actually commenced, for there is released today news of still another huge raid on Berlin. Recital of the type and numbers of machines employed suggests that Berlin has undergone another dread experience. Berlin, apart from its importance as Germany’s capital city, is a vital centre of communication to all fronts on which German troops are engaged, whether as fighting units or as occupying forces. Destruction of these communications at their centre, and the paralysing of war industries, must inevitably have lethal results. . 1 ~. While these things are of nightly occurrence, wide publicity has been given to the arrival in Britain ol General Eisenhower, General Mont.g6m.ery and Air Chief-Marshal Tedder, who have been appointed to direct the great'invasion movement. These famous leaders have been granted audiences by His Majesty the King, and all the circumstances of these meetings, as well as the significant statements made by Mr. Churchill, must of necessity intensify the unsettlement ol German morale. Iheie is indeed in progress a war of nerves.