SMOKE SCREENS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 12 August 1942, Page 4

SMOKE SCREENS

“IT will take place but when I do; not know”. This information about 1 : the opening of a second front to aid! Russia, given by Mr Nash to the peo- j pie of his native Kidderminster, is 3S 1 much as is known by anybody not; in the confidence of inner Allied i councils. It may be near; it may be; a long way off. In the meantime! both sides are seeking to extract the/ maximum nerve effect from signs! and portents. The Germans aim at intimidating the Allies and easing; the minds of their own people by I

I Press and radio campaigns which ris< in a crescendo, then fade away onlj | to flare up in another rehash of speI culation. This is not discouraged b) ! the British, who may even be pro* ; viding a few canards as ammunition at the same time taking care to tel the Germans everything except who j they would most dearly like to know ■ Feverish preparation of defences ha; I been going on all along the Atlantic seaboard of Hitler’s Europe. People in these occupied territories have been threatened with dire penalties for any kind of co-operation with invasion troops. Parachutists grabbing control of key points have been freely spoken of. Heads of the Nazi army and navy have inspected the defences and have been at great pain* to make public what they are reputed to have seen. Past experience o( I German thoroughness leads to the | belief that these are very strong. The | Nazis themselves declare they are ! adequate to counter any kind of asi sault that would-be invaders can | make against them. ! In their turn the Allies are not i shunning publicity—except about the j vita! decisions of when, where and how. More American troops and I supplies are flowing into England and j Northern Ireland. Mr Ernest Bovin calls for a fresh camp-building drive to accommodate the men. Lord Louis Mountbatten, chief of Combined Operations, is reported as being very active conferring with various ! leaders. Threats of an intensified air blitz are renewed intermittently. News of American naval manoeuvres off Iceland is broadcast from the 8.8. C. Yet no one outside the favoured few knows anything more positive than Mr Nash does about the issues of when, where and how. The second front prospect is being used by each side to put out a smoke screen: by the Germans to cover their anxiety; by the Allies to conceal their intentions.