ALLIED LANDINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24613, 18 June 1943, Page 3

ALLIED LANDINGS

SHIPPING ADEQUATE SPECIAL POOL CREATED (Reed. £>.Bs p.m.) LONDON. Juno 17 The United Nations now command a sufficient reserve of shipping to enable them to embark simultaneously upon more than one amphibious operation, says the naval writer of the Daily Telegraph. Plans for a number of such operations have been worked out in detail for a considerable time, in order that there shall be no delay after the time to strike has arrived. It scorned some months ago, says the writer, that it would bo possible to carry out only one large-scale offensive at a time, with periods between offensives dictated by the necessity to regroup shipping resources and replace inevitable losses. Position Recently Improved The Allied shipping position recently improved beyond expectations, 'lite number of ships becoming available through new building could always be calculated, but not so the number arising from the largo reduction in losses in the Battle of the Atlantic. lb is this reduction in losses in the Atlantic which has greatly added to tho offensive capabilities of tho United Nations, Much of (his extra shipping already is available for offensive plans. Tho reduction in Atlantic losses became apparent some weeks ago, so that there has been time to earmark the most suitable ships and even to make certain alterations and modifications to ships. Also there has been time to group ships according to the work assigned to them. Complicated Planning Ships were set aside lor what was termed the "shipping pool for the offensive." lho resources of this pool cannot be regarded as stable, or as giving a definite indication of the shipping which would be available months ahead. The vital needs of trade routes would necessarily reduce the size of tho offensive pool if shipping losses were heavy for some weeks. This is one reason why the planning of the United Nations offensive has been so complicated, and why a number of alternative plans wore prepared. More than one of the plans could bo contemplated only after the shipping position had improved. As a result of this improvement the United Nations' problem lias become one of choosing the right plans, and assembling the ships and forces, fully equipped, at the right place at the right time.