GRIMNESS OF WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24775, 24 December 1943, Page 7

GRIMNESS OF WAR

TARAWA FILM'S STOUT WARNINGS TO AMERICANS DARK DAYS BEFORE VICTORY (Real. 0 p.m.) _ NK%V YORK. Dec 2M As one specific method of arousing the people to a realisation of the grimness of war, President Roosevelt will be asked personally to press for the release of an uncut version of the Navy film of the Tarawa conquest, says the HeraldTribune's Washington correspondent.

Officials who saw the uncut version expressed consternation, says the New ork Times. The newsreels deleted most of the gory scenes; indeed, it was the Tarawa film, among other developments, which caused officials to point out that an invasion of Europe will be tremendously costly. The film shows that Japanese fortifications which were installed in 15 months were able to withstand direct hits from 16in. shells, and it may be presumed that the Germans, with over three years' preparation, have constructed oven more formidable fortifications in Europe. Developments, adds the Times, show that the American High Command is proceeding on three assumptions—firstly, the war cannot be won by air power alone or by any other easy method; secondly, it must be won bv coming to grips with the German Army; thirdly, the morale of the German people will not crack before their armv is beaten.

Expressing concern over war complacency in America, a high Government official said: "We may expect American war casualties approaching 500,000 men during the next 90 days." The United Press says this presumably encompasses a major invasion of Europe. The official would not permit the use of his name, but he holds a high place in the nations' war councils. This prediction, suggesting almost four times a.s many killed and wounded in the next three months as the total to date, is made while officials from President Roosevelt downward are endeavouring to bring the public to a realisation of the dark days which must precede victory.

ESCAPE FROM GERMANS PROMINENT FRENCH GENERAL HERO OF BATTLE OF , FRANCE (Reed. 8.20 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 23 A French general who tried to set up a rebel army in formerly unoccupied France to fight the Axis, General* La tire de Tassignv, has arrived in Algiers after escaping from a French prison, says a message from Algiers. General de Tassignv is one of the youngest French generals, and in 19.'56 served with General de Gaulle when General Giraud was Military Governor in Metz. He won fame in the Battle of France when he stopped German tanks with a newly-created division formed from the remnants of the routed French armies.

Soon after the Allied landings in North Africa General de Tassignv, who was at that time in command of a division in Southern France, attempted to raise a force in opposition to the German march into unoccupied France. His attempt wan too improvised to be successful, and his arrest was followed by a sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. At his court-martial General de Tassignv poured scorn on the German judges who sentenced him, and a stormy scene developed.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ? _____ CHANGE FROM LEND-LEASE BACK TO COMMERCIAL BASIS (Eecd. 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK. Dec. 22 The United States Ims begun transferring its foreign trade from lend-lease to private commercial channels, says the Wall Street Journal. This new Government policy has already removed certain important exports and areas from the lend-lease list. Others will disappear in the near future. French North Africa is already relinquishing its seat at the lend-lease banquet table. The French now put cash on the barrel-hend for everything African economy receives. Britain, with all the British Empire, has agreed to switch a number of items from lend-lease to a cash basis. The list includes machine tools, projects of a permanent nature, industrial equipment, petroleum equipment and portable pneumatic and electric tools. Kconomy-minded officials "welcome the opportunity of removing items from lend-lease, as a saving to the taxpayers. Lend-lease amounts at present to about 1.000.000.000 dollars a month, constituting four-fifths of American export trade.

CONCERN OF ALLIES

COUP D'ETAT IN BOLIVIA WASHINGTON. Dec. 22 Questioned about the United States attitude to the new Bolivian regime, the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, indicated concern that possible outside influences unfriendly to the United Nations might have had a part in the coup d'etat. lie reminded the public that the Western Hemisphere was under a sinister, subversive attack from the Axis assisted hv elements within the hemisphere itself.

Similar concern is evident in London, says a message from the British capital, quoted by the British official wireless. Although the full implications of the coup are still uncertain,*: the Times quotes a report that Argentina favours the introduction of a regime patterned on her own into a country whose frontier inarches with hers. Commenting on Mr. 11 nil's statement the New York Times correspondent in Washington says it is a possibility that Axis agents inspired the revolution. The lenders of the revolution recently visited Argentina and they are alleged to have conferred with Axis agents. Should the United States recognition of the new regime be withheld, he adds, it may find it difficult to maintain itself in power.

SENTENCE COMMUTED BOXER IN SOUTH AFRICA LONDON, Dec. 22 The Executive Council in Pretoria has decided to reprieve Kobev Leibrandt, former boxer and pro-Nazi, who was sentenced to death in South Africa for high treason, says the British official wireless. The Court substituted file imprisonment for the death sentence.

The (actors contributing to the reprieve were that Leihrandt was not found guilty of sabotage or causing the death of anyone, also his mission was a complete failure. The question of his normality was given careful consideration. also the fact that he had spent nine months and a-half in a condemned cell.

Robey Leihrandt, who represented South Africa at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936. was arrested late in 10-12 on a treason charge. A German parachutist who was flown to South Africa to give evidence said he recognised the accused, who he alleged hart been a lance-corporal in his division in 1910-41. The Crown stated that Leibrandt had been sent to South Africa in a TJ-boat with money and equipment to organise a rebellion against ths South African Government.