REVIEW OF PLANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25303, 13 August 1943, Page 5

REVIEW OF PLANS

THE ALLIED LEADERS SWIFT MARCH OF EVENTS LONDON. Aug. 11. General comment in the London press emphasises that the rapid march of events since the invasion of Sicily has made it necessary for Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt to review the plans framed earlier and to draft new plans to take advantage of the enormous possibilities now opening up before the Allies. The Times diplomatic correspondent says the Allies have gained so much this summer that even the widest and most far-sighted plans are in danger of being out-dated by events. “ The Allied leaders meet with confidence, but no illusions, shutting their ears to many stories of mystei-ious cracks in the German front and turning their eyes to the formidable military might of the enemy, which is still unbroken.” Favourable to Allies The Daily Mail’s political writer says: “The upheaval in Italy, the success of the Russian drives, and the deterioratioh of Germany’s situation have created a crisis so favourable to the Allies that the leaders probably decided to meet personally and discuss the swift march of events.” The Daily Express says: “The fall of Mussolini was a new and unexpected turn in events since Casablanca. We have still ,to use that to full advantage. There has been a further turn in events, with far greater possibilities—the first failure of the German summer offensive in Russia and the first series of Red Army summer victories.” The German overseas radio stated: “Churchill and Roosevelt undoubtedly hoped to separate Italy from the rest of the fighting nations, but after considering the military situation Badoglio has determined to continue the war. Churchill and Roosevelt will therefore be compelled to consider military action against the Italian peninsula, although they know the walls will not fall like those of Jericho.”

Response to Russian Demands United States newspapers suggest that the subjects for the ChurchillRoosevelt conference will almost certainly include the opening of a second front on the European mainland in response to the demands from Russia. All American commentators agree that the meeting has been made necessary by the recent Allied successes, which have outpaced the plans made at Casablanca.

The New York Times says the conference between the two Allied leaders will take place at what is one of the great turning points of the war. President Roosevelt has summoned the Pacific War Council to a meeting at the White House, states a Washington message, apparently to discuss recent and forthcoming events in the Pacific', which are expected to loom large among the strategic subjects to be discussed at the conferences between Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt. The President has also arranged meetings with M. Loudon and M. Van den Broek, the Netherlands Ambassador and Financial Minister respectively.