GREAT OFFENSIVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25338, 23 September 1943, Page 5

GREAT OFFENSIVE

OPERATIONS PENDING COMMANDER CHOSEN? LONDON, Sept. 21. General George Marshall has been tentatively chosen to become the virtual global Commander-in-chief of all British and American forces in the field—on the ground, on the sea, and in the air—says the Associated Press. He will execute the victory pattern shaped at Quebec. “Great offensives, in which the Allies’ full strength will be hurled against the enemy in Asia and Europe, are just about to begin,” declared General Marshall, addressing the American Legion convention at Omaha. He added: “Now at last we are ready to carry the war to the enemy with power and force, which we hope will bring an early conclusion.” General Marshall said the preparations that had been made in North Africa and Sicily were about to be made in Italy for the support of the huge ground and air forces, and for a long time similar preparations had been under way in Britain and the Pacific.

“It will discourage the Japanese to learn that our most difficult problem is to find sufficient bases from which to operate the vast forces to be poured into the Pacific for the rearrangement of the Son of Heaven’s affairs with his military clique, but these matters are not the result of a propaganda campaign, or temporary enthusiasm, or special interests. We must proceed in the most businesslike manner possible to make this war so terrible to the enemy and so overwhelming in character that never again' can a small group of dictators find a sufficient following to destroy the peaceful security of the civilised world.”