RECENT EVENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22493, 30 January 1943, Page 5

RECENT EVENTS

Effect On Outcome Of War Growing Confidence In Britain N.Z.P.A.—Special Correspondent '6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 28. The goed news from Casablanca, Russia and Tripoli, coupled with the radio warnings to the German people, followed by the announcement of “drastic measures" in Germany to meet the crisis caused by the reverses on the Russian front—all these events have added to the growing national confidence. This has been deliberately tempered by warnings of peril of the L’-boat campaign. It has been the lack of any announcement from Casablanca regarding new measures against U-boats which has been one of the few grounds of criticism heard here so far of the council at Casablanca. There is apparently more general criticism in America than Britain—judging Dy newspaper comment —but then there is no figure here who is filling the same role as Mr Wendell Willkie. The British public is chiefly surprised that the meeting was held at Casablanca, also that President Roosevelt flew there. Newspaper comment about a coming statement, coupled with the recent lack of speeches by Mr Churchill, or photographs, suggested to many that he might be abroad, but few guessed correctly. Casablanca Conference Generally speaking it is right to say that the conference has given wide satisfaction here. Lacking the criticisms which are evidently going on at the other side of the Atlantic the public realises that it was chiefly a military conference, and that the Jesuits will be shown by events throughout the world. The general opinion is that the statement issued by General Giraud and General de Gaulle was enigmatical and subsequent reports stating that General de Gaulle was not publicised in Algeria tend to confirm the opinion that relations between the -* Fighting French and Frenchmen in North Africa are still not running smoothly. “You will be hearing more of this. " Mr Churchill told a correspondent of Casablanca, commenting on the council, and the British public is awaitin'; expectantly a speech by Mr Churchill to the House of Commons or on the radio.

Somehow, perhaps by reason of the meeting at Casablanca, there is a feeling that the battle of Tunis may not, after all, be so full of extreme difficulties as it was at first thought, that Rommel, while he swells the numbers of Germans in Tunisia, is taking a defeated army there, whch is not an unmixed blessing. It is believed unlikely that there will be definite action in Tunis until March, by which time the rains will be stopping. These rains, as one commentator observed, develop at least 12 inches of slimy tnud. Diet of Reverses for Axis One interesting aspect of the war recently has been the “frank” talks to the German people by their leaders and newspapers. Thus the Berlin “Boessen Zeitung” stated: “The position of Germany to-day is as critical as that of Rome during Hannibal’s attack, or that of England during the Battle of Britain. We must show the same power of resistance as the British did in 1940.” These warnings, it is felt, were the prelude to the new war measures which duly appeared in the big call-up to the arms factories announced by a broadcast and an article by Goebbels. It is believed they foreshadow the proclamation of a series of stringent measures which Hitler mav announce in his anniversary speech on Saturday. It is believed that Germany’s manpower position has deteri-. orated more than was expected in the last three months, owing partly to the additional strain of the total occupation of France and the taking of defensive measures along the south coast of Europe, so far fed on stories of success, is now given a diet of reverses for the first time. It may possible have some effect on morale. Retaliation by the Luftwaffe in the form of further bombing of Britain has so far not developed, and there is no evid: ■ that the Germans are building jo forces in Western Europe for fiat

purpose. Tne one unhappy feature of the last week’s news has been the tragedy at a school, where six teachers were killed by a bomb in a daylight raid. Thirty-one of the children and «ne teacher were buried in a common grave yesterday. There was a harrowing scene at the graveside. The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr R. A. Eden) informed mcm 7 bers that he would fix the date of the presentation of a report on the conversations between Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt at the earliest moment physically passible.