THE RECONQUEST OF EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22777, 29 December 1943, Page 5

THE RECONQUEST OF EUROPE

Prologue Spoken

Leading Members Of The Cast

Drive And Personality

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright (8.0 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, who has been appointed Deputy Supreme Commander of the second front, is described as Britain's greatest master of air strategy, says the Press Association. He is a small, unassuming Scot, bronzed and weather-beaten, who is usually seen with a pipe and in his shirtsleeves. He taught the world the use of air power with the famous “carpet” made by wave after wave of bombers with a tremendous escort of fighters sweeping over the target withering everything with a lethal pattern of bombs. This weapon paved the way for victory in Africa.

General Sir Bernard Paget, who has been appointed Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East assumed duty as Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces on Christmas Day two years ago. He trained most of the home forces who will participate in the invasion of the Continent and was preparing troops for the offensive even while the threat of an invasion of Britain remained. Sir Bernard Paget fought grim battles of withdrawal in Norway. A Victorious Team

Youth and experience are well combined in the second front commanders. All are members of the team which won the Mediterranean victory. Their average age is 545 years. They are General Eisenhower, aged 53, Sir Arthur Tedder, aged 53, General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, aged 62, who is the oldest, General Sir Harold Alexander, aged 52, General Sir Bernard Montgomery, aged 52. Lieu-tenant-General C. Spaatz, aged 52, and General Sir Bernard Paget, aged 55. All are men of great drive, personality and unorthodox methods. They are summed up in Sir Arthur Tedder’s principle “To hell with history—what is the problem?” “The Times,” in a leader, says that while the world waits for the year 1944 and the supreme drama of the reconquest of Europe, the prologue is spoken with the announcement of the names of the leading members of the cast. Their transfer from the Mediterranean to Britain, where the forces destined for the invasion of Northwest Europe are assembled, is a plain intimation to friends and foes alike that the final, phase of preparation has begun. No choice could have been more acceptable than General Eisenhower. His most individual contribution to strategy has been his gift for drawing together officers of diverse nationality and professional training into a harmonious brotherhood, thereby generating a spirit of comradeshin which has been communicated to all ranks in the field. General Eisenhower brings with him to lead the British contingent of Invasion armies a lieutenant with whom he has already established strong and fruitful collaboration—General Montgomery. The goal we have set ourselves fs unconditional surrender. That is not achieveable save by the destruction of the whole fighting power of the enemy. We have to break the resistance of millions of soldiers, sailors and airmen ruled by desDerate men who know that their own lives may be forfeited by defeat. They have at their disposal the industrial riches and slave labour of the Continent, all now harnessed to a defensive effort.

Evolution in Warfare The selection of Sir Arthur Tedder as General Elsenhower’s deputy is a precedent in the evolution of warfare plainly destined to be fruitful, says the “Daily Telegraph” In an editorial. The selection recognises that in combined operations the R.AF. ranks equally with the older services and than an air officer may be appropriately be chosen as a sailor or soldier for a combined command. Air strategics and tactics may indeed be the dominant factor and the air officer will be given the decisive voice. The “Daily Mail” says that naval correspondents point out that no naval commanders for the second front have yet been named, but Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser. Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, which has just sunk the Schamhorst, controls the American task force in home waters.