GENERAL ALEXANDER STILL CONFIDENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 5

GENERAL ALEXANDER STILL CONFIDENT

ANZiO BEACHHEAD “THINGS HAVE NOT CONE AS HOPED” Reed. 8.15 p.m. London. March 9. “I am still absolutely confident we will pull off this landing. Things arc much better in the beachhead than when I was last here three weeks ago,” slated the Allied Commandcr-in-Chief in Italy, General Sir Harold Alexander, to war correspondents, after concluding another inspection of the beachhead. General Alexander admitted that the situation was not easy, and things had not gone as originally hoped, but he was “ouite confident it will be all right now.” He added that it was difficult to say when we shall be able to break out of the beachhead, but other things were happening. General Alexander has exonerated Reachhead correspondents from all blame for causing uneasiness to British and American public opinion, for which he recently censured them. General Alexander said: “I have gone Into this matter, and am pleased to tell you—that is you good chaps who have stayed here—that we have full admiration for your work. The Press can play an enormous part in reporting a war. The only thinr I would say to you is that you should always try and strike a confident note. I am not lecturing you. but I sav this for the sake of the soldiers and the people at home with brothers and husbands in the Army, who see the war through you.”