WELL-EQUIPPED FORCE READY

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22063, 14 June 1943, Page 3

WELL-EQUIPPED FORCE READY

FINAL PREPARATIONS IN DENSE SECRECY ELATED BY VICTORY CONFIDENCE IN LEADERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) i _ j (Received June 14, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 13 A month has passed since Tunisia was cleared, and tense anticipation of the long-expected Allied descent on the Continent is mounting toward a climax as the combined staffs complete final preparations in dense secrecy. Many indications of the approaching operations can be noted, such as the prolonged softening by bombers of certain areas, the movement of troops and shipping, and preparations in ports. It is pointed out, however, by Lord Hankey in the Sunday Times that the softening is spread widely and no one can be sure that the bombing of some districts may not be an experiment, using air forces as the main weapon. A surprise landing might even come at an unbombed section of the coast. The movements of ships and troops are not conclusive. They have sometimes been used as a ruse de guerre, since amphibious warfare lends itself to strategy, owing to the mobility of ships. Lord Hankey gives a reminder that the Allies have to overcome formidable obstacles to the first landing, particularly in the provision of air cover. The degree of difficulty would depend on the place of landing and the success of the preliminary softening by air. Almost harder tasks are the rapid provision of repair aerodromes the disembarkation of material of all kinds, the creation of great depots for munitions and supplies and repair facilities, the restoration of communications and port facilities, and so forth—in a word, the rapid establishment of a spacious bridgehead from which to start an arduous campaign. Invaluable lessons have been learned in North Africa about the co-operation of the three services of the several nations. “A superb international force, well equipped and with confidence in its leaders, elated by victory, and in the highest state of morale, has been built up on the southern shores of the Mediterranean,” said Lord Hankey. “It should provide a splendid nucleus of the larger forces required for more formidable tasks.”