CHANGE IN WAR’S STRATEGY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 39, 10 November 1942, Page 5

CHANGE IN WAR’S STRATEGY

Effect Of U.S. Landings (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received November 9, 11.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 8. The blow struck in North Africa marks the turning point of the war ami the beginning of a great offensive against the Axis, comments the “New York Times.” This is an offensive action ou a major scale undertaken in a zone of operations lying close to the main masses of the German and Italian armies. It is the opening of a second front on that face of the European continent where the enemy is least prepared to defend himself. The American landings in Africa, coincident with General Montgomery’s victorious pursuit of Rommel, completely change the war’s strategic pictutxj. If the Americans establish a firm beachhead in Morocco and the British annihilate Rommel’s remaining forces, the whole supply situation will be transformed. The average supply line distance from England to the North African coast will be reduced from 13,000 to 2,>00 .miles.' Ships, can bring supplies in onefifth to one-seventh of the present tune, which is almost equivalent to multiplying fivefold the number of available merchantmen. Direct air communication would be possible from England. Air and land routes could be established directly across Africa east to. west, Furthermore, the threat of aid from Vichy to the German and Italian forces would be ended. Above all, the American landings expose the underside of Europe to invasion. Deceiving Axis. A Washington message says feints and misleading reports played a part in deceiving the Axis intelligence system before the invasion of North Africa. Observers in Washington believe that the story published in the United States recently that General Eisenhower was returning to Washington was deliberately spread with the intention of puzzling the enemy. Likewise, London’s story of three British battleships in the distant Bay of Bengal, which the British censor approved, must now seem suspicious to Berlin and Tokio in the light of what has happened. Moreover, some suspicion exists that the Dieppe attack was calculated to mislead the foe. According to semi-official circles in Berlin, the American attack in North Africa completely surprised the Germans, says the "New York Times” Stockholm correspondent. The Germans had been expecting United Stated action for some time, but against Dakar and the west coast of Africa generally. Ansaido on the Rome radio criticised the attitude of the Vichy French in Nortli Africa and threatened repercussions on the relations between the Axis and Vichy if effective resistance was not maintained.,