BRIGHT PICTURE FOR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 101, 23 January 1943, Page 5

BRIGHT PICTURE FOR

ALLIES U-Boats A Dark Spot

WASHINGTON, January 21. The Under-Secretary of War, Mr. Robert P. Patterson, reviewing general operations, told a Press conference that the over-all picture is bright. The rapid advance of the British Eighth Army threatens Tripoli, the fall qf which seems to be a matter of hours. Rommel’s withdrawal was orderly and the casualties were light. It was doubtful whether Rommel could establish an effective line. Mr. Patterson said the lifting of the siege of Leningrad was one of the most remarkable occurrences of this war. The continued Russian successes were particularly heartening, and the'doom of the German divisions at Stalingrad appeared to be assured. Evidently the Germans hoped to establish a winter line deep in Russia, probably along the river system, with the Volga as the summer objective. The Germans were likely now to be satisfied to rest at the Don, but at the rate at which the Russians were driving them back the Germans would probably retreat to the Donetz or even to the Dnieper. The lull in Tunisia was due to unfavourable weather, though there was considerable air action. Allied planes were maintaining the two to one superiority over the Axis. South-West Pacific.

In the South-west Pacific the Australian and American troops had almost completed the New Guinea campaign, and a Japanese force of 15,000 had been literally annihilated. It was heartening that the Australians and Americans had proved superior to the Japanese in jungle fighting, in which the Japanese were thought to be masters. Mr. Patterson added that the dark spot in the Allied picture was the high submarine sinkings. The construction of new shipping now exceeded the losses. Moreover, the new ships were faster and better than those lost. Greater emphasis was being placed on anti-submarine warfare and the protection of shipping as offensive operations developed round the world. Including the navy, about. 10,000,000 men, or one in every 13 Americans, would wear uniform in 1943, said Mr. Patterson, addressing West Point graduates. He added thut the proportion was much higher in England and Russia. America could not leave the hard work and fighting to the British, Russians and Chinese.

FOREIGN MANPOWER

(Received January 22, 9.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 21. Senator Bankhead, the farm bloc leader in the Senate, today said that it would be dangerous for the United States to withdraw from war production many more men for the armed forces. It seemed that the most practical solution was for the United States to continue to serve itself and its allies as an arsenal of production, supplying food and weapons, and calling on its allies to furnish the additional manpower necessary. The time had come for Congress to fix the maximum size of the army. If the present rate of increase was continued the United States would have an army of 12.000,000 this year. / Senator Bankhead said, “Our soldiers, if they are sent across the Atlantic, must travel 3000 miles and encounter the submarine hazards, and acres sthe Pacific sail 6000 or 7000 miles and risk destruction from the Japanese Fleet, submarines and planes. Of all countries, China and Russia are in the best position to furnish the men. China alone could raise 25,000.000."