INVASION COAST DESOLATION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 193, 13 May 1944, Page 7

INVASION COAST DESOLATION

Nazis Cannot Keep Up

With Damage BASES MOVED BACK (By Telegraph.—,'res-s Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, May 11. The United States Secretary of War, Mr. Stimson, told a Press conference in Washington that, in sipite of their efficiency in repairing damage, improvising communications, and resorting to now tactics to preserve their plane strength • under the unremitting aerial assaults, the Genmans were gradually falling' behind in all these processes. “The enemy’s transportation system in north-western Europe is 'badly shaken,” Mr. Stimson said. “Half an hour ago I was flying over a huge area of the invasion coast, extending 30 to 50 miles inland; it was completely deserted,” said a Typhoon pilot to a “Daily Telegraph” correspondent who asked him for a pilot’s view of the coast. The pilot added: “The British-bused air forces have now succeeded in driving the enemy right back from the positions he occupied for so long.

“He has been compelled to abandon not only important airfields but the great majority of his anti-aircraft posts. The effect when I was flying over just now was rather eerie. No trains were run ning, no human beings were to be observed, no guns were in action, and there were no enemy lighters anywhere near us. We had the sky to ourselves.

“I remember that when we went trainbusting a few months ago there were all kinds of targets. Now there are only scenes of desolation. Where the railway lines are not broken they are idle. "Whatever military forces may be there they must be.well dug in. It seems to me that everything has gone that could be pulled back. We still drop bombs on the reputed sites of ‘secret weapons,’ but all that can be seen today are the big craters we have left.” FRENCH RESOLVE Proclamation For People LONDON, May 11. Algiers radio states that the French Council of Resistance inside France has published the following proclamation:— “The National Council of Resistance, which embodies representatives of all resistance groups, renews on the eve of the coming decisive events the pledge that France is resolved to do everything materially possible to contribute to the liberation of Europe. The French people are ready to face the trials and sufferings necessitated 'by military expediency.’’ The French prosecutor at the Algiers tribunal has demanded the death sentence at the trial of Vice-Admiral Berrien, who is accused of surrendering Bizerta and also 16 French warships to the Germans in December, 1942. Life Imprisonment. LONDON, May 12. Derrien was sentenced to imprisonment for life, CLAIMED NAZI PLAN Counter-Blow At England

LONDON, May 11. A counter-attack against England will be launched the moment the Allies start invasion, says the Turin Fascist news-paper-“La Stampa.” ■ , „ Another Fascist paper. ‘La Nazione, published in Florence, says 1 leld-Marshal Rommel has a complete offensive plan which will operate when General Eisenhower attacks the Continent, lhe plan will carry the war to the heart of England,” it declares. “Paratroops are being trained for the occasion.’

FULLEST NEWS OF INVASION

Service To New Zealand SYDNEY. May 12. The cost of collecting and transmitting the Australian Associated Press service to the members now exceeded £150,000 a year, it was stated' at the half-yearly meeting of the A.A.P. . , . “It is doubtful.’’ said the acting-chair-man, Mr. F. Lloyd Dumas, “if any previous great event in history has been so well prepared for by the newspapers and news agencies as the coming invasion of Europe. The association has. in addition to its own staff men. tjie benefit of the services of the leading world news agencies, such as Reuter st the I ress Association. the Associated Press of America, the United Press, afid such newspapers as ‘The Times, the Daily Express.’ ‘Daily Telegraph,’ ‘Daily Mail, and the ‘New York Times’ and the New York Herald Tribune.’ . - “All these organizations have their representatives accredited and postedl to various strategic points, and they will operate on sea. in the air. Thev will combine to provide extinordin arily complete cover for the Australian bined\ fi o”Xtio l nTf n B.sob'o<)o, but the Australian and New Zealand newpaj received-a world news service chat compare favourably with that of any country in the world.