LEAP OVER COAST DEFENCES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 195, 16 May 1944, Page 5

LEAP OVER COAST DEFENCES

Possible Allied AirTroop Strategy

NAZI WALL OBSOLETE? <By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received May J 5, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 15. Swedish experts estimate that the invasion from Britain will be made by about 100 divisions, with at lea,st 9300 supporting planes. They expect the’ campaign will be on the Crete model, with huge airborne forces striking inland preceding the coastal landing. The “Svenska Dagbladet’s” military writer says there are 50 British and Dominion divisions now in the British Isles, plus 40 to 50 American divisions. He believes that the Allies, with the troops in North Africa, Italy, and elsewhere, have about 200 divisions, giving them two-to-one superiority over the opposing Axis forces. ■ The “Tidningen's” naval correspondent values the invasion landing craft which will carry this army at £300,000,00(1 sterling, to which must be added a transport fleet of passenger and merchant ships totalling 10,000,000 tons. The “Tidningen’s” aviation correspondent says the front-line strength of the Allied tactical air force totals 4800 planes and the strategic air force 4500. The “Aftonbladet’s” military, writer, who predicts that an airborne invasion Will be flie first phase of. the operation, says:' “The Atlantic Wall is as out of date as the Maginot Line.” A spokesman of the German War’ Ministry also declared that the Allies were planning ah enormous airborne invasion, and said, “We must be prepared for anything.” ’ ■ Thorough Preparation. The German news agency’s military commentator, Hallensleben, said that the Allied commanders began last month to "put their invasion plan into operation. The first phase, the air attacks on Europe, was meant to give the landing a flying start. A hint that the Germans may withdraw troops from the Italian front to meet the Allied invasion of Europe was given today by Hallensleben. He said: “The Efigli Command may have to withdraw troops from the Italian front for reasons which have no connexion with the fighting on that front.” The German High Command spokesman, General Dietmar, said flie enemy was preceding his planned general attack by thorough preparation, which was being made above all by the long arm of his air force. “Perhaps he will continue to intensify this pre-invasidn softening process; this may be the reason for the. delay in launching the invasion,” he added. The perman news agency says that while everything on the eastern front Js poisefi for new Soviet offensives, the invasion preparations in ,the west are reaching completion. It adds that the targets selectee] last week by the Allied air forces give soihe indication of the date when the battle for western Europe will begin. A message sent from Berlin by the Swedish news agbney says that alarming reports of the Allied invasion preparations' reached Berlin on Saturday night. Military and political circles in Berlin were consequently very tense in the weekend. __________