SURVEY OF WAR

Evening Star, Issue 24285, 28 August 1942, Page 3

SURVEY OF WAR

IMPRESSIONS FROM ALL FRONTS MR CHURCHILL STRONGER THAN EVER NEW YORK, August 26. Writing in the ‘New York Times,’ Mr Arthur Krock says that high ranking officials who have just returned from Britain and had access to the most confidential sources express the following view on the general war situation: — BRITAIN. Mr Churchill is stronger than ever. His Government does not face any loss of power or office, while the resolution of the British people was never stronger than it is now. , EGYPT. Reverses, sanguinary battles, and narrow escapes, from disaster are expected. Nevertheless, military experts are confident that we can maintain air supremacy and thus win through. RUSSIA. Mr Churchill, who found M. Stalin wholly co-operative, learned more about Russian military matters than he or any other statesman previously knew. According to this information, the Russians expect to hold the Caucasus and also to maintain a winter stand, probably along the Volga. PACIFIC. Following the American naval offensive, the Japanese will not try to attack Australia or India. GERMAN PRISONERS ESCAPE (Rec, 1.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, August 38. Four German prisoners of war who escaped recently from a camp in Victoria broke out of concrete detention cells situated outside the perimeter fence of the camp after they had discovered faults iu the concrete. This was revealed by the Army Minister (Mr Fordo), who added that all the escapees had been recaptured. A fifth prisoner iu the cells was caught in the act of escaping. After finding faults in the concrete the Germans made a hole large enough for them to get out of the building. The colls had been constructed by private contract. Mr Forde said important action in the guarding of prisoners was being taken, hut details could not be published. Since the arrival of prisoners of war in Australia 12 Germans have escaped and 10 have been recaptured. Nine Italians have escaped and eight have been recaptured. In the light of experience in other countries at war the number of escapes of prisoners in Australia is extremely small.

INVITED TO WASHINGTON

PRESS URGES MR CURTIN TO ACCEPT

(N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, August 27. The feeling is "rowing in Australia that the Prime Minister. Mr J. Curtin, should accept President (Roosevelt’s invitation to visit Washington. The Sydney ‘Sun’ says: “Such a visit to the leader of a great republic, which Providence has made our ally would bo obviously of the most inestimable value to the Commonwealth. No other Australian could possibly carry the authority of the Prime Minister in the discussions on co-ordinated effort and strategy in the Pacific. Other dominion leaders will confer with _ the President. Already the Prime Minister of New Zealand is in Washington, and Australia should bo represented by its Prime Minister.”

Mr Curtin has declined to comment op the invitatign., i