The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, FRIDAY, OCT. 16, 1942. AN AXIS DEFENSIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20916, 16 October 1942, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, FRIDAY, OCT. 16, 1942. AN AXIS DEFENSIVE

“We have now reached the stage where the defensive can be replaced by an offensive.’’ This statement by General Smuts directs attention to the general change in the war situation and supports other speeches and developments of recent weeks. The prospect of the Axis being placed on the defensive is encouraging, but, at the same time, it has implications which should not be ignored. Of the prospect itself there is little doubt. Indeed, it /is frankly admitted by the Axis leaders from Hitler down and evidence of it is 'contained in recent events. Where is the Axis taking the offensive at the present time? Not in the Pacific, except in costly attempts to regain lost ground in the Solomons; not in the Middle East, except as a defensive measure, to batter its air force against the defences of Malta; not in Europe, except as repressive action against the uprisings of the oppressed peoples arid to a more and more restricted degree on the Russian front; not at sea, other than by a diminishing submarine campaign; and, most clearly of all, ’not in the air. This situation of itself marks the striking contrast between conditions of today and of a year, two years, or three years ago. For the first time since the war started the enemy has been halted. What comes next?

A' German military spokesman, broadcasting froth 'Berlin, has admitted the acceptance of the formula, “From the offensive to the defensive.” CihTent German reports of the operations on the Russian front speak Oh Russian attempts to “break out,” of the expectation of new Russian attacks, and of attempting to ascertain the Russian intentions. Every phrase is indicative of Russian, rather than German, initiative. Of the Middle East, both Berlin and Rome speak, not of Romihers pending conquest of Egypt, but of the expected Allied offensive. Of "the Pacific, there is a significant silOrice in Axis circles, but actions speak louder than words and every action from the Aleutians in the north to New Guinea and the Solomons in the south and to Burma and China in 'the west shows that the initiative rests With the Allies and not with the Axis. So far so good. The Allies, ill-trained and illprepared, Rave survived many rounds of terrific battering by powerful adversaries. By the simple -process of dodging round the ring they have avoided a knock-out blow, they have gained .t-hOir se'corid wind, and they have caused the other side to expend mdOh of its Strength. But they have not yet won a victory—they have only started to pile up a "few points—and the ri’fett questidri is hdW best to take advantage of the changed circumstances. :

The Allies, relatively weak, were able to mairitalh the defensive for three years.. How long can the Axis, comparatively strong, stand on the defensive? Cali an Allied offensive succeed „ where an Axis offensive failed? This is the next stage of the war arid it'will demand a good deal of “cartful thought arid preparation. The Berlin spokesman sums up the position when he says that “the tripartite Powers, in three years of offensive, achieved Such successes that they cannot lose the war, “even ff they limit their actions to the defence of conquered territories.” In Other words, the Axis policy from now on is to be one of “What w’e have, we hold.” It is a strange transition from the previous policy of world conquest and domination, a remarkable come-down for the Axis leaders, and an admission, if not of weakness, that their strength is., not so great as they had thought. The question still remains, however, of whether Germany and Japan—for -Italy no longer counts—haVebeen so far weakened that they will be unable to hold their gains or, at the least, of how long it will take to deprive them of them. It would be foolish to imagine that because the Axis is on the ’defensive it is already as good as .beaten. On the contrary,, in some respects the war is only just starting. The importance of carefully planning the offensive was stressed by General Smuts when he said that “we have now reached a stage in the war which calls for a careful review of the course before us." It is just as easy to make mistakes ribvv as before and mistakes, even though they might not alter the result, might indefinitely postpone it. The German view that the conquered; territories can be successfully defended need not be accepted, but it should be respected. If the Germans can key their own people arid, more irriportant, the oppressed peoples, up to the rigours of a defensive war they will not easily be dispossessed of their spoils. The defeat of the Japanese might be even less easy, for while 'the Italians crumple under a reverse and the Germans fight better on the offensive than the . defensive, the Japanese are a race nvhich dobs riot readily admit defeat at all. These national characteristic's to some extent dictate the Allied Offensive policy. Firstly, Germany must be weakened by depriving her of her Italian ally and her other European satellites and the support of the conquered peoples of Europe. That stage is already in -progress, fchfch, with Germany on the defensive against external and internal opponents sjie can be brought to her knees and, finally, the whole resources of the Allies can be used for inflicting on the Japanese the complete arid utter defeat which, is the only end of the war they Will be prepared to recognise.