AMERICAN MANPOWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1941, Page 4

AMERICAN MANPOWER

AS MUCH NEEDED AS IN LAST WAR IN OPINION OF GENERAL AUCHINLECK. VICTORY MUST BE WON ON GERMAN SOIL. ißv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! CAIRO. July 8. “If the Avar is to be won properly, as it must be, then 1 envisage the need for American manpower,” declared the new Commander-in-Chief, Middle East. General Sir Claude Auchinleck, receiving British war correspondents. “I have always thought that the war must be won in Germany. on the Germans’ own soil. They must be beaten as Napoleon was beaten. Therefore I see as much need for American manpower in this as in the last war. “In 12, 14 or 24 months this need will certainly arise. How we are to get into Germany is another • but ways and means will present themselves. “The Russians are doing better than I personally expected. This impression was partly due to the ease with which the Germans have over-run other countries.” General Auchinleck said he thought the Germans would try to push to the Caucasus and thence to Baku. If they secured the Caucasus they would almost certainly try to drive to Basra, probably for the moral effect and in order to compel the Allies to retain large forces in India and the Middle East. He pointed out that the British staff had been studying these matters. He felt' pretty safe in the Middle East. One of the principal functions of the men under his command was holding the fort. Before the Germans overran the Balkans, the Middle East had provided a suitable jumping-off place from which to obtain a foothold in the Balkans, and' that opportunity might recur, especially as the Balkan people were unlikely to sit down for years under the present conditions of life.