ALLIED PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1942, Page 3

ALLIED PLANS

INVASION OF EUROPE

SAID TO BE ADVOCATED BY WASHINGTON.

REPORTED HESITANCY IN BRITAIN.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) BOSTON, April 29.

The United States is still urging on Britain a direct land invasion of Europe in spite of continued British hesitancy and even without a guarantee that the second front can be maintained in the face of a German counter-offensive, says the Washington correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor.” He quotes “competent diplomatic quarters” as the source of the news.

London, it is reported, holds the view that the cost in lowered morale and squandered equipment of an unsuccessful invasion would make its value doubtful.

' The “Christian Science Monitor” says it is now confirmed that General Marshall’s visit to London was for the purpose of ascertaining the size of a British expeditionary force that could be landed and maintained on the Continent, and the number of American troops and material which would be needed to guarantee a fair chance of holding such territory as could be seized in the first rush of invasion. General Marshall is said to have been convinced that the British and American forces which are now available in

the United Kingdom could and should invade the Continent to relieve Russia. The article says the United States War Department is known to disagree with the popular British notion that Royal Air Force and. commando activities are enough to keep a good part of the Luftwaffe tied down in Western Europe and is - urging the necessity of forcing Germany to transfer several army divisions from Russia to the west.

The reasons prompting London’s anti-invasion stand are stated by the “Monitor” to be: (1) Confidence in the ability of the Red Army to carry on without the aid of a second front; (2) fear of a German counter-invasion of Britain while the American strength has not yet developed; and (3) that (the shipping shortage would be further aggravated by an invasion.

The “Monitor” adds that as the American strength on British soil is being built up, the British reluctance to invade the Continent is expected to diminish.