THE NEAR EAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1942, Page 4

THE NEAR EAST

SUPPOSED AXIS PLANS OPPORTUNITY MISSED. AT TIME OF OFFENSIVE IN LIBYA. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) NEW YORK. October 15. Seeking corroboration of reports to Allied military intelligence sources in Istanbul, indicating that the Germans have abandoned their plan to invade the Near East from Agean bases, the “New York Times” correspondent at Smyrna says he has received evidence from reliable quarters than an Axis attack on this area is impossible this autumn and that the entire Near East probably will be secure until the spring of 1943. The correspondent adds: “Reports received at Smyrna from the German air bases at Les Bos. Chios and Samos disclosed that the Germans and Italians had withdrawn all but siceieion garrison forces from the Greek Islands and the Dodecanese. Allied military and naval circles say the Germans committed the gravest error, since their failure in the attempt to invade England after the collapse of France, when last May they failed to attack the weak defences of Syria and Palestine, simultaneously with the Libyan offensive. Only the Turks were ready last May and an operation aimed across Syria Iran’s oil and into Palestine .to sever the Allied communications was feasible.”