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DAMMING THE TIDE

OF REPORTED ALLIED DIFFERENCES PART THE EIGHTH ARMY MAY PLAY. NAZI HOPES OF STIRRING UP DISSENSION. (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, October 25. Great hopes are held for the Eighth Army’s attack, which is important militarily and politically. It is too early to discuss the scope of the attack, while it is known that Field-Marshal Rommel’s army is strong, one estimate being two German and two Italian armoured divisions, plus one German mo. torised division and one German infantry division partly mobilised. The heavy aid bombardment of Rommel’s positions and supply bases and also the naval attack on Mersa Matruh and the bombing of Genoa, Savrona and Milan, in addition to the recent Malta blitz, all link up with the present fighting. While it is generally hoped that Rommel can be driven out of North Africa, little is being said, memories of the recent summer’s debacle being strong. The political consequences of victory over Rommel would have far-reaching importance for the Allies, chiefly because of some uneasiness about the Russians’ attitude. Mr Hore-Belisha, the former War Secretary, has referred to the Russians’ “rising tide of suspicion and resentment” at the failure of the Allies to open a second front in Europe. He added that this rising tide might be dammed if the British bills of lading could be seen by the Russians. Russia’s sharp and sustained, campaign for Britain to bring Hess to trial has caused misgiving in London, for it is believed the trial would only provoke savage reprisals and achieve nothing. “The Economist” points out the danger of the Germans attempting to divide the Allied nations politically. It believes that the Bolshevik bogjj, which the Nazis have used for political offensive throughout their career, is “still in spate,” and it adds that the Nazis still hope the political weakness of the Grand Alliance will neutralise its military strength. “The panzer spearhead of the Nazis’ politics is still the Bolshevik bogy. The Nazis believe that the conditions for appeasement can be recreated, and that doubts existing between Russia and hex* allies —and a clash between the ‘rival imperialism’ of Britain and the United States—will kill the three nations’ will to pool their powers against the aggressors.’’ The journal continues: “The Nazis have not lost hope of swinging the Allies against Russia, for which reason the Germans’ ‘defensive’ strategy in the coming months will be bitingly offensive. Militarily, every possible offensive action to divide the Allied forces will be attempted, and the Reich is still very strong. Politically, an offensive to split Right from Left and ally from ally will continue.” Alexander Werth, the “Sunday Times” correspondent in Moscow, gives the typical Russian soldiers’ view: “With the failure to achieve victory in Russia, Hitler has probably lost his last chance, and the Russian soldier asks, ‘Thanks to whom? Thanks to us, and almost to nobody else.’ ” That the Russians have fought the Germans magnificently and have altered the whole course of the war is a fact that nobody in Britain will deny, while there is the greatest disappointment that Britain so far. has been unable to support Russia militarily in addition to sending supplies; but, as General Smuts pointed out, Britain had already played a most important role by standing up alone against the Nazis for a whole year, and this may be a fact which some Russians overlook. Against this background, the Eighth Army’s attack is full of importance. Stockholm reports says the Italians fear that the Allies will attempt a landing in Sicilv, and that Germany takes the possibility seriously. This may be guesswork, but it is a pointer to what could happen if the Germans were cleared from ‘North Africa. A decisive victory against Rommel, followed up by further attacks against the Axis, would undoubtedly relieve the R' ls ” sians “suspicion and resentment, ror this reason there rests. on the Eighth Army more than a military role; its victory might again change the course of the war.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19421027.2.60

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1942, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
661

DAMMING THE TIDE Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1942, Page 4

DAMMING THE TIDE Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1942, Page 4

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