HEAVY NEW STRAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1942, Page 3

HEAVY NEW STRAIN

ON GERMAN LAND & AIR FORCES DECISIVE CONTEST OPENING IN MEDITERRANEAN. GREAT WESTWARD MOVEMENT FROM RUSSIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 13. Competent observers believe that the occupation of Vichy France by Germany may stretch her land and air strength almost to breaking point. The “Daily Telegraph” military correspondent estimates that the Axis will need between 600,000 and 750,000 men to ensure reasonable security in Vichy France. It will take just about the I last strategic reserve hitherto held | in Germany to meet any new call. Not only has Hitler’s hand been forced by our invasion of North Africa, but the strategic initiative is passing from him to us. The German occupation of Vichy France is essentially a defensive move.

An enormous additional strain has been put on the Luftwaffe by the invasion of France,” . says the “Telegraph’s” aeronautical correspondent. “The tasks of the German Air Force will automatically be increased by 50 per cent if the airfields of Southern France are to be taken over and manned by Axis personnel and an adequate number of modern planes transferred to the fields. This is quite apart from the necessity of attempting to maintain air bases in Tunisia against a powerful threat by the Allies. It means that a very great proportion of Germany’s total air strength on the Russian front must be moved westward and moved speedily.” Writing in the New York “HeraldTribune,” Major Eliot voices an opinion that Hitler has decided to contest the mastery of the Mediterranean, for which he is concentrating the greater part of the Luftwaffe in Southern France, Italy, Sardinia and Sicily, at the same time gaining a new foothold in Tunisia and Libya, but air force alone is insufficient’. Hitler probably relies on the Italian Navy, consisting of seven battleships, ten to twelve cruisers, six destroyers and many submarines, which may prove a more formidable force than heretofore. However, it is certain that the United Nations have concentrated sufficient naval power to meet any eventuality. The Allied land forces are undoubtedly superior and therefore the expulsion of the Axis from Africa is only a matter of time unless -the Luftwaffe is able to protect vast troop movements to Libya.

MANY ARRESTS

MADE BY THE GERMANS IN FRANCE DARLAN COLLABORATORS & REFUGEES. TROOP TRANSFERS FROM RUSSIA TO BALKANS. y ... ... - (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, November 13. The Gestapo has arrested many French naval officers in Toulon suspected of having prepared to take a number of ships to the Allies, says the New York radio, quoting a Berne report. The Germans have ordered the arrest of all close collaborators with Darlan in Vichy, and are rounding up hundreds of political refugees in Southern France. German frontier guards have fired on people attempting to get into Switzerland. \ A Geneva report says the unconcealed hatred of the French people towards the German troops was demonstrated in the Saint Etienne district, where the first vehicle of a German motorised column was blown up by a mine, killing five Germans and blocking the road. . . The Germans are requisitioning all available foodstuffs and cattle in Vichy France, says the “Standard’s” Geneva correspondent. Private transport is at a standstill, telephones cannot be used and passenger rail services have been stopped. The Germans are not letting the Italians have undisputed control in Savoy. Storms troopers were sent to Savoy at the same time as the Italians. r r . The Associated Press of Great Britain Ankara correspondent says Germans, who for months have been completely absent from Greece, are now reoccupying the coast at all speed. Between two and three divisions are taking up positions. Twelve German divisions are reported to have moved westward into Rumania from Russia last week. It is believed that they are destined for Greece and Rumania.

FRENCH PARTISANS

OPPOSING THE GERMANS IN TUNISIA NAZI FORCES USING TANKS. BROUGHT IN BY AIR. LONDON, November 13. French partisans are reported to be fighting the Germans in Tunisia. The Germans are stated to be using tanks taken to Tunisia by air. HEAVY ATTACKS MADE BY U-BOATS & AXIS AIRCRAFT. ON ALLIED NAVAL UNITS IN MEDITERRANEAN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, November 13. The fact that Allied naval units encountered hard fighting, including attacks by sea and air, after the most remarkable feat of getting the greatest armada in all history to the Mediterranean without loss, was disclosed by a high naval source today. Not only have enemy submarine attacks increased in intensity, but our ships have come under the enemy’s air umbrella. Referring to the attitude of Admiral Darlan, a spokesman said the Allies would welcome the adhesion of any Frenchman who came over to them in good faith. The French ships at Dakar, said the spokesman, are not known to have attempted to put to sea. Britain’s two main problems in the present situation, he added, were manpower and the menace of U-boats.