Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1942. SECRECY IN NORTH AFRICA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1942. SECRECY IN NORTH AFRICA.

ORITTCISM “of the way in which the news of the North African campaign is being issued,” was reported a couple of days agq to be growing in. London. This criticism is not obviously justified and events before long may show that it was and is entirely without justification. Specific grounds 01. complaint set out were that some information had been allowed to come from radio stations more or less under the control ol Allied Headquarters—a. state of affairs perhaps accounted for by these stations being not yet as completely under Allied control as the Allies would desire —and that: — Newspaper correspondents’ dispatches, except for brief flashes, have been so long delayed as to be useless for drawing a picture of the campaign, and only add to the confusion. To make the conditions here described a subject of complaint overlooks the consideration that it may he most essential not to allow a clear picture of the development of the Allied campaign to be presented to the enemy, as it would be if if were presented in Britain and elsewhere. A week or two ago it was explained very, reasonably that detailed information 01. the Allied operations could not be made public, lest the enemy, with the advantage of nearby bases and short lines of communication, might be able to turn this information immediately and profitably to account. It must be hoped that the confusion of which complaint has been made in London is shared in lull measure by the enemy. In spite of the measure of secrecy that has been and is being observed, there are indications that the Allied campaign in North Africa is developing well, and with excellent promise. It is reported, for instance, that the R.A.F. has caught up with the forward troops of the First Army, advancing on the enemy defensive line covering Tunis and Bizerta, and is therefore now in a. position to give them effective air cover. Taking account also of the destructive bombing of Turin, Genoa and other centres of war industry and ports vital to the enemy in the supply and reinforcement of hfs armies in Tunisia and Libya, of the heavy toll taken by Allied air and naval forces of Axis convoys on the short sea. passage from Sicily to Tunisia, and of the extending Allied air offensive from African bases and from Malta, it is clear enough, in spite of the suppression of many details, that boldly comprehensive plans for the conquest of the whole African shore of the Mediterranean and of much besides are taking practical and promising shape. The position, indicated is that the Allies are far advanced towards building up the strength that will enable them. to launch full-powered attacks simultaneously in Libya and Tunisia, while at the same time intensifying and multiplying their blows at the enemy’s immediate and more distant communications and bases. Obviously the results aimed at justify a. very great effort and there need be no complaint regarding secrecy which contributes in any degree to the achievement of these results;