GROWING BRIGHTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 January 1943, Page 4

GROWING BRIGHTER

OVERALL WAR PICTURE AMERICAN MINISTER’S SURVEY. NORTH AFRICA & RUSSIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 21. The Under-Secretary for War (Mr Patterson) reviewing general operations, told ?. Press conference: “The overall picture is bright. ■The rapid advance of the Eighth Army threatens Tripoli, the fall of which seems to be a matter of hours. Rommel’s withdrawal is orderly and his casualties light. It is doubtful whether Romel could establish an effective line.”

Stating that the lifting of the siege of Leningrad was one of the most remarkable occurrences of this war, Mr Patterson continued: “The Russian successes are particularly heartening. The doom of the German divisions at Stalingrad appears to be assured. Evidently the Germans hoped to establish a winter line deep in Russia, probably along the river system, with the Volga as their summer objective. The Germans are likely now to be satisfied to rest at the Don, but the rate at which the Russians are driving them back possibly may compel the Germans to retreat to the Donets or even to the Dnieper.”

Mr Patterson said the Marines from Guadalcanal were now getting a much-needed rest. He explained that General Patch was relieving General Vandergrift and that this did not affect General Harmon’s general command under Admiral Halsey. The lull in Tunisia was due to unfavourable weather, although there was considerable air action, the Allied planes maintaining a two to one superiority over the Axis. In the South-West Pacific, Australian and American troops had almost completed the New Guinea campaign. A Japanese force of 15,000 was literally being annihilated. It was heartening that the Australians and Americans had proved superior to the Japanese in jungle fighting, in which the Japanese thought they were masters. Mr Patterson added that the dark spot in the Allied picture was that of high submarine sinkings. The construction of new shipping now exceeded losses, however. Moreover, the new ships were faster and better than those lost. Greater emphasis was being placed on anti-submarine warfare and the protection of shipping as offensive operations developed around the world.