Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1943. WAR DEMANDS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1943. WAR DEMANDS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

TN itself the ease made out for an increased allocation of Allied aircraft to the South and South-West Pacific, theatres obviously is extremely strong, but it has to be recognised that simultaneously imperative demands are being made for action by the Allies on a maximum scale in the European theatre. It is clear that all possible support must be given to Russia for her own sake and in order that the offensive may tell to the utmost as a contribution to victory over the common enemy. The position appears to be summed up fairly by the London “Daily Express” in the statement that: — Hitler has made a gamble of weakening his European forces in a desperate effort to stop the Nazi rot in Southern Russia. Russia must show great speed if she is to recover’ and consolidate her gains before the Germans can think of a spring offensive, but the Allies of Russia must show even greater speed. The plans of the Casablanca conference were laid for nine fighting months two of those months have already passed. Whatever may be the outcome in the immediate future of the battle for Kharkov, Nazi Germany appears to be faced by a much greater task on the Eastern front than that of stopping the rot in Southern Russia. While the luck of the weather has turned against the Russians on the southern front, it remains true that their winter offensive has developed on a far greater scale, and has achieved and is achieving far greater results, than most people would have ventured to anticipate even a month or two ago. As matters stand, the Soviet drive on Smolensk, by way of Viazma, a stronghold now in Russian hands, is opening fair prospects that the Axis armies may be compelled, irrespective of the immediate, course of events in the Donetz area, to make an extended retreat on the whole Eastern front. Much is likely to depend, however, on the scale of concerted and supporting action found practicable by the Western Allies. With affairs in this state it is not surprising that some observers in London, as a cablegram states, are again emphasising that now is the time for the Allies to strike in Western Europe and are pointing out that Germany has withdrawn her major forces from the west to achieve her successes in the Donetz Basin. Strongly as these contentions are supported by visible facts, it is obvious that public and popular agitation can have little practical effect on the outcome. It is possible, and may indeed be hoped, that the Allies are rounding off their plans to strike in the near future in Western Europe, as well as in and from North Africa, but if these plans are on the point of completion they will naturally be shrouded in the strictest secrecy until they take shape in action. If demands for concerted offensive action like those now being made in London and in other parts of the Allied world are to be met, it must be on the basis of preparations already well advanced towards finality.