SUMMER OF CRISIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1943, Page 3

SUMMER OF CRISIS

ANTICIPATED BY AMERICAN WRITER GERMANY BADLY HURT. BUT STILL FORMIDABLE. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, May 10. Germany has been badly hurt, but is still strong, and the world faces another summer of major crisis which will determine the duration and cost of the war, says the “New York Times correspondent,- Hanson Baldwin, in the first of a series of articles based on his recent tour of European war theatres. The Tunisian campaign represents not only the end of the beginning but also the first great Anglo-American victory in Europe, he says. Contrary to the popular American impression, the victory was primarily British, but Tunisia, though a great victory, has been costly and time-consuming, delaying for months a land invasion of Europe. Though Germany has been weakened by the strain on her manpower and the relative decline of the Luftwaffe, the summer may witness another “March, 1918,” German offensive, probably against Russia, which may possibly be paralleled by a Japanese blow somewhere in the Pacific. Germany will also intensify the U-boat warfare, but new Allied devices and methods and more escort ships and planes should reduce sinkings before the winter. Summarising the composite opinions of many of the United Nations' military and political leaders to whom he talked, Mr Baldwin voices the opinion that Germany has lost the war, but that the United Nations have not yet won it. The enemy is still able to throw into the battle the largest and certainly the most experienced and most competent army in the world. Hitler may have abandoned hope of total victory, but the German Army and people are fighting on strongly and desperately, and enemy leaders hope for a limited victory, or at least a stalemate. Mr Baldwin said he was amazed by the problems the Allies have solved and the production and the supply miracles they have achieved. “Our troops are raw, but have courage and loyalty,” he said, “but he is disappointed at our past combat operations," and says that the present state of preparations for the trials ahead lack progress toward creating efficient United Nations war machinery. Mr Baldwin summarises other inpressions thus: First, the most optimistic Allied leaders believe that Germany may crack this autumn, but 'the majority think victory is possible in 1944 or 1945. Secondly, American', troops are not yet in the same league as the German, and the American Air Force is not yet experienced enough to get the most form its material, but combat losses are sharply in its favour. Its, bombing heavily weights the scales of' war in the Mediterranean and western Europe.