DECISIVE ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1943, Page 4

DECISIVE ACTION

EXPECTED SOON AGAINST FORTRESS EUROPE

ATTACK POSSIBLE AT MANY POINTS. SOME GERMAN BOASTING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 3. Decisive Allied operations are expected soon against fortress Europe, says the Algiers radio. The stepping-up of air strength against Italy, Germany and occupied territory has brought about a rally of public opinion in favour of the Allied nations in those countries which until now have been hostile or indifferent. A second front is imminent. A Berlin military spokesman said the Germans were watching for Allied blows against Belgium, Northern and Southern France, Italy and., the.. Balkans. ..A Swedish correspondent in Berlin quoted Dr. Kurt Pfeiffer, a military expert, as saying the first attack would come from the Mediterranean, because the Allies there were well drilled and excellently armed. Two Bi’itish armies and one American army and also French reserves, were ready for action. The German News Agency describes the Channel forts which are the beginning of the Atlantic wall protecting Europe at several points along the French coast. “Anti-aircraft forts of thousands of tons of steel and concrete,” the agency states, “will secure this no man’s land against air atattacks. It is still a secret how many of these fortresses there are along the French coast, from the North Sea co the Bay of Biscay. On the towers of the anti-aircraft emplacements are light and heavy guns. Extensive minefields surround the forts and an attack would cost the enemy dearly, because the forts would be the first taste of the unpleasant surprises which Germany has got in readiness for the enemy along the whole coastline facing England.”

INVASION PLANS FULL PREPARATION MADE. STATEMENT BY AMERICAN EXPERT. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. “When we decide to go into a place we shall have sufficient force to go through,” said Brigadier Noce, America’s amphibious warfare expert, in an interview in London. “The landing point for an Allied invasion and the shores adjacent have been considered and men of all arms have been specially trained and stand ready.” Equipment had been assembled and care would be taken to ensure that force would be at hand when the invasion began. “We have air superiority and don’t contemplate losing it. We shall also have sea support,” Brigadier Noce added. Among the several steps taken, he said, was the softening of enemy by bombing. That was happening now. The next step was the actual amphibious operation. The army as it landed would fight in accordance with its own traditions. Some special equipment has been required, small landing craft had been necessary. America and Britain knew all the types required and they were ready. FREE ITALY MOVEMENT. A meeting of the Free Italy movement in London, over which Mr Ivor Thomas, M.P., presided, advocated the formation of a Free Italy Legion, under the Garibaldi flag, to march into Italy with the Allies.. “It would do much to foment an anti-Fascist uprising, especially in Sicily and Sardinia, where antiFascism is strong,” declared Signor U. Calosso, one of the movement’s leaders. He added: “There is proof of an underground movement growing rapidly in Italy, where sabotage and secret propaganda are increasing.”