Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1943. FROM THE ENEMY’S STANDPOINT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1943. FROM THE ENEMY’S STANDPOINT.

JN telling the House of Commons on Tuesday that operations against the enemy on a large scale obviously were approaching, Mr Churchill said also that

we had shown that we could face disaster, but we still had to show that we could keep ourselves at a high level of successful efforts 'and be worthy of them. Perhaps that might be the hardest task.

Fair and full emphasis is thus placed upon the dangers.still faced by the United Nations and upon the demands imperatively made upon, them, individually and collectively, lor an unbroken, continuity of loyal and co-ordinated effort in order that victor) over the common enemy may be assured.

It is not in doubt that the enemy is still formidable in a degree which would make any slackening 6r weakening divisions exceedingly perilous to the Allied nations. Neither is it any longer in question, however, that only faithful building on the foundations which have been laid by valiant land, sea and ail forces and by the civil populations behind them, is needed io ensure the complete and decisive victory on which the United Nations are intent.

If a stimulus to maximum effort were needed, it might be found in contemplation of the vastly different outlook Unit is opened before the enemy. German war propaganda, which has at all times been woven of lies, has never been less convincing, even to the credulous, than in its present- endeavours to build up the legend of an impregnable “Fortress Europe.”

Bearing in mind that this fortress, as someone has said, is without a roof, and that it and its defenders can be pounded at will by the ever-expanding air forces of the Allies, it becomes clear that Germany cannot hope to make herself*secure in. west and south by massing thousands of tons of concrete and steel in the forts of which her propagandists arc giving elaborate descriptions, but must base all her hopes upon her ability to maintain an active defence, with men, guns, tanks and aircraft at any one of the numerous points against which the Allies may launch landing and air attacks.

The lines on which the Allies are to develop their co-ordin-ated offensive campaign are a matter wholly for strategists, but, some facts of decisive importance are visible to all. onlookers. One of these is that the German Army, though it is said to number still some 290 divisions, is weaker than it has been relatively to the Allies in present lighting power, and very much weaker in reserve and satellite strength. In air strength it is now definitely inferior to the Allies. Much has been said about .the advantage of interior lines enjoyed by the Axis, but there is satisfactory evidence that the strain imposed upon her heavily overtaxed and partly wrecked transport system is one of the deadliest weaknesses under which Germany now labours. Whatever may be the immediate outlook on the Eastern front, where, as Mr Churchill, said in his House of Commons statement, “the greatest battles seem to be impending,’’ it is clear that Germany’s hopes of establishing an economical defensive 'front in Russia have gone with the wind. Her choice apparently is between attacking or being attacked on the Eastern front on a scale that in either event will impose a heavy drain on resources of which she will have vital need simultaneously in west and south. The Allies well know that they are faced by no light or easy task, but the prospect opened for Germany most certainly is not one of sitting at ease behind impregnable defences and springing unpleasant surprises on the attacking armies of the United Nations.