ANY DAY NOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1943, Page 3

ANY DAY NOW

INVASION OF EUROPE UNEASY SPECULATION JN AXIS COUNTRIES. BOMBING VERY DIFFICULT TO ENDURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. The effects of the Allied air offensive and speculation regarding the possibility of an Allied invasion is becoming increasingly prominent in news from Axis countries. The Paris radio, in a morning broadcast, reporting on Allied preparations for invasion, said: “Excitement reigns ■ in Britain and the whole south coast has been declared a zone of operations. The last Clipper brought a number of war correspondents anti photographers from the United States. British troops are in a permanent state of alert and the whole agitation obviously indicates that the British have reached the peak of their preparations for an eventual landing.”

Jean Paquis, the official Paris radio spokesman, said: “An Allied invasion is likely to begin this week. We must expect a landing any day now.” A Berlin military spokesman said: “We are ready and calm prevails in Berlin, due to military measures being taken throughout Europe. We are certain we shall be able to face any eventuality of the near and distant future.

The Italians also have been told to stand by for an Allied invasion. The Rome radio kept the “hate” campaign going by alleging that Italians in British war camps were suffering untold miseries.

Reports from Zurich say that neutral correspondents in Rome and Milan agree that the fall of Pantelleria and Lampedusa caused a deep impression in Italy. The “Popolo D'ltalia” says the fatal hour has arrived. “One choice remains,” it added, “victory or death.”

The Moscow radio says it is reported from Berne that the situation in Sardinia is tense and that more than 5.000 workers have already left Sardinia for the mainland.

The Exchange Telegraph Agency’s Zurich correspondent says three independent travellers, returning from North-West Germany, confirm that the entire district is disorganised. Evacuation panic is everywhere and special police squads are keeping order among refugees. The mood of the population is indescribable. Workers have been warned that military courts will try those leaving the bombed towns. Train timetables in the Ruhr have been temporarily cancelled and notices posted at stations advise that only emergency services are running until further notice. Newspapers in Berlin confirm the seriousness of the situation in North-West Germany. The “Voelkischer Beobachter” says: “It has become extremely difficult any longer to endure British bombing. Nerve strain has reached the limit, especially as civilians, unlike soldiers, have not an outlet through which to vent their rage. Unfortunately those who lost their nerve after the first bombing spread the most absurd rumours about the effects of the British raids.” The Berlin radio says the R.A.F. last night dropped high-explosive bombs and incendiaries on residential districts and towns in Western Germany.