WOUNDED BEAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1943, Page 3

WOUNDED BEAST

AXIS STILL VIGOROUS but faced by far greater WAR MACHINE. COMMENT ON PROPAGANDA. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright! LONDON. June 28. A strong tendency to interpret the fears and warnings in the Axis countries as defeatism is deprecated by most competent observers in London. The propaganda and comment from Berlin and Rome are too often depicted as expressing hopelessness. Instead, all the power of the Axis Press’ and radio is being marshalled to screw up the Germans and the Italians and their satellites to a supreme effort of defence. The observers believe that only when the propagandist nerve war which has been in full blast since the fall of Tunisia gives way to the clash of arms on the Continent will the the time come for the Allies to appraise the conditions cf the Axis peoples. The Russians have no illusions. They appreciate all favourable aspects of the present situation, but realistically assess the dangers and difficulties. The “Red Star” says: “The last glimmer of hope for Axis victory has faded, but there remain the desperate stubbornness and madness cf the wounded beast. The road to victory leads through many grim -trials.” Observers in London say that most of the exaggeration comes from correspondents in neutral capitals, whose interpretations of the heavily-censored dispatches from inside Germany and Italy are valuable in many respects, but invariably err on the side of painting the Axis picture in colours that are darker than are warranted. Even in the Battle of the Ruhr, which at present is the only actual blow being delivered against German soil, emphasis is too readily placed on the damage the R.A.F. is inflicting. It is undoubtedly devastating, but the terrific German defence effort continues as an example of what the Germans can do and are doing to hold off their attackers.

For confidence in Allied victory it is enough to know that the United Nations have now raised a far greater machine for world war than the Germans. Many big blows are still needed, however, to break the spirit of resistance of the Axis, let alone its means of resistance.

APPROACH TO VICTORY

AMERICAN GENERAL’S SURVEY.

BAD TIME IN PROSPECT FOR JAPAN.

WASHINGTON, June 29. The United Nations were rapidly approaching the final victory, said Lieutenant-General McNarney, Deputy Chief of Staff, before the Senate Appropriations Committee. He added that the war would be brought home to Japan in such a manner that the whole empire would feel its full impact in the

most violent and destructive way. Senator Gumer warned General McNarney that there was a growing impression that the war would be over by Thanksgiving Day (November 25), and therefore he questioned the advisability of using the word “rapidly.” General McNarney admitted that rapidly might be a slight overstatement, but he added, “We have made enormour progress in the training and equipping 'of our armies for combat. The recent conferences between Mi’ Churchill and Mr Roosevelt will bring further successful offensive action. “The United States Army now totals 6,800,000, and it will attain the goal of 7,500,000 next year. “Our operations in the Pacific have turned the tide of Japanese advances into a gradual withdrawal toward their home bases. The United States now holds the initiative in the Pacific, and since the reconquest of Attu it has been in a position to call its own shots.”

General McNarney said that first-line planes were being sent to Generals MacArthur and Chennault.