SIGNS & PORTENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1943, Page 4

SIGNS & PORTENTS

OF FURTHER ALLIED OFFENSIVE SEEN BY LONDON WRITER BLOW MAY FALL ANYWHERE. FROM NORTHERN NORWAY TO BAY OF BISCAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day. 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, August 10. Mr Churchill's prediction that there will be heavy fighting in the Mediterranean and elsewhere before the leaves of autumn have fallen has been realised in the Mediterranean, says Reuter’s military writer. There is reason to believe that while operations may be extended there, it will also be true of “elsewhere” in the near future, as our Russian Allies hope and our Axis enemies fear.

“When and where the blow will fall can only be surmised,” the writer adds, “but there are a number of corroborative indications from which it is possible to draw conclusions not far removed from the truth. Thus, as already announced, there has been an arrival in Britain of substantial American and Canadian reinforcements, all fully trained. The American Air Force’s bases in Britain have been greatly increased and there has been a noticeable increase in railway traffic, not accounted for by holiday traffic. Enemy planes cannot have overlooked the sudden growth of military encampments in certain vital regions of Britain, which have sprung up like so many vast fields of camouflaged mushrooms. There is also noticeable an influx of senior officers from other theatres of war. There are indications that the populations of certain areas are expecting the imposition of restrictions similar to those recently enforced in South Wales. Reports indicate that schools and other large buildings are being requisitioned in these areas. Air traffic between Britain and Sweden has been Interrupted for some time past, for various reasons, among which security is playing a large part. It may be suggested, in connection with Sweden, that the Swedish Government appears to have acted very timorously in denouncing the arrangements allowing the transit of German troops to Norway. Finally, there is the season. The harvest will soon have been gathered in Britain and one generally expects periods of fine and settled weather. It is clear from these elements that there is something brewing, but there is nothing concerning how, or whether the thrust will be from the north, from the east, or from the south. ■lt may be directed against any part of Germany s exposed coastline, from the North Cape to the Bay of Biscay.