WAR PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1943, Page 3

WAR PROBLEMS

STUDIED AT THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE PLANS MADE IN SPIRIT OF AGGRESSION. VERY HARD FIGHTING AHEAD. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) NEW YORK, August 16. The Anglo-American conference so far has been engaged in the gigantic military measures that must and can be taken at this stage of the war in Europe and the Pacific, says the Quebec correspondent of the “New York Times.” Plans for attack in every war zone are being studied from every angle and a blueprint of the war during the next few months has been prepared. These plans will become known only when they are set in motion. However, it can be said that they have been made ruthlessly in an aggressive spirit, seeking to defeat the enemy in all zones in the shortest possible time. It is certain that'cvery United Nation will be called on to fight harder and work harder because there is no illusion among military chiefs that strong, fierce opposition may be expected from the Japanese and Germans. Informed circles say that when the new Allied plans go into operation there will be many surprises—mostly for the enemy—but the fact must be faced that very hard fighting is ahead. This week the conference will tackle political questions, foremost of which is how to treat the Italian Government and people. It is now clear that Mussolini’s resignation came too soon or, as some say, the Allies were not quick enough or powerful enough to take advantage of it. It seems that German resistance in Sicily has succeeded in gaining time for the application of Hitler’s plan which Mussolini accepted and King Victor Emmanuel rejected. Now for all practical purposes Victor Emmanuel is a prisoner of the Nazis and Marshal Badoglio’s Government is powerless.

The second problem facing the conference is the recognition of the French Committee of National Liberation. The third problem is the relationship with Russia and the other United Nations.

ALLEGED PREDICTION MR CHURCHILL ISSUES OFFICIAL DENIAL. LONDON, August 17. Mr Churchill has issued an official denial of a statement which appeared in French language papers in Quebec. Mr Churchill was quoted as saying that the war would be over in six months. •Mr Churchill made no such statement'. The report is thought to have been based on a misunderstanding of Mr Churchill’s recent speech to the Quebec Provincial Legislature. MAJOR BATTLES YET TO BE FOUGHT. CHECK ON UNDUE OPTIMISM. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 16. There was nothing to justify the hope of unconditional surrender’ by the Axis Powers in the near future, said Judge Byrnes, Director of War Mobilisation, broadcasting. “We have every reason for confidence in an ultimate overwhelming victory over Germany and Japan,” he said, “but the President has authorised me to say. that in his judgment the major battles lie ahead and not behind us.” Warning against over-confidence, Judge Byrnes asserted that a full-scale attack against Japan had not yet begun, and Allied armies had not crossed the borders of Germany. “The roads to Berlin and Toko will be long, hard and bloody," he added. He paid tribute to the brilliant Allied achievements in Africa and Sicily, but said that the Allies had defeated only 7 per cent of the total Axis combat divisions in the European area. The Russians were engaging 40 per cent of the enemy’s combat divisions, so the enemy had not been Using less than half of his combat divisions, while the Allies were using nearly three-quarters of their combat troops. In the European area, the Axis Powers still had as many divisions as the Allies, even when American mobilisation was complete with its full strength of 90 divisions. Only in the air were we numerically superior. “The Allies have gained the initiative, which is a priceless edge on the enemy,” said Judge Byrnes, “and Allied morale, material and resources are increasing, while the enemy’s are decreasing. but we cannot relax for a moment in the vigorous prosecution of the offensive.”

GOING TO QUEBEC AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA EXTREMELY CORDIAL. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day,‘lo.4o a.m.) RUGBY. August 17. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) told a Press conference that he expected to go to Quebec later this week to participate in the Churchill-Roosevelt conference, says a Washington message. Mr Hull said he was not specifically advised whether Russian matters would be discussed. He stated, however, that Soviet relations were extremely cordial and friendly, and that the Soviet Union was • showing a marvellous spirit of co-oper-ation in the prosecution of the war.

Mr Hull added that there was no new information about the Italian situation. He was unable to ascertain anything definite regarding a possible early armistice. There was no further word of Italian efforts to declare Rome an open city. Regarding Sicily, he said me successful conclusion of the campaign was a remarkable achievement in view of the low Allied losses, and the fact that it was a vital step in the conquest of the Italian area.