Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1943. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOINT ACTION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 October 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1943. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOINT ACTION.

AN exceptionally interesting report that .Russia has asked the Allies to delay an invasion of. the Balkans Io synchronise with a Red Army attack on Bulgaria was credited yesterday to the Istanbul correspondent of the “Daily .Express, who ad( (( that Hitler fears an invasion of the Balkans this winter has been decided upon at the Three-Power conference in Moscow. Un a number of grounds it seems not at all unlikely that (his icpot < is based on accurate information, and that Hitler s fears aie wc grounded. . ■ A combined invasion of the Balkans would, be a natural extension of the campaigns in which the l Allies <nc cnga D t( a present in South Russia and in the Mediterranean and is capable of being made immensely damaging to the enemy. In view <’ their latest break through between the Lower Dnieper and the Sea of Azov and other advances on the southern I rout, the Russians are in a fair way to cut across the narrow Perekop Isthmus by which the Crimea is joined to the mainland and to leave the Germans faced by Hie choice of getting out of that peninsula as w’ell and speedily as they can, or of leaving a garrison to be besieged in Sebastopol. As events are developing, the Russians appear R) have excellent prospects of establishing very soon a hilly eilectixe command of the Black Sea and perhaps also of extending their drive on the southern front to the Rumanian frontier. A Soviet attack on Bulgaria in these circumstances should be well worth while, Tor though Court circles, including the army leaders, in that, country are largely linked with the Nazis, the bulk of Hie people are strongly pro-Russian. _ . At the same time, the existing situation in Italy obviously makes diversionary action of some kind highly desirable, and where diversionary action is concerned, the Balkans cannot well be left out of account. The Fifth and Eighth armies are approaching the enemy defensive line on the Massico range, stretching across Italy and opposing a formidable natural barrier to an advance on Rome. All roa'ds to Rome across the range pass through narrow valleys. The Germans may be optimistic in their reported belief' that they will be able to defend the Massico line throughout the winter, but it is hardly to be taken for granted that the Allies are bound to rely solely or mainly on frontal attack in overcoming this obstacle. , Various possibilities of Allied diversionary action are at present being discussed by enemy and other commentators, amongst them an attack from Corsica on the French Riviera, or on the Italian mainland north of Rome. Another possibility of which account no doubt should be taken is that of an Allied invasion of the Balkans from the heel of Italy—a movement which evidently might be synchronised most advantageously with a Russian'attack on Bulgaria. The additional strain thus imposed on enemy resources would certainly be great and might become overwhelming, taking account amongst other things of the uncertainty and dread that now prevail in both Rumania and Hungary,'and of the extent to which both Yugoslav and Greek guerillas, though some factions in both these countries at present are engaging in fratricidal strife, are capable of destroying or damaging enemy communications.