Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1943. ALLIED MILITARY DECISIONS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1943. ALLIED MILITARY DECISIONS.

TN an article taken to indicate that the military agreements X reached at the Moscow conference have satisfied the Russians, the “Isvestia” was quoted as stating that: “The best news so far is that important decisions have been made pointing towards an Anglo-American second front.” Anxious but baffled curiosity as to what these decisions amount to probably accounts for the preposterous assertion of the German overseas radio that it has to be assumed from the Allied official communique that no military agreement was concluded in Moscow. \ In the extent to which it has any purpose apart from that of venting anger and spleen, this is propaganda of a fishing type, put forth m the hope of provoking a rejoinder that will be in some degree informative. It may be taken for granted, however, that on this occasion, as on so many others, Goebbels and his crew will angle in vain. , While information as to the blows Germany is. about,to receive is thus unkindly withheld, it is not in doubt, that these blows will be heavy and damaging, It-is, of course, to be taken for granted that the Allies will make the most, as speedily as possible,, of every advantageous opportunity of opening new attacks on the common enemy. A mass invasion of Western Europe, at the right time, has its place m the programme, but this is very far from exhausting possibilities. One of a number of areas ’which should lend itself to eaily offensive action by the Allies is, for example, the Balkan I eninsula. Long before the magnificent drive of the Russian southern armies had been carried to its present stage, with the Crimea bypassed and enveloped, an invasion of the Balkans by tle Western Allies stood out as probable and desirable. Now, however, the Balkans are threatened imminently from the east as well’as from the west and south. A recent cablegram stated that all the capitals of south-eastern Europe are frantically nervous, expecting a Russian break through to their territories. Although, in Bulgaria and some other Balkan countries, this frantic concern will be felt rather by ruling cliques than by the people generally, it is no doubt well justified as an anticipation of coming events. From the German standpoint the prospect of a concerted invasion of the Balkans by Russia and the Western Allies derives its full and fell consideration from the fact that the Balkan Peninsula is a practicable gateway to the heart of Axis territory, by way of Austria. As military and other events are shaping, prospects of forcing this gateway in the comparatively near future appear to be reasonably bright. Germany already has poor prospects of extorting further effective support from her satellites in South-Eastern Europe. Now that she is in a fair way to suffer, in the Crimea and elsewhere in Southern Russia, a disaster overshadowing even her tragedy at Stalingrad, these prospects tend to fade away entirely. Heavily engaged in Italy, as well as in Russia, under the necessity of preparing to meet attacks elsewhere and tormented by the ever-increasing power and effect of the Allied air offensive, Germany is badly placed to ■withstand a combined Allied invasion of the Balkans. Already Yugoslav and Greek guerillas, in spite of factional strife, are making persistent and damaging attacks on her communications and the heavy added weight of Allied attacks probably would be decisive, and that quickly, where effective control of the Balkans is concerned. The outlook for Germany in South-Eastern Europe will be darkened further if Turkey enters the Avar and certainly is not improved by the announcement of the Three Powers at Moscow that the re-estab-lishment of an independent Austria has a place in their plans. All this being said, the Balkan Peninsula is only one of a number of areas in which Nazi gangsterdom is now faced by a mortal threat. It is a state of affairs which makes it easy to understand, though mot to sympathise with, the anxiety and the bitterness with which German commentators are attempting to belittle the undoubted achievements of the Allies at Moscow.