ATTACK ON GERMANY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1943, Page 3

ATTACK ON GERMANY

GRIM TASK IN PROJECT SURVEY BY LORD CROFT. NO DOUBT OF OUTCOME. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, November 23. The Germans could in the past assemble more divisions on any front than the United Nations could possibly land in three weeks, Lord Croft, Joint Under-Secretary of State for War declared sneaking in London. ‘ Next month or’next year that may no longer be true,” he added. “We may be able to fight on something like equal terms, and shipping may become available to open up a great new venture which will be bloody and will test us as nothing has yet. But most certainly it will be undertaken and pressed through to victory.” Every hundred miles the enemy was driven back, however, the nearer the circumference of his defence was brought to his bases and reserves, and the more easily would the Germans be able to supply the firing line and to switch reserves speedily by rail from the centre to any threatened point. The Allies could only reach the enemy over the seas, and to effect fresh lodgments on a defended coastline, as Salerno and Dieppe had proved, was a costly and difficult operation, demanding a very great concentration of men and shipping. This showed that what was probably by far their grimmest task lay before the Allies, for a fierce, wounded animal was far more dangerous in defending its lair than when it was a thousand miles from home. The most desperate and perhaps the final phase had yet to open. Of the outcome he had no doubt, but it required the concentrated will power, determination and valour of the whole people in support of the fighting men.