PINCER BOMBING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1943, Page 4

PINCER BOMBING

GIGANTIC AIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST GERMANS • BEFORE & DURING ALLIED . INVASION PREDICTED BY SIR A. TEDDER (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, December 30. The Allied invasion of Europe will begin with a gigantic air offensive from Britain, Italy and Russia,■= the deputy supreme ocmmander in Western Europe (Air Chief Marshal Tedder) told a “Daily Herald” correspondent. He added: “The battle for Italy has been a battle for air bases, from which we could knock hell out of the Germans in Southern Europe and the Balkans. The Mediterranean is one big bomber base, Britain is another. Pincer bombing will continue from both sides until finally there will be an all-out effort that will precede and continue through the planned assault on Europe.

MEMORABLE YEAR OBSERVATIONS BY GENERAL DEVERS CONDITIONS OF LASTING PEACE (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, December 30. Lieutenant-General Devers, commanding the United States forces in Britain and who has been appointed to command the United States forces in the Mediterranean,' spoke to graduates of the Royal Military College of the officer cadet training unit at-Aidershot and predicted that 1944 gave every promise of being a year of deliverance which had a significance unparalleled in history. “A year ago,” he said, “great Allied forces from the north, west and east closed in upon the enemy. Today Allied forces are again closing in from the south, east and west. In Africa the Allies have gained control of the air. In the British theatre they have long since gained control. For each bomber used duning the Battle of Tunis, a squadron of bombers, if necessary, will be used against the enemy in future. Therefore we approach the coming year with confidence springing from the knowledge of our ever-increasing power in men and materials and from our favourable strategic situation. I cannot assure you that peace will come during the year. Peace does not come necessarily with a cessation of hostilities. The peace the world is seeking must contain a measure of transition within the homes and within the hearts of all humanity.”