SECOND FRONT

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 5

SECOND FRONT

BRITISH DETERMINATION j GENERAL’S CONFIDENCE I i “ FIND AND FIGHT THEM ” | (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrignt; LONDON, Nov. 20 “We are going to find them and fight them,’’ said General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, to a correspondent of the Daily Express, in reference to the desert advance against the enemy. “It may be a day or two before the battle takes shape,” he added. “It depends wnere General Rommel. Commander-in-Chief of the Axis forces, is. “Our air force is adequate this time. Our armoured units will meet the Germans on something like equality. In morale we are far ahead.” Reuter’s correspondent says our troops are seeking out and engaging Germans in preference to Italians on the sound principle that one German destroyed is worth six Italians captured. The merning newspapers in Britain emphasise that the advance opens up a second front. The military correspondent of the Times says the depth of -the acX\ance and the lack of opposition mean that our forces have I advanced not through but round the j enemy’s inland flank. The real battle, |he a‘dds, will come after this move I has been completed. It may even lhave begun by now. British Air Superiority The Times correspondent with the Eighth Army says it is too early to speak of British objectives, because t.ie c.i recti on, at least of some, of the British movements must depend on how the German armoured units react to the offensive. The early stages of the campaign are likely to consist of manoeuvring by both sides for a suitable firing position, t It is believed that sufficient forces and material have been assembled to dispose of the Axis armies in Libya. The maintenance of definite British air superiority depends on whether Hitler diverts portion of the Luftwaffe from Russia. HELP FOR RUSSIA LONDON PRESS COMMENT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 20 The news of the drive into Cyrenaica was received in London late lor the morning papers, but most of them scrapped their main page and came out with new editions. Some had a leading article on the offensive. Most writers consider the new offensive a most adequate answer to the Russian call for a second front. It will be hailed with delight in Russia, with rejoicing in Britain, and with i satisfaction in the United States,” says the Daily Mail. The Daily Express says that if the campaign is a success a great army in the Middle East can be turned north to help Russia.

The Daily Telegraph emphasises that the enemy in North Africa has been strengthened by German aircraft, tanks and troops who will fight desperately to keep their foothold.

The Daily Herald issues a warning against excessive optimism. Well-informed quarters in Cairo say General Auchinleck would never have launched the offensive unless he was confident of the Russians’ ability to hold out unaided against the Germans in the Caucasus.

MESSAGES TO TROOPS KING AND MR CHURCHILL (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. copyright) LONDON, Nov. 20 Messages from His Majesty the King and Mr Churchill were read to the troops before the advance. As the troops awaited the order to advance, a storm burst on the battlefield, and for a time it was impossible to distinguish between the noise of high explosives on the earth and of thunderclaps in the sky. The effect on the enemy must have been terrific. By the first light the general advance was well under way. HARDSHIPS IN ITALY EFFECi OF AIR RAIDS (United Press Assn.—Elec. rei. Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 19 The Royal Air Force raids on Italy are seriously affecting the morale of the workers, who are nervous and are suffering from lack of sleep. They often refuse to return to work ! after bombings. This was reported to the Ankara correspondent of the Daily Telegraph by a neutral traveller who has just returned from Italy. The traveller said an expert had estimated that in raided towns the production was only 60 per cent of normal. The manufacture of aircraft and shipbuilding had ceased. The convoys recently attacked were the first for some time to attempt to break the blockade. Most of the German troops in Italy had been sent to Russia, and only German aeroplanes were left in Sicily.

The traveller confirmed that there had been rioting in Sicily and said inscriptions such as: “Make terms with Britain,” were every night chalked on walls. | The destruction of the Naples tor--1 pedo factory had reduced the Italian -navy’s torpedo potential by half. Small industries were disappearing, and only the Breda, Ansaido ana Fiat works were producing anything worth while. Rebuilding and repairs were difficult because of lack of non and cement. In sp.tc oi the risk of heavy punishment, tie traveller adieu, pectffe ' listened to the British Broadcasting ! Corporation. The Government had ' considered the prohibition of pos- ! session of radio sets, but dropped the ! proposal for fear of the people’s reaction .