Evening star., 1943-08-21

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Q constant how David Lawrence.
Of inferences concerning an invasion
Of the continent that might or might
not happen this summer. The Nazl
high command cannot depend on
anything it sees printed or hears on
the radio, for no two reports are the
same and the speculation is wide.
The Berlin strategists do not dare
to withdraw too many divisions
from France or from the Balkans
or from the Russian front for fear
that they might at any moment
need them not in single concen-
trated defense but in all three spots.
Plainly the purpose of the Allies is
to keep the enemy bewildered, and
II there ever was an example of a
war of nerves." the present period
Is concrete illustration Of the most
effective kind of puzzlement.
Air War Continues.
But 1t is apparent, on the other
hand, that the air warfare of the
United Nations continues unabated
and that certain objectives are Sc
lected each week for heavy bonn
bardment. The Germans do not
have to guess about the air attacks,
for every single factory of any size
within bomber range is bound to
feel the impact of the air warfare
In progressively increasing intensity.
The Nazis know that the plan is to
drop heavier and heavier loads on
their industrial establishments and
that eventually like number of
tons will suddenly be dropped on
land fortifications and coastal de-
tense at the moment when an in
vasiou is ordered.
The map of Europe presents GER
tain obvious opportunities both in
the north and the south. There is
no way Of telling what the Allies
have in mind, however. for it will
be observed from press reports that
for q few days there is an air bar
rage over Greek ports and islands
near Greece, and then the bombers
attack Sardinia and Corsica and
even drop some bombs on Marseille
and other ports of France on the
Mediterranean. At which end will
the blow come?
Ship Movements Watched.
The enemy, Of course, can put out
reconnaissance planes and deter
mine when large groups of Ameri-
can ships and landing barges seem
to be concentrating in a particular
area. Thus Axis agents in Spain
report promptly and through the
press whenever Allied ships pass
through the Straits of Gibraltar. 1t
Is not so easy now for the Axis to
know of ship movements in the
Eastern Mediterranean, but these,
too, are watched by scouting planes.
Inasmuch as any large-scale land
ing movements can be detected in
advance, it is important for ships
and troops to be dispersed In such q
way that they can move by sn over
night trip to given destinations or
that such movements be undertaken
when the nights are long.
It will be difficult to keep from the
Germans the knowledge of when the
big invasion comes on the north
coast of France or Belgium because
their reconnaissance planes prob
ably will report the extensive ship
concentrations, but what they will
not know Is whether simultaneous
blows are likely to be delivered in
other parts of Europe and with what
strength.
Germans on Defensive.
Clearly the initiative has passed
completely into the hands of the
United Nations, and so accustomed
have our people been these last four
years to the idea of German offsen-
sive that they do not realize Ger
many is no longer on the offensive
but has gone to the defensive and
now is fighting desperately to hold
on to the territory she originally
conquered.
A big invasion of Europe takes
such vast preparation that it seems
doubtful whether any is in prospect
for the next four weeks. Usually the
German dispatches give better in
dications OF what's coming, because
they are fishing for further infor-
nation. It will be recalled that de-
spite the size Of the armada which
went to Africa last November, the
Germans were deceived. At the
proper moment when the next big
invasion comes, steps to intercept
their reconnaissance planes doubt
less will be taken to fool them again.
1t Is truly summer and autumn
worry for the German high COM
mand.