| Show Weathermen Say Rain Needn't Stop Invasion By Ned Nordness Nordnes Associated Press War Var Writer Spring is here invasion tune time is ii near neal sO so the question what will I Ithe the weather be along Europe's Western coast Good quite good says the weather er division o of the U. U S. S department of agriculture if rainfall this year is normal The precipitation from Norway P to Spain in April and May averages averages aver aver- averages ages to per month This Thir I is described by the weather division division divi divi- sion as spring showers which inmany in Ir inmany IrP many cases Pare are are dried quickly by P warm rays of the sun Texture of soil and terrain of 0 land in addition to the rainfall however make offensive thrusts I Iles les promising in some directions direction Here is the the- situation ranging rangin from southern Norway south to the Spanish border Southern Norway Unfavorable Norway Unfavorable i ifor for early invasion attempt Somewhat Somewhat Some Some- what more rainfall than prevalent farther south with an average of 01 19 to inches per month in L April and May Fairly mountainous mountain mountain- ous too much snow and too much L thaw Land wont won't dry out until I latter April The thin soil of ol mountain ranges does dry fast once it starts N Netherlands Denmark Netherlands Denmark A Average monthly rainfall for April and May Mayis r is Inches Soil is of re reclaimed reclaimed re- re claimed sea marshes and soft hu hu- mus must does not dry easily is spongy and unfavorable for vehicles The Germans were reported flooding vast areas of Holland Northern Belgium France to Paris Rainfall Panis-Rainfall R Rainfall a i n fall a month Texture of soil mostly bleached forested cut over area previously enriched by forest humus humus humus hu hu- hu- hu mus ideal in fri dry weather There is a mixture of soft limestone here making a gooey texture when L wet that renders vehicular movement movement movement move move- ment almost impossible and foot movement difficult Drys to soft powder There are many good highways in this area rea which if il left intact would render s soil il difficulties difficulties negligible Southern France M Mostly 0 s t I 1 Y bleached forested soils with little soft limestone mixture Average rainfall for April s and d May is inches Soil is fairly loose springy dries well offering fewer obstacles to vehicular and foot movement On the theother other European fronts fronts- Italy and Russia Russia Indications Indications are that weather will be favorable for forthe forthe the allies in Italy and more difficult difficult dilli- dilli cult this spring for the Russians Italy with an average spring rainfall of to inches a month already is becoming dry Texture of its soil along the mountain moun moun- i tam tain ranges is some dark mostly limestone The like glue-like clay limestone limestone limestone lime lime- stone has made progress almost impossible for our forces all winter winter winter win win- ter around Cassino and the entire Italian line It dries quickly under warm skies and undoubtedly we will be hearing more every day about tank and other armored vehicle vehicle ve ye- hicle hide action Russian offensives probably will slow down during April and May In the Ukraine sector the rainfall for the next two months averages 93 to 2 inches but the black earth soil most fertile in the world holds moisture and during the spring months it becomes a sea of mud The G Germans already have been forced to abandon great numbers numbers num num- bers of mounted weapons for this reason The soil becomes firm and easily traversed once it dries The Russian line to the north extending all aU the way to the Gulf of Finland runs through black soil soila a little less sticky than the Ukrainian Ukrainian n nian an earth It is liberally sprinkled sprinkled sprinkled sprin sprin- kled With swamps wooded lands and wet grass lands These types of soil also hold their moisture and make progress difficult for the next month at least The rainfall generally is under two inches a month during the spring so that summer offensives may get rolling by late May or early June |
