| Show r 1 foay Today Allies Should Learn Soon gust Just How Strong Nazis Remain By DeWItt Mackenzie l I Associated l Press War Analyst st This looks like Jike the big moment for which weve we've been waiting waiting- Gen Eisenhower's out all-out dri drive c to crack the formidable Rhine defenses defenses defenses de de- and administer the coup dc do grace It shouldn't be long Jong now now now-If if the weather lets Jets the allies get ahead with the job job before before we have a good idea of how much steel Is left leftIn leftin leftin in the nazi backbone German Field Marshal von may have half a million men with which to meet the terrific terrific terrific ter ter- weight being hurled against his mile battle line that stands between us and victory If that's a n correct estimate it means menns the Germans arc are outnumbered by probably probably probably ably five to one one maybe maybe more The allies arc are supreme in the air and their striking power in all aU other categories is superior We should have a false picture however If we left it there The nazis are banking heavily on the strength of their their- Rhineland defenses defenses defenses de de- de- de to impede the allied drive The deeply fortified area between the allies and the Rhine presents a great barrier and the wide swift river itself is a terrific obstacle Cruel Task Ahead Lets Let's not underestimate te the task facing the gallant boys who at this moment are driving through knee- knee deep mud under rain and sleet straight into the enemy fire Its It's likely to be a cruel route through that valley which in times of peace is so quiet and lovely Success wont won't be cheap We Ve back here on the home front should remember this The least we can do is jump in and provide the troops with ith the wherewithal to fight Well VeIl now what can we se look forin forin for forin in in the way of oC allied tactics Gen Ike has been working the tile shrewd scheme of varying his pressure on the Germans in order to keep them off balance He could do this successfully because of his great superiority in man power and equipment By hitting em cm here there and everywhere where he sooner or later will find the weak spot hes he's looking for for and and that's where he will develop the break Most observers arc are keeping ing t a special watch on the northern section section section sec sec- tion of the front front from from the shell- shell shocked Aachen sector up to Arnhem Arnhem Arnhem Arn- Arn hem at th the tip It looks now as though Eisenhower might be figuring figuring figuring fig fig- on crashing through th the Aachen zone to Cologne and Dusseldorf Dusseldorf Dus- Dus on the Rhine or on turning the German right flank up at Arnhem Arnhem Arnhem Arn- Arn hem while exerting pressure below Close to Supplies There are two prime reasons why the supreme commander may be figuring on letting Jetting his wing left forces carry the ball For one thing tiling this flank lies directly opposite opposite opposite site the Ruhr Ruhr heart heart of or Germanys Germany's war industry industry and and offers the shortest route to Berlin through country which once across the Rhine is open and suitable for movement of armored forces Then this northern flank lies Hes close to the great port of Antwerp and communications with this supply supply supply sup sup- ply base are good This point cant can't be overemphasized A great offensive offensive offensive of of- must have ready access to supplies or else it will run down like an unwound clock The idea that the break may be beon beon beon on the northern front is rather encouraged encouraged encouraged en en- by the mysterious appearance appearance appearance ap ap- ap- ap of oC Gen Simpsons Simpson's will o wisp the-wisp U. U S S. S army In the line just north of Gen Hodges' Hodges U U. U S S. S 1st army The got into action quickly and the must have had a shock to find it there They had known of course that it was knocking about somewhere but the manner in which it was spirited across France without disclosing disclosing disclosing dis dis- dis- dis closing closing- its whereabouts is one of the wonders of the war |
