Show Logistics Not G Gs German Defense Hold Key to Russ Berlin Drive PARIS Feb 2 CrP rT L 1 Logistics 1 the military science of getting S' S supplies supplies supplies sup sup- plies Into the battle line rather line rather than a reinforced German defense may decide whether or not the present Russian offensive carries across the Oder river and the last 40 miles to Berlin That is the opinion of the best available unofficial military Intelligence intelligence intel intel- although admittedly not much is known here of the full capabilities of the Russian breakthrough breakthrough breakthrough break break- through or the exact intention of ot oft t the soviet command It is quite possible the red arm army surge while it has staggered the to its knees may stop short of Berlin Perlin but if it it docs does it may well be he because of this logistic I problem The weather and the Polish mud are ke keys s 's to that The Russians h htwe ave ve- ve now reached that part of Germany where the road system im o imru es with every mile mile but but be behind behind be be- hind them Ulem are the great supply line across miles or more of the Polish plain That plain now is b frozen and snow cl covered cS vered making it possible for lor vehicles and sleds to run without without with with- out difficulty But from late march through April the roads be become become become be- be come virtually useless with thaws WS and spring mud There are t rail lines but these take somo soma time to change chang to the Russian wide gauge and this would mean widening tunnels and I underpasses and nd cutting away station station sta sta- tion Uon landings all along the routes By all aU normal procedures of or logistics the Russians would find it necessary to stop their onrush well before beCore the thaw They could then establish a strong line for forthe forthe forthe the next jump off oft and get supplies supplies supplies sup sup- plies up to strengthen and maintain maintain maintain main main- tain that lino before the roads bog boS' down I The Tho Oder within Oder-within within knockout distance distance dis din tance of Berlin Berlin Is is regarded by many observers as the likely place for that up build-up although obviously obviously the Russians could be expected expect expect- ed to secure strong bridgeheads across it before casing the pres pres- sure I The Russians fan Can out north and seize Stettin They could mop up E East t Prussia and the rest of the Baltic coast They could push deeper into Czechoslovakia and beyond beyond beyond be be- yond Budapest in Hungary I |