STILL CRITICAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 308, 29 December 1944, Page 5

STILL CRITICAL

SITUATION IN FRANCE

Latest News More Favourable Says Stimson Rec. 1 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 28. The latest news from France is favourable but overall the situation continues critical, said Mr. H. L. Stimson, Secretary for War, at a Press conference to-day. He explained that the Germans so far had failed to expand their salient, which was necessary for deeper penetration. "The enemy must soon endeavour to do so because time is working against him. War isn't an easy game. We can't win every battle but I'm confident we are winning. Time will show that the German throw of the dice will prove disastrous for him." Instancing the heavy German casualties, Mr. Stimson said the Germans taken prisoner in one sector reported that two panzer regiments in their area had suffered 50 per cent casualties. Mr. Stimson thought it was too early to pass judgment whether anyone should be censured in connection with the German break-through and added that undoubtedly the Germans took advantage of every physical possibility, including the weather, darkness and the wooded terrain, and also excellent staff work and facilities for secret concentration. He praised the restraint of the Press and radio in not yielding to the temptation to violently criticise our commanders. Mr. Stimson said that German propaganda, designed to split the Allies, undoubtedly was one crasideration for launching the offensive. Since America entered the war the enemy had exerted all his propaganda cleverness to effect a cleavage in the British and American front of the free Press and had been particularly vicious and ingenious # in attempting to divide the Russians and the American^.