THREE PHASES OF BATTLE

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24280, 10 June 1944, Page 5

THREE PHASES OF BATTLE

Views of Military Experts ! DECISIVE WIN IN FIRST (Rec. 1.45 a.m,) LONDON, June •. .“The battle can npw be seen m-ita, full perspective; it will have three phases,” says the military correspondent of the “Daily Express.” “phase one has ended. It was between the coastal defences plus local reserves and'_ our landing parties. It was won decisively by the Allies. Short of a major defeat in phase two, it is probably, .accurate to say we cannot now be driven off our foothold.

“Phase two is the fight let ween our growing array of troops and arinour and Marshal Rommel’s tactical reserve: that is, men and machines inthe locality on which we could draw, It has reached its crisis. Phase, three will be the battle with Marshal; pommel’s strategic reserves. These are distant reinforcements he is summoning to his-aid. • - “Always keep in mind that we are 3Jgh'tink,jv4h° u t a port. At one time i on ..Wednesday the weather became.so bad that unloading On the beaches had to stop, but much of the leeway has been made up." . ... 4 Alexander Clifford, the “Daily .Mjil representative at 21st Army Group' Headquarters, says the crisis in theBattle of Normandy is not far off now. It is all a question whether we or the Germans can be first jn getting a really big armoured force to the battlefield. German Reserves Moving Up* The first German reserves are al- , ready engaged, but their; . incessant counterattacks all along the line- have thus far been piecemeal a flairs.'They are simply aiming at keepinv the situation under*control, for the moment, but the real, big, organised counter-, attack will not be long delayed and. that will be the true test of- the invasion. Through all the havoc of -Sou t bombing, the German t main reserves, with fheir panzer units, are forging their way to thp scene of action..'*. “The Times” aeronautical correspondent says the air battle has entered its second phase. This opened during the latter part of Wednesday, - since when the Luftwaffe has intervened more often. It is thought the '„Ce r “ mans reinforced the, Luftwaffe by transferring squadrons from western Germany and there is likely to be an , increase in the scale of air fighting in the next few days. ‘ / The “Daily Mail’s” air correspondent says that behind all the apparent-mys-tery surrounding the whereabouts of the Luftwaffe at present, there is . one essential fact—the Luftwaffe is faced to-dav with the same terrible dilemma which confronted the Royal Air. Force in 1940 in the Battle of France: it has to choose quickly between throwing its full strength into the support of the German armies in France and ho’ding them back for a “last stand." It cannot do both.

IMPORTANCE OF BAYEUX

(8.0. W.) - RUGBY. June 8. Military observers in London emphasise the reports of the capture of Bayeux. because possession of the town will facilitate further advance from this particular focal point. The town is ah important key centre from the point of view of road and rail communications, and in this area the rivers run from south to north.

N.Z. AIRMAN DIRECTS BATTLESHIP’S FIRE (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jvjne >. Seafires have been used as spotters for battleships and cruisers during the invasion bombardment. Lieutenant H. Lang, R.N.Z.N.V.R., gave an example of co-operation when he spotted six armoured cars hiding behind a hedge near Caen. He directed the fire of H.M.S. Warspite to the target, and after a few rounds, the ship found the range and set the enemy plunging down a southerly road. Lieutenant Lang followed the armoured cars, which joined forces with a mixed group of 50 more armour.ed cars and other motor transport in the main street of a village. He directed the ship’s fire' and three 15-inch shells fell directly on the main street, breaking up most of the transport and scattering the remainder.

MONTGOMERY VISITS FRANCE LONDON,. June 8. General Montgomery arrived, oil the beaches early yesterday, according to a message from a correspondent aboard H.M.S. Hilary off the invasion bea.ches. For him it was a dramatic moment when he again saw the shores of France. After four years he has come back to lead the Allied armies to victory. This time he came with the best eouipned armies in the world and ihc first victory—Mv? breaching of ■ the Nazis’ West Wall—has already been won.