"WEAKEST PART OF LINE"

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24445, 20 December 1944, Page 5

"WEAKEST PART OF LINE"

OFFICIAL COMMENT IN WASHINGTON (N.Z. Press Association-*Copynght) (Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 18. The German counter-offensive had struck at the weakest part of the Allied line, said United States War Department sources, according to the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press. Some Allied units might become bottled up in the German advance. “On the whole, these sources minimised the Nazi thrust,’’ says the correspondent. "They said It was probably aimed first at drawing Allied reserves from seriously threatened points, and second, at giving the German home front a lift at Christmas time with a report of victory. ‘ “Officials explained that the area attacked was weak because of the wide dispersion of Allied divisions. The sector was lightly held because the terrain in front of and behind the line was not considered very Important. "The Germans had thrown In a substantial part of their strategical and general reserves, including at least three panzer units, and now had numerical superiority two to three times above the Allies’ strength. “These sources Said the : German offensive could go much farther with" out serious damage.” BELGIAN HELP RESISTANCE LEADER’S OFFER (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 19. “The Belgian resistance movement has offered to take up arms again and swing into action against the German threat to eastern Belgium,” says the British United Press correspondent in Brussels. “M. Fernand Demey, a resistance movement leader, has sent a letter to Major-General G. W. Erskine, British commander in Brussels, offering to remobilise the resistance forces and resume the struggle at the side of the Allies. Major-General Erskine has not yet had time to answer. • “The Belgian people do not reflect the Allies’ confidence in being able to deal with the German attack. A wavfe of stories of German victories ran through Christmas shoppers in Brussels. Occasionally a fight developed as long queues formed up for evening newspapers. Flying bomb attacks throughout Belgium have not helped to relieve the tension.’’ GERMANS REPORT SUCCESSES LONDON, Dec. 18. “The German propaganda machine trumpeted the gains on the Western Front to-night,” says the Associated Press, which reports Berlin’s International Information Bureau as saying: “The speedy collapse of the Allied, defence has considerably eased the tasks of the High Command and the troops, and therefore in the coming days we may see surprises.” Berlin also said: “It will be wise to follow closely the movements which have gained considerable ground in the Malmedy St. Vith and adjoining sectors. The Germans have cro'eid the northern part of Luxemburg on a broad front and are nearing the LuxemburgBelgian border.” The Berlin radio said that huge headlines in the German newspapers on Monday afternoon announced the gains on the Western Front. The radio claimed that Hitler had been preparing this new offensive down to the minutest detail. “His silence has been worth while,” it said. “The enemy has received a surprise, and a shock. War materials are not there in abundance, but there are enough for present needs. The whole face of the war already seems to take on a different aspect. We have been trying for months to manufacture a large number of fighters. They are now where they are needed. Let us not quarrel about whether they are new or old. We, in two days, have sent more than 1000 fighters and fighter-bombers into action,” GERMAN FORCES IN DUNKIRK “SETTLED IN FOR THE WINTER” LONDON, Dec. 18. “Dunkirk lias settled in for the winter and it may not be avenged until (he end of the war. The Gerrmms are cosy in the town’s best billets while outside the British troops are drawing lots for leave,” says a correspondent. “For a week we have been firing shells and mortars into the town. We take an occasional prisoner and get a few deserters, but nothing extensive has so far been achieved to wipe out the memory of 1940. “It is a crazy, dead sort of war here. The Germans cannot use the port and we need not waste men* and weapons in mounting a major offensive that would have little strategic advantage. However, we must have a force in front of Dunkirk to contain the Germans.” 1