KNOCK-OUT THIS YEAR?

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 21, 19 October 1944, Page 4

KNOCK-OUT THIS YEAR?

Winter Campaigning In Europe LAST WAR’S PRECEDENTS (By E.A.A.) The recent visit of His Majesty the King to'the western front is claimed to be an omen of big things to come. This is based largely on the fact that previous visits presaged significant operations. What then are the chances of staging a knock-out on the western front sufficient to prevent Germany recovering during the winter?

There has been a tendency to imagine that the western front is ■ about to fold up for the winter after the classic manner of Julius Caesar, who made a habit of going into winter quarters even in early autumn. However, Great War I proved that serious fighting can take place even late in November. ' The first battles of Ypres did not end till November 22, 1914. Indeed, the final phases Of this battle were fought out in. atrocious wintry weather. Moreover, in 1917 an offensive was deliberately planned to start at Cambrai on November 20. Fighting persisted in fact till November 30. In the final phase of Greaj; War I the Allied commanders had instituted a plan which envisaged active operations far into -the month of November, if not the beginning of December. Admittedly this plan never eventuated as a result of the German request for an armistice on November 6, and its signing on the 11th, but Foch had concentrated a large French-American force to strike below Metz directly east into Lorraine. . The situation, therefore, in that area was very similar to that of today. It would thus be reasonable to assume that important operations may well continue on the western front into November and possibly longer. Before a largescale operation can develop, however, communications must be made secure and able to cope with the strain. It is probable that, this provides the main problem. Meanwhile, important battles of •position have been going favourably to the British forces in Holland. To the south American forces have already won initial battles of position in the Aachen area. Further south still these battles still continue. ' Kilter’s Hope. The further south one goes the less can ibe gained by large-scale operations because of the geographic conditions, which include large mountainous areas. Undoubtedly the key to quick results still lies in the north in- Holland and the Ruhr. A successful attack in that area, even with limited objectives, is still capable of opening the door into Germany which, once unbarred, cannot fail to lead to spectacular results. The loss of tho lower Ruhr would be a major disaster for Hitler from which not even the coming winter could hope to resurrect Germany. Hitler’s only hope to stave off a major attack is to continue to delay the Allied' plans by stubborn defence of areas required from which to launch the attack. If Hitler can delay the result of the present battles of position long enough the weather may make further operations impossible. It means, however, that his armies must continue to fight against increasing odds for at least another month. At the moment the odds are in favour of tho Allies. German forces are slowly but surely being squeezed out of northern Holland. Moreover, behind the Allied lines in France new ports and landing areas are rapidly being developed and used. Time, however, is short. One may expect these battles of position to reach new heights of intensity followed, with no perceptible lull, by the major opera- ' tio’i for which they prepare the way. The situation is made all the more grim for the Germans by the rising sound of hammering at their eastern doors. Even though the war may continue into next year there is still every indication that there is yet opportunity to make the German situation so hopeless this year that it will be impossible for Hitler to stage a recovery during the winter.