The Evening Post. WELLINGTON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1944. GERMAN DEFENCE OF AUSTRIA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1944, Page 4

The Evening Post. WELLINGTON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1944. GERMAN DEFENCE OF AUSTRIA

Russia's war in Hungary and her advance towards Austria must be considered in relation not only to the local situation but to the general situation of Germany. On the surface, the most outstanding fact is the toughness of the German .defence; but a far more important consideration is whether Germany is maintaining this local toughness at a price that is too high for the perfect health of Germany's all-round position. The more German divisions become involved in Hungary and Yugoslavia, the more, difficult it will be to disengage those; divisions for more urgent defensive1 needs that may arise elsewhere. In fact, it is the policy of the Allies to make German divisions commit themselves to fighting on terms which forbid their withdrawal; or on terms which, if withdrawal is possible, condemn the withdrawn divisions to be moved for great distances, over difficult country under Allied air attack. Both in the Hungary-Yugoslavia area and in Italy the German army is fighting under just those conditions. Deep commitment of German divisions means tough defence, but such divisions may be unavailable to the German high command when an Allied blow from east or from west, or from both, is aimed at Germany's heart. The aghting in the south (Italy) and in the south-east . must therefore be appraised not only as for the local situations, but also as for Germany's whole defence. German local gains could turn out to be Pyrrhic victories, won at too high a cost. Hungary, Yugoslavia, Austria, and Italy all fit into a strategic picture favourable to the Allies. When it is reported that the Canadian reinforcement position (minus compulsory oversea service) is difficult, one naturally wonders whether the German reinforcement position (with compulsion, but with the drain of many years of fierce land-fighting) is any better off, or as well off. The German policy has alternated between rapid retreats and fierce stands. Such rapid German retreats as marked certain phases of the German war in Russia and in France are generally supposed to be man-saving; in other words, the retreat purchases the means to expend men in firm defence of shortened lines. But whether Germany did effect any marked saving of men-by, dropping the defence of "fortress Europe" and falling back on "fortress Germany" will probably not be known till history is written. The /Germans have surprised critics by leaving behind in their retreats many "hedgehogs" and garrisons and islands of resistance. Germany thus has made the most of delaying tactics, of war against supply line.s of bypassing armies, and of local diversions and obstructions. Performances of this kind impose sudden checks on the Allies; and German toughness thus becomes.for the moment, as we have said above, the outstanding feature of a local situation, viewed superficially. But viewed as a whole, the situation does not provide any lasting importance for the"--German defence in Hungary, which has postponed the fall of Budapest, or in Italy, where Alexander's advance to the Po has long been postponed by Kesselring. But behind Kesselring is the Brenner exit from Italy, assailed by the* Allies from the air. Kesselring may stay long enough to be unable to get out. His toughness is a local credit which may become a debit in the final German accounting.

The Russian advance on Austria via the Danube may presently be assisted by other advances. The fall of Budapest has come appreciably nearer; and Vienna, where Hitler was an. artist, or a house-painter, is now plainer on the horizon of the advancing Allies. The time is coming when the Austrians might, assist the Allies substantially, but so far the Austrians have not been painted in the enterprising character of the partisan Czechs. Long ago the Moscow Conference offered Austria liberty and asked for Austrian assistance against Germany. But what substantial contribution Austria has made towards recovering the liberty of which Hitler deprived her—behind the camouflage of a popular poll—is not clear. It does not often happen that liberated countries, or to-be-liberated countries, emerge from their ; ordeal with single-mindedness as to their future political state. When a country is enslaved, it does not concern itself with being Left or Right, j Liberated, its troubles begin, and they drag^ in its wellwishers. The future political classification of some of the small States of Europe seems to be entirely in the lap of the gods.