INVASION FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 25169, 8 May 1944, Page 3

INVASION FRONT

STRATEGY AND TAGTICS HITLER MAY SPRING SURPRISE LONDON, May 6. " The enemy, wuosu attack must be reckoned as imminent, will come Uip against many great surprises. This is particularly true of those enemy formations wuich will try to land by parachute and glidei far behind the coastal front.'' These are extracts',from FieldMarshal Rommel's speech to his commanders at tue conclusion of his recent tour of the Mediterranean coast defences, quoted by the German News Agency. Rommel added that the German soldier knew his fighting orders. He was armed with new weapons, and was ready for the utmost. Everything the German soldier contributed would bo towards the revenge they owed the British and Americans for their beastly air attacks against the home country. The Berne correspondent of the ' New York 'limes ' says that competent observers are wondering whether Hitler may not spring a surprise on the invading British and American armies by not defending the Atlantic or Mediterranean wall, but by concentrating four or five armies in the rear, whose mission will be to sweep upon the invader at the psychological moment. Several arguments are advanced supporting this view. First, it is materially impossible to hold hundreds of miles of fortified lines which in some places are fortified only on paper. Men who escaped from the Todt organisation to Switzerland say that some of the defences are formidable, especially around harbours, while others consist of nothing stronger than earthworks. Secondly, the German High Command admits the necessity of shortening its lines on the eastern front. This holds good equally in the west. Thirdly, General Eisenhower has obviously prepared orders for the invasion, foreseeing every contingency almost minute after minute, and if the Nazis decide practically not to oppose the invasion, the Allies would have to improvise new plans. Fourthly, in view of the methodical destruction of Axis railroads by Allied bombing, it would be difficult for Hitler to bring reserves uji to the Atlantic wall except by lorry, which he can hardly afford, because of the dearth ol petrol, which is badly needed for armoured divisions.

The correspondent concludes that these arguments may turn out wrong, hut military experts are of the opinion that they deserve consideration.

"PHONEY" REPORTS LIKELY. The invasion will be announced shortly after it starts, but only from the Allied Command in London, said Mr Elmer Davis, Director of the Officii of War Information in Washington. He added that Americans should ignore Axis-inspired reports about the invasion. There were undoubtedly plenty of " phoney " invasion reports froui the Axis In Naples to-day the chief of the Alliqd Mediterranean Tactical Air Force, Major-general J. K. Cannon, said that the Mediterranean air forces would be put to a great test when tlio Allied armies soon started moving, " but we cannot expect a breakthrough in a day. We must anticipate a long slogging match. Our enemy does not cave in immediately ; he doe's not break until his supplies have been used up, and that is why it is important that we should keep working constantly against his supply lines "

General Cannon said that the Allies had not only air superiority, but air supremacy. The German air effort was getting smaller and smaller.