ON THE DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 25226, 13 July 1944, Page 5

ON THE DEFENCE

GERMANY'S SUPREME TEST

WEST FRONT THE MOST DECISIVE

LONDON, July 12.

" Germany is faced with the fact that she has to fight vast-scale defensive Ibattles on three fronts, because the Italian front, which was decisive for general development in the Mediterranean, can in now way be minimised," stated the German radio commentator. General Dietmar. " Germany on all three fronts faces an enemy greatly superior in men and material. We still maintain that the western front is the most decisive of all. -

" Without attempting to minimise tho seriousness of the situation on tho eastern front, it is obvious that the necessary readjustments are subject to particular difficulties in view of the German numerical inferiority. It cannot be denied that the (Russian generals are operating skilfully, and they have taken a leaf from the German book. The fact that the Russian advance on the central front has gained unexpected depth is due to exceptional conditions which rendered it impossible to bring up reserves. The central eastern front had strong defences, but the German command was compelled to weaken this sector to create operational reserves. The Russians have made particularly concentrated use of planes and tanks, which can speedily bring about a surprise. " The supreme test has come for all of us," he 6aid, " both the peop'.e and the armed forces. The seriousness of the situation is being dinned into the German people by the fact that names now appearing in the communiques are still freshly in mind from the last war. All we are doing now is for the defence of Germany's very soil."