Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1944. CONQUERING OF GERMANY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 September 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1944. CONQUERING OF GERMANY.

’J’HE prediction by Field Marshal Mont

gomery that the war against Germany will end this year seems somewhat optimistic, judging by the present situation, but he ought to know, and it is to be hoped that he will prove a true prophet. Last week’s happenings were not all in favour of the Allies. The Germans resisted strongly and counter-attacked frequently on most sectors of the Western Front, and there is still little of German soil effectively occupied by the Allies. The airborne troops in the Arnhem area are in desperate need of relief, seeing that.for a week they have defied tremendous odds. So far, the Allies have not been able to get past the German forces hindering such relief, and, indeed, near the Dutch-Ger-man frontier have not done much more than hold their own. Little has been revealed about these critical day§, but when a senior British officer declares “the situation is now in hand and the enemy had some success,” only those who refuse to see the unpleasant, can be confident that Berlin will fall this year. Others will be hopeful. Meanwhile, the Germans have proved they are not to be despised. Further South and East, they are giving ground slowly, and have succeeded in extricating themselves from any trap in the Belfort Gap area, and, perhaps, too, in North Holland. Enemy losses have been enormous, and there is no doubt that Germany’s defeat is certain, but there is no sign of a collapse yet. Even against Russia, the Germans have so far prevented invasion, their withdrawals having been from occupied territory. With the approach of AVinter, Red Army offensives may have to be limited, and this will be to the advantage of the German defence. It is well not to take serious notice of German statements about Hitler’s views of victory, or of new “secret” weapons that are to turn the scale, but it is equally wuse to realise that the invasion of Germany is unlikely to be so rapid as the invasion of France and Belgium. Claims that the Allies are a month ahead of schedule, even if true, are more encouraging than decisive. Factors —apart from censored reports — which encourage the belief that Germany’s defeat is imminent, include the publicity given to proposals for the later control of Reich territory. Mr. Roosevelt s return to Washington was followed by the expected Press conjectures about Quebec decisions, but the President was not communicative. There will be inevitable difficulties connected with the occupation of Germany, especially if a Nazi underground movement gets active. If the “Big Three” do not agree on the main proposals, the Germans will take full advantage of fishing in troubled waters. Propagandists are already busy urging clemency to the defeated foe, and eminent jurists are declaring that if Hitler sought refuge in a neutral country, his extradition could not be enforced. All this remains to be seen. If Hitler escapes death as the Kaiser did, a shattering blow will be dealt to the no-more-war plans. Similarly, in dealing with Germany it is essential to prevent her being able to prepare for another war, and if this prevention can be achieved only by harsh measures, then harshness must be enforced. Meanwhile, Germany and Japan still have to be'conquered, and this must not be foi’gotten by those who estimate the war is as good as over in Europe, and will be soon in Asia.