WEST FRONT COMMAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21601, 2 January 1945, Page 6

WEST FRONT COMMAND

BRITISH CHIEF OPPOSED RISK OF BAD FEELING (10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 31. The New York Times corresi-'um dent, Mr. Hanson Baldwin, says that some British newspaper writers have started criticism of the command setup at Supreme Allied Headquarters. This is perfectly valid, but the writers’ objective is plainly the appointment of a British ground commander for the Western Front under General Eisenhower. Indeed, there: is some indication that such a move had already been made, and Field Marshal Montgomery may have assumed tactical command of the ground battle. Such a move, if made, would contribute to Allied disunity and represent another political-psychological asset for the Nazis. American troops in France and American people know that the American ground and air effort in Western Europe is the decisive effort. The British are doing everything they can, but our armies and air fleets are larger. II was our mistake that resulted in the breakthrough. If American generals were to blame .they should be replaced by Americans, not British, or bad feeling is bound to result. According to a high military authority, the German drive in Belgium) has not been militarily worth while, reports the New York IleraldTribune’s correspondent in Washington. It cost, the Nazis more mc-n and equipment than they will ever admit to the German people and, most important, it failed to attain its objective to smash across the Meuse River. It would probably cost the Germans mbre to attempt a withdrawal than to renew . the assault. Therefore a

series of small new German drives should not he unexpected. Observers believe that seven German divisions have so far been wiped out or badly mauled, and 1000 tanks and .1000 cargo vehicles destroyed.