NAZIS’ INITIATIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21603, 4 January 1945, Page 5

NAZIS’ INITIATIVE

ARDENNES BULGE ENEMY MOVES IN SAAR ALLIED OUTLOOK BETTER (Special Correspondent.) ill a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. Field Marshal von Rundstedt still retains the initiative'on the Western Front, but the Allied prospects _of regaining it look better, in the opinion of military correspondents commenting on the position. The Daily Telegraph’s commentator. Lieutenant-General H. G. Martin, observes that General Patton's Third Army, driving into the southern flank of Rundstedt’s blunted salient in the Ardennes, is meeting very stubborn resistance. General Patton’s objective is possibly I-loufYalize. As expected, Rundstedt is ■ showing increased activity all along the front, with the probable objectives, first, of discover ing what regrouping the Allied Command has carried out, and, secondly, of pinning down the maximum Allied strength in sectors of secondary importance. General Martin adds: “It is unlikely that Rundstedt has further large reserves uncommitted with which _to mount more major offensives. Having had one unpleasant awakening, we should be wrong to conclude that he can continue to produce new armies like rabbits from a hat.” Clinging to Vosges Bridgeheads

General Martin says that Rundstedt is apparently determined to cling to his bridgeheads in the Vosges and also in the Maginot Line through the Hardt mountains around Bitche. He would thus be well placed when the opportunity offered to threaten the Seventh Army’s communications by concentric pressure towards Saarebourg, a process which he has now undoubtedly begun. General Martin considers there is considerable German activity of an amphibious nature in the Utrecht, Dordrecht and Rotterdam area, and in the Maas estuary and the islands of Overflakkee and Schouwen. He thinks that this can only have Antwerp as its objective. “Here again, however, Rundstedt can scarcely hope to accomplish more than a diversion,” he adds. The Times’ military correspondent. Captain Cyril Falls, remarks that the news from, the Western Front is still indefinite enough to give a pointer to the enemy’s intentions. “What is taking place in the Ardennes salient might be either the preliminaries of a German withdrawal to a shorter line or concentration for a renewed offensive. Enemy Seizes Advantage “While it is not yet possible to assess the importance of the German thrusts in the Saarbrucken region.” he adds, “this is a sector -in which aggressive action might be expected. The Germans know that the forces of the American Third Army have been shifted round in some strength to the south side of the Ardennes salient. They are eager not only to take advantage of this weakening of the Saar front but also to hamper General Eisenhower’s liberty of action and prevent him regaining the initiative.’ The correspondent comments that much movement has been reported over a period of several days behind the German front. Rundstedt has revised his plans and has been obliged to do so earlier than he can have expected. “In a really successful German offensive the ‘breather’ does not come nearly as quickly as it has here, but German leadership has always excelled in bulge tactics and the enemy may still hope to make more out of the position. This will not remain as it is and a change, is likely to come, soon now. But. \vith both sides sparring as'they are, he would be a bold man who would prophesy .what form it will take. - We have not yet regained the _ initiative, though our prospects of doing, so look better.”