FRONT BREACHED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 3

FRONT BREACHED

CHANGE FORCED ONE COMMAND FAILS PERU. IN THE CENTRE LONDON. ,l:m. 5. The Supreme Allied Headquarter's announcement of the change of commands read: “When the German penetration through the Ardennes created two fronts, one substantially facing south and the other north, by instant agreement by all concerned that portion of the front facing south was placed under the command of Field Marshal Montgomery and that facing north under the command of General Bradley.” “The announcement only partly reveals one of the most sensational changes in command of the war,” says the British United Press correspondent with the 21st Army Group. “Although it is still impossible to toil the full story, the changes which resulted in stopping the most dangerous enemy thrust since “D-day,” it can be said that the British played a bigger part than can be revealed. "The decision to place the Americans under Field Marshal Montgomery’s command was taken within a few hours of what, looked like being a major German break-through. This was known at the 21st Army Group Headquarters, but the censor treated it as one of the major secrets of the war, and correspondents were not allowed to comment. Reports from London and Stockholm, suggesting Hint Field Marshal Montgomery he put in charge of the whole Ardennes operation, and the official secrecy, produced the heaviest crop of rumours in Brussels for a long time. British Forces at “Long' Stop” “The wording of !he announcement from Supreme Allied Headquarters is regarded as the first oilicial admission that von Rundstedt’s offensive broke right through the Allied positions and created what were virtually two separate and disconnected lronts. Some British troops were brought south within a few hours of the German break-through. They were held in reserve in a number of important areas during the critical days when German divisions were still moving westwards, with little decrease in their momentum. “There is not the slightest doubt they played an important part on those critical days, though they were not us ed. Big Allied counter-attacks began in the Rochefort area, and they formed a potential threat, to any German thrust to the _ Mouse. ' .FieldMarshal Montgomery’s command by this time included the Canadian First Army, lining the River Maas, the British Second Army, lining the river farther south and crossing the river into Geilenldrehen, the United .States Ninth Army, which had virtually a static role and was the first which, after the break-through had formed up facing the south. The four armies together formed one coherent force on the northern flank of Ihe German break-through, which probably had Antwerp as its final objective.” The Daily Mail said: “The knowledge that Field-Marshal Montgomery :s now in full control will be received.

with relief in this country. It has been the cause of some distress that he appeared lately to lie relegated to a comparatively minor role. This feeling was based on the belief that: one of (lie best soldiers the Allies possess was not being used to his fullest powers. -It is perhaps a little unfortunate that this change had to be made at a time when signs were not lacking of ‘nerves, on edge’ between Britain and America, but we believe the bulk of the Americans, with that justice and common-sense which they nearly always show in times of crisis, will approve this choice.