EVE OF INVASION

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1944, Page 5

EVE OF INVASION

Tension in Germany LONDON, May 9. The German High Command radio spokesman, Dietmar, said: Germany is undoubtedly now in a state of seige. There is tension among Europe’s defenders but no anxiety. Coming events will require greater forces on both sides than have ever before been engaged in military operations. We are as much in the dark about what we must face as the enemy is about what he must face. It is' certain we will face an action without example in history ana a number of unknown factors much larger than in any action yet undertaken.” He described the Allied nonstop bombing as a pre-invasion softening, adding that the Allies’ invasion plans were completed and that constant vigilance was required. The date of invasion was unknown but it was obvious that the Allies could not hold up the operations top long because of the extreme tension within their own countries, which the invasion prospects created. Dietmar admitted that many German dug-outs and batteries have been under a hail of Allied heavy bombings, but he claimed that the German soldiers’ confidence has risen as a result. He. predicted that the British, American and Russian onslaught would be synchronised, but said that the Germans would face this “extreme contingency" with sang froid. It was quietei' yesterday in the Upper Garigliano Valley after weekend activity, while patrol clashes occurred in the Lower Garigliano Valley, south-west of Castelforte. It was generally quiet on the Anzio beachhead.

German artillery and mortars in the Cassino area hammered against the railway station where our troops are dug in on the southern edge of the town. There have been several patrol clashes in the lower Garigliano.

(Bad weather hindered air operations, but fighter-bombers attacked motor traffic north of Rome.