The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, August 22, 1944. ALLIES RACING WINTER IN EUROPE.

Grey River Argus, 22 August 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, August 22, 1944. ALLIES RACING WINTER IN EUROPE.

Now familiar, but still notable, is the manner in which men belonging to enemy-occupied countries co-operate in ithe Allied campaign in Europe. Ever since Hitler overran the Continent, and prostrated their own country more mercilessly than any other, the Poles have been outstanding. To-day they are fighting on the three main fronts, also in the air, with great success and distinction. The Yugoslavs also have been a nuisance to the Germans, and thus have held a link in the chain around Hitler’s fortress. Now, however, the French, are coming again into their own, General Wilson remarking: “The Army of prance is in being again.” In Africa, Italy, Corsica and elsewhere, French troops earlier have* fought most effectively, and the return in strength on the soil of their own land, puts the keystone upon the staunch endeavour of the past. year. On the western front the Allied forces must now outnumber the enemy very considerably, and'the addition of three-quarters of a million in the interior of France is not only most timely, but strategically most important. From all accounts the Germans are trying no longer Ito hold the bulk of France, but rather to get out with the least loss, and the only sector where they plan a stand is now the eastern bank of the Seine from Paris to the coast. But for them withdrawal has become as difficult as holding on, as exemplified by the fate of their Seventh Army. If it is now rendered useless, as appears likely, the enemy’s chance of remaining in France, or even Belgium and Holland, must disappear, as reinforcements can hardly be had in time to restore lost power. It is hinted that there may be Allied landings in the Low Countries and even in "Western Germany. Meantime, as remarked in the interior of France, the presence of the F.F.I. in the vicinity of threequarters of a million strong, puts the Germans in a quandary on account of the sparse forces of their own to meet this French opposition. It is hard to see what object will remain for the enemy in Southern France once the main coastal strongpoints are lost. Consequently their three divisions reported as having been thereabouts stationed may largely be looking! for a way! north-east-wards. One military commentator reckons that if the present Allied campaign in the north of France 'accounts fob the more Nazified elements in the enemy forces, the subsequent approach i to the Reich will be something like a military cake walk, and he also thinks that the Russians may have a similar progress to the Oder River beyond Poland during the next two months. The Germans have many divisions stationed whbre they cannot participate in the fighting, although it is manifest that nearly all of their best men are at the front, a British staff officer having characterised the human resources that Hitler may have in reserve as “muck.” The Allied forces now have generally equipment greatly superior to that of the enemy, and thus are capable of moving much the more quickly. Since D Day, apart from losses in men that must, under all head ings, be . now approaching five hundred thousand, the Germans have lost an enormous amount of equipment, especially facilities for transport, the lack of which must be crippling so long as operations arc outside German territory, i No doubt, success may prompt Allied commentators to take the most optimistic view at the moment, but the attitude of the Germans is consistent only with, a spirit of desperation and 'bewildernfent. Thus their victims are everywhere inspired to rise in resistance, a process -which will intensify in the manner it has done in France already. Hence the prediction of a military chronicler that Germany may be done for before the encl of the year.