The Grey River Argus MONDAY, November 27, 1944. WINTER ON WEST FRONT.

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus MONDAY, November 27, 1944. WINTER ON WEST FRONT.

Leaving' for the present aside the British and Canadian forces on the extreme left of the Allied line in Holland, there are more than half a dozen other armies engaged on an offensive, the scale of which is larger probably than any previously seen in this Avar. The length of the .Eastern Front has probably been greater, but a simultaneous attack has not tlicre been seen along a line so long. In forming an estimate of General EisenhoAver’s attack, it Avould be a mistake to regard the more spectacular or more lengthy of the recent advances as those of most nn. portance. It is quite inspiring to contemplate the bending back of the German left flank in the south, Avilth the French First Army on the brink of the Rhine, and once more flying the tricolour over Alsace and the border centres of Mulhouse, Belfort and Strasbourg. Yet it is obvious that such progress Avould scarcely have been achieved had the resistance of lihe enemy on his left been so stern and concentrated as it has been on his right flank. There has, no doubt; been definite and steady progress made right along the Allied line; but the northern gains have been more difficult and doubtless more costly than the southern ones. The French of course, are more familiar than the other Allies with the terrain in Avhich they have been fighting, and this factor may have assisted in their success. They have, been associated in .the advance up towards Belfort from Southern France Avitbthe Seventh Army of General Patch, Avhich. like other American forces, is cooperating admirably with the French First Army. Nevertheless, JXletz as a fortress lived up to its reputation more than Belfort, and gave the Third American Army of General Patton a tougher task than that entailed in getting into the Belfort and Severne Gaps. North of Metz as far as the Aachen sector and . beyond, the enemy quite evidently has massed his greatest strength, so that, while useful advances have there continued, none has been lengthy and cacn has been hard. Indications are- that the enemy is operating with one fundamental idea, the realisation of Avhich remains uncertain. II is that of making the Rhine his, final defensive line, rather than’ the area ait present occupied by his forces, although there is yet

no warranty for the suggestion that his present line has anywhere developed a crack. The strategy of Marshal Von Rundstedt is nevertheless that of bringing his troops intact across the Rhine. Its successful accomplishment would prove for General Eisenhower a formidable obstacle A river front has been traditional ly the desideratum of master soldiers. It might in the event prove in this case not to bo so .tenable under modern conditions, with air attack to withstand, as it would have been under old-time methods of warfare. Yet the Al lies would have to make the cros sing under manifold disadvantages alike on ground and water. The gains of the Allies must be attributed at least in part to the fact that ground has been yielded tactically by the enemy, and especially in the sectors from the Saar to the Swiss frontier. If, however, Allied tactics should presently avail to bring the Ger mans to battle west of the Rhine and defeat them as they were defeated before they got across the Seine, the way would be opened for a comparatively rapid march across Germany, and the occupation of Berlin might become an early prospect. The weather, which lias meantime frequently been rather unfavourable for air craft, is a vital factor in the present offensive. It is very apt to become adverse with the approach of mid-winter. After the initially difficult operations in Normandy, the Allies travelled with’ comparative speed across France. Progress during the past couple of months has been harder and slower. If, therefore, the Rhine eventually become the line, of battle, with the enemy ranged intact along the right bank, progress with 'the attack might be as difficult as ever it has been. This juncture is therefore not one at which expectation of a runaway victory can reasonably be entertained.