GAINS BY U.S. FORCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 27 May 1944, Page 5

GAINS BY U.S. FORCES

DUE TO NEW POLICY Washington, May 26. The gains scored by American units of the Fifth Army are attributable to the new policy of pouring continuous replacements into the combat divisions, the Secretary of State for War, Mr

Stimson, disclosed at a Press conference. He said the Fifth Army s 60-mile advance from the Gustav Line was due to the tireless energy of the American troops in the second corps whose strength and freshness had been kept up by the new system of immediate replacements. This system, which had also been applied to French units fighting with the Fifth Army, consists of sending replacements into the battle as casualties occur and while the action continues. Thus, instead of the previous practice of allowing the division to take its losses and then replace it with a new unit, it is maintained constantly at fighting strength. Mr Stimson added that Lieut.-General Jacob Devers, senior American commander in the Mediterranean, had advised that the gains were made possible because the troops were able to push forward with continuous freshness and vigour which they would otherwise not have had.