REMOVING STING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25085, 26 December 1944, Page 5

REMOVING STING

GERMAN OFFENSIVE CONFIDENCE IN AMERICA (Reed. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 25 Military observers in Washington are of the opinion that the sting is being removed from the German counter-offensive. They express confidence that the Allied drive to isolate the enemy salient will soon become apparent and believe that a few more days of good flying weather will affect the situation appreciably. The baiting of the German offensive, temporary though it may be, can be ascribed to five causes, says the correspondent of the New York Times. They are: (1) The rapid reorganisation of the Americans to the south of the German advance and their bito into the German flank. (2) The great aerial offensive. (3) The tank action at St. Vith, which prevented a union of the German salients. (4) The gallant and bitter defence by American troops of a dozen towns and villages well behind the German spearhead. (5) The pause in the German offensive.

NAZI PATROLS BUSY

REBUFFED ON THE MAAS (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 24 German patrols 30 or 40 strong crossed the River Maas at more than half a dozen points in daylight on Friday and during the night, says Ileuter's correspondent with the 21st Army Group. They were sent out in assault boats to identify Field-Marshal Montgomery's positions and report on his strength. All the patrols were thrown back across the river.

The. Brussels radio says German reconnaissance troops crossed the Me use to test the Allied strength but were soon thrown back.

ALLIED COMMAND

CHANGES SUGGESTED (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 24 Some form of regrouping of the Allied Command may be found necessary to meet the new situation created by the German thrust against the First Army, says the military Correspondent of the Sunday Express. However, it is a matter of absolute security to keep such changes from the enemy. The most likely development is greater centralisation in the hands of tho Supreme Command. The Washington correspondent of the New York ITerald-Tribiino says it is felt in some quarters that when the seriousness of the present situation on the Western Front abates explanations will be demanded why military intelligence did not give advance warning of the enemy's intentions. Tho possibility ot a "shake-up" of the officers involved has been suggested.

BELGIAN CONFIDENCE

GREAT ALLIED SUPERIORITY (Heed. ft.MS p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 24 The Primo Minister of Belgium, M. Pierlot, broadcasting to the Belgian people, reassured them that the enemy h return would not be of long duration. "The Allied armies have all the means necessary to cope with the situation, ho said. "They have immense superiority in weapons and armour. Ihe desperate adventure into which the enemy is plunging will become his tinfor one more effort, M. Pierlot stated that young Belgian soldiers who marched from Brussels on December ■*> were already in action. The new battalions were composed principally of men who formerly were rnombers ot the resistance forces.

ENEMY SABOTEURS

IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM (Recti. n.Mft p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 24 The Paris radio broadcast: an appeal to resistance forces to take up Jirn J s against enemy saboteurs. .TJie whole population must provide information which will put a stop to activities threatening the security ot tho Allied armies. The resistance units must be mobilised." , .. , The Belgian authorities are taking the same precautions against disguised German soldiers as those taken mi am. A Belgian official broadcast said berman soldiers in Belgian uniforms, oileven dressed as civilians, were.go g about nrmed in Belgian territory with the object of sabotage. They *ere making frequent use of Belgian c .. especially cars belonging to otScial organisations.