GERMANY’S PERIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 5

GERMANY’S PERIL

MASSED ALLIED FORCES ARMAGEDDON AT HAND LONDON, June 13. "The peril lying in the massing of enormous forces and material just off the Continent has become a crisis,” stated General Dietmar over the Berlin radio. "We are in the midst of its first acute stage. We have no illusions about the significance of the clash. Armageddon has entered its decisive phase. "It is no longer a Rattle in the ordinary sense; it is a question of win or die. There has already been a surprise between the Orne and the Vire. We could not foresee that the enemy command would be prepared to flood us with men and material, regardless of losses. This method reeked of the strategy of the Russian General Staff. “ General Montgomery has assembled only half of his forces in Normandy. We have to make plans for more large-scale landings, the range of which will only gradually unfold. “ One fact emerges—the enemy within a week has established for himself a bridgehead some 50 miles broad, and at points has spread to a depth beyond range of his naval artillery.” Several new Allied formations, with a considerable amount s of heavy material, have been landed at the four main landing points on the beach-head to-day, states the German News Agency. The agency claimed that a British parachute unit which landed south of Caen two days ago had been wiped out. A great armoured battle Is now raging at the three main centres in Normandy, in the Caen and Bayeux districts, and between Valogne and Carentan, says a Berlin report, quoted by the Stockholm correspondent of The Times. The report admits that Montebourg is now in American hands. Unlike earlier descriptions, to-day’s reports say that the British and not the Germans are attacking around Caen and Bayeux. It emphasises the great weight of British armour in the neighbourhood of Tilly, " where the British managed to drive a small wedge to the south, which the Germans eventually checked.”

The Germans admit being impressed by the scale of the British airborne operations, describing them as the greatest air effort ever, and referring to the great part played in the invasion by “ flying artillery,” though it is not clear exactly what is meant by that. To-day’s explanation why Rommel has not yet more seriously joined battle is that he knows better than to throw in reserves near the coast to have them mown down by naval gunnery. The invaders so far have been protected by a fighter umbrella and by warships, but once they move out of the range of the battleships .they will find Rommel able and ready to deal with them effectively. He has, for a week, been preparing a blow, and requires another week, when the blow will be more effective for not being hurried.