ALLIED OFFENSIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25579, 5 July 1944, Page 5

ALLIED OFFENSIVES

PROGRESS ON THREE FRONTS DECISIVE BATTLE IN EAST (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) •LONDON, July 3. Satisfaction was expressed by wellinformed commentators on the position of the fronts in Normandy, Russia, and Italy. The fall of Cherbourg was described as a “ triumphant success ” and a “ great victory.” Commenting that the British had attracted the concentration of no fewer than seven panzer divisions on their front around Caen, the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent, Lieutenantgeneral H. G. Martin, states: “No doubt Rundstedt and Rommel would dearly love to launch a general counter-offensive before the Allies can draw renewed strength through Cherbourg. They might thus reach a quick decision in the west, which the high command needs so desperately in order to release troops for other hardpressed fronts. From this, however, they are restrained by fear of further Allied landings elsewhere. Montgomery, on the other hand, finds his efforts to expand the beach-head opposed by this exceedingly powerful force of armour more- heavily gunned than his own and practising in defence that most effective of tactics, •counter-infiltration.’ The result so far has been more or less a stalemate. If and when we get some summer weather the Allied air forces, we may hope, will resolve the deadlock.” German Tanks Good The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with the Allied forces, Christopher Buckley, says counter-infiltration has been practised successfully hy the Germans during the past three weeks. They left behind the main forces pockets of snipers and well-sited 88millimetre guns and occasional tanks. The 88 is probably the best anti-tank gun in existence, to which even the British 17-pounder is not wholly an adequate rival. •• In addition, the Panther is certainly the best all-round lank in Western Europe to-day, and with the Tiger tank is a deadly obstacle to our progress/ The British Sherman tank is good, but operates to best advantage in open country, but close country, as in Normandy, is bound to suit the tank with the bigger gun. General Martin, referring to Russia, says: ‘‘This battle in the east, of which we are witnessing the opening phase, is one of the decisive battles of the world. It is true that all fronts in this German war are interdependent, the Allied effort on each contributing to victory on all other fronts. None the less, the Russian front, because of its vast scape ansl wide opportunities to manoeuvre, is undoubtedly the dynamic front, to which the others are subsidiary. Thus, though victory will be the victory of all—and made possible only by the contributions of the Italian and western fronts—the actual decision is likely to be won in the east.”

Interesting Possibilities “ Strategicus,” in the Spectator, says the Italian front holds interesting possibilities. It is very doubtful whether von Kesselring will be able to reach the Pisa-Rimini line in sufficient strength in order to maintain the position against Alexander’s attack for any appreciable time. That prospect would seem less discouraging if the Germans were abje to make up the very heavy losses their armies in Italy have suffered. But they are now losing everywhere at such a rate that reinforcement, unless there can be a drastic shortening of the front, is out of the question. “Indeed, the most remarkable feature of the present stage of the general assault is that places like Cherbourg, Vitebsk, and Orsha fall so easily and yield such impressive captures of prisoners. If that happens now, what is likely to occur when other sectors come to life? ”