MR CHURCHILL’S VISIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25737, 8 January 1945, Page 3

MR CHURCHILL’S VISIT

TALKS WITH EISENHOWER

RUGBY, Jan. 5.

Mr Churchill, accompanied by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Field-marshal Sir Alan Brooke, returned this afternoon from a visit to France, during the course of which he met General Eisenhower, and also had conversations with General de Gaulle and the British Ambassador to France, Mr Duff Cooper. From General Eisenhower’s headquarters had come, not long before Mr Churchill’s return was announced from No. 10 Downing street, a statement that Field-marshal Montgomery was in full command of the Allied armies north of the German salient in Belgium. This means that the British commander-in-chief of the Twenty-first Army Group on the western front is not only directing the operations of the British Second Army and the Canadian First Army, but also the American Ninth Army under General Simpson and the American First Army under General Hodges. The American, General Omar Bradley, commands the Allied forces south of the salient.

The official announcement explains that the German penetration in the Ardennes created two fronts, and the commands now announced were instantly agreed upon by all concerned. A correspondent states that British troops first took part in the salient battle at its western end on Christmas Day, and it is fair to assume that Field-marshal Montgomery has directed the battle on the northern flank since Christmas.

President Roosevelt said in Washington to-day that the transfer of the command of one American army and most of another to Field-marshal Montgomery was decided upon by General Eisenhower. The President said the creation of the new command did not mean that Field-marshal Montgomery had become deputy commander to General Eisenhower.