LULL BEFORE STORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25801, 23 March 1945, Page 5

LULL BEFORE STORM

ZERO' HOUR APPROACHING (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, Mar. 21. It is the lull before th 4 storm on the Lower Rhine, states Reuter’s war correspondent. Field-marshal Montgomery’s forces are building up rapidly for Mr Churchill's “ good, strong heave altogether,” which will see the Rhine crossed in tremendous strength, while the Red Army storms beyond the Oder in a gigantic pincer on the Reich. Zero hour is fast approaching for the beginning of the final showdown in Germany. The British, Canadian, and American armies are poised for decisive action to destroy the major portion of the German armies in the west. They may smash them on the Rhine River line, and the Reich will be laid open. Field-marshal Montgomery’s confidence is reflected in every Allied unit waiting on the Lower Rhine. Regiments are all up to strength, and everyone is hopeful that the impending battles will be decisive. Undoubtedly there is going to be heavy fighting on the Rhine Crossings. The Germans are known to have denuded the Ruhr of guns to man the east bank of the river. They continue harassing shellfire along the river. The German home service broadcast stated that German artillery was hitting at concentrations of pontoons and bridging material. The enemy is extremely nervous about the situation along the Lower Rhine, and is sending over reconnaissance planes each night to take photographs by the light of flares. Gigantic smoke screens laid by the Allies along 30 to 40 miles of the Rhine south of Nijmegen obscure enemy observation during daylight.

“The new Allied all-out offensive may break at any hour now,” says the German News Agency. “ The Allied Command has replenished its airborne divisions, but the German Military Command is ready for landings by skytroops.”