THE LAST ROUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25803, 26 March 1945, Page 5

THE LAST ROUND

ENEMY CANNOT ESCAPE decisive defeat certain (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 24 Field-marshal Montgomery issued the following message to his troops before the Rhine crossing:—“ On February 7 I told you. we were going into the ring for the final round. There would be no time limit. We could continue fighting until our opponent was knocked out. ~ “ The last round is going very well on both sides of the ring and overhead In the. west the enemy has lost the Rhineland and with it the flower of at least four armies—the Parachute Army, the Fifth Panzer Army, the Fifteenth Army and the Seventh Army. The First Army, further south, is now being added to the list. In the Rhineland battles the enemy has lost about 150.000 prisoners, and there are many more to come. His total casualties amount to about 250,000 since February 8. In the east the enemy has lost all Pomerania—an area as large as the Rhineland—and three more German armies have been routed. The Russian armies are within 35 miles of Berlin. ... “ Overhead, the Allied air forces are pounding Germany day and night. It will be interesting to see how much longer Germany can stand it. The enemy, in fact, has been beaten into a corner and cannot escape. Complete and decisive defeat of the Germans Is certain. There is no possibility of doubt The Twenty-first Army Group will now cross the Rhine. The enemy possibly thinks he is safe behind it. This great Allied fighting machine, composed of integrated land and air forces, will deal with the problem in no uncertain manner. 7 “Having crossed the Rhine, we will crack about in the plains of Northern Germany, chasing the enemy from pillar to post. The swifter and more energetic the action, the sooner the war will be over, and that is what we all desire —to get on with the job and finish off the German war as soon as possible. “Over the Rhine, then, let us go, and good hunting to you all on the other side. May the Lord Almighty in battle give us victory in this our latest undertaking, as He has done in all our battles since we landed in Normandy on D-Day.’’ Mr Churchill, from Second Army headquarters, issued the following mtessage to the troops of the Twentyfirst Army group: “I rejoice to be with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff at Field-marshal Montgomery’s headquarters during this memorable battle of forcing the Rhine. British soldiers, it will long be told how, with our Canadian brothers and valient United States allies, this superb task was accomplished. Once the river line is pierced and the crust of German resistance broken decisive victory j n Europe will be near. May God prosper our arms in a noble adventuie after our long struggle for King and country, for dear life and tor the freedom of mankind.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder told glider pilots at the final briefings before the airborne operation: “This is the opening of the final round.”' ' \ •Air Marshal Coningham, who is coordinating the entire, air operations, sent a message to R.A.F. pilots: “ Now comes the final flurry.” Field-marshal Montgomery, in a message to General C. Spaatz, Chief of the American Strategic Air Forces: “In appreciation of the quite magnificent co-operation you have given us in the battle of the Rhine," said: “The actions of "your air crews and ground staffs made possible the river crossings by the land armies.”