STEP TO VICTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25804, 27 March 1945, Page 5

STEP TO VICTORY

MAGNIFICENT SUCCESS LEADERS FRANKLY JUBILANT LONDON, Mar. 25. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters says authoritative military quarters are frankly jubilant over the magnificent success of Saturday’s tremendous operation, declaring that such a start means a spectacular step towards victory. The linking up of the airborne forces and the land troops means that Field-marshal Montgomery’s situation on the east bank is secure, but a momentary pause is inevitable for the build-up which must precede the smash to the east.

Correspondents at Allied headquarters attribute the stiller resistance in the British sector compared with the American front to the fact that the Germans all along expected the crossing between Wesel and Emmerich, for which reason they had better troops and heavier artillery disposed there. Although reconnaissance had not shown any trace of German reserves moving towards the bridgehead area, they are known to have mobile reserves disposed somewhere in that region. The development of heavy opposition on the left flank of the British thrust, where high ground commanding the Rhine crossings is being contested, was completely according to expectations. Reuter’s correspondent with the British forces says the maximum depth of the bridgehead is eight or nine miles, with, the perimeter hardening every hour. The deepest penetration in the British sector has been made by the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who penetrated beyond Hamminkeln and cht the autobahn. American Spearheads

American spearheads to the south have rapidly exploited their grip on the road running south to the ruined cities of Hamborn and Duisburg. The Thirtieth Infantry Division of the Ninth Army broke through , the Rhine defences and smashed forward into open country north of the Ruhr, with infantrymen riding tanks as resistance disintegrated. This break-through is described by the Associated Press correspondent as one of the most brilliant infantry advances of the war. They linked up with the British commandos near the Lippe River, giving the entire Twenty-first Army Group a continuous solid line. The Americans to the south are to-night within four miles of Duisburg. The Thirtieth Division made a general advance of two to four miles along the whole of their front. Some idea of the speed of the Ninth Army’s buildup can be gauged from the fact that most of the infantry battalions, one tank-destroyer battalion and several tank companies and artillery were across the river within the first 24 hours.

Fantastic Proportions

The'mighty build-up going on across the Rhine is assuming fantastic proportions, says the British United Press correspondent with the British. Sappers, infantry, tanks, and guns all day crossed the river in’ ducks, navy motor launches, barges, and rafts, while ammunition and supplies were constantly moved ever the bridges.

The Second Tactical Air Force “ policing force ” has been engaged in silencing guns, in protecting troops, in strafing the enemy, and in hunting the Luftwaffe since 5.30 in the morning, says the Exchange Telegraph’s correspondent at Field-marshal Montgomery’s headquarters. Luftwaffe resistance is the weakest against any Allied offensive since D-Day. Allied planes destroyed at least 50 per cent, of a small enemy pursuit force and chased the rest away. The pilots saw some enemy guns moving towards the British sector, but only a few German tanks are in action. Allied airmen spotted 10, and promptly destroyed them. The German News Agency’s version of the Rhine crossing emphasises the heavy British and American losses and declares that the first day could be regarded as a German defensive success. •‘The German Command rightly guessed \yhere the airborne landings could be expected and took appropriate counter-measures. .The bulk of the British and Americans are still confined in the concentration area.”