THE DISRUPTION OF GERMANY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22790, 14 January 1944, Page 5

THE DISRUPTION OF GERMANY

Object Of Massed Air

Attacks

Forerunner Of Coming Invasion

Weather An Important Factor N.Z.P. A.—Special Correspondent (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12. The claim that United States Army Air Force Liberators and Fortresses, accompanied by fighters, fought one of the biggest air battles of the war over Germany yesterday indicated the growing strength of the daylight offensive. It is the forerunner of what can be expected. One of the most important factors in the coming months is going to be the weather, and meteorologists in Britain will probably be among the most consulted groups of people in the country. Given suitable weather the United States Army Air Force will be able to hammer strategical targets with precision bombing by day, while at night Royal Air Force heavy bombers will continue area bombing. If the weather is unfavourable then the preinvasion disruption of Germany will be a protracted business. It might be commented here that little attention need be paid to German forecasts of when the invasion will begin. They are ranging between "immediately” and ‘'April.” the purpose of which is propaganda to try to confuse the minds of the populations of the Allied Nations and cause discontent if an “immediate” attack is not forthcoming. A feature of the Luftwaffe to-day ;s

the great number of fighters it now possesses. They outnumber the bombers and by far the greatest proportion of these fighters are based against Britain. There is also a strong force in Austria. These fighters can be relied on to give firm opposition. They are at present used sparingly, concentrating against attacks on important targets which accounts for the reports from time to time of the absence of opposition. They will need to conserve their energies, for the Allied Air Force is still in the stage of “working up.” while the raids against Sofia indicate that the Mediterranean bombing force is beginning to get under way. Another indication of the Allies’ preparations is given in the news of the assembly in Britain by British and American soldiers of vast quantities of railway rolling stock to be used in the invasion. It is estimated that 50 miles of new rolling stock will be ready on the day of the invasion. They are being constructed from prefabricated parts brought from America. The trains are fitted with British and Continental gauges. They are made up of 40-ton refrigerator trucks, tankcars, troop-trucks, gun-trucks and machinery to build roads and bridges. It is also stated that Britain and the United States have 10,000,000 tons more shipping than a year ago, which has an important bearing on the invasion. While the building up of air, land and sea forces is going on steadily and the High Command is perfecting its plans, it seems that the chief query overhanging all the preparations may be summed up in the word “weather," and the vagaries of the English weather in the immediate months ahead should be borne in mind in attempting to assess when General Dwight Eisenhower will name the zero hour.