EXTENDED RETREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1944, Page 4

EXTENDED RETREAT

PREDICTION BV GERMAN COMMENTATORS '! POWER OF ALLIED OFFENSIVE EMPHASISED ENEMY RATIONS APPARENTLY PETERING OUT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m,) LONDON, May 22. There are signs, a Reuter correspondent states, that Germans rations are petering out as a result of the Tactical Air Force cutting roads. Allied planes have strangled the German supply lines since March 24. German sources generally stress the power cf the Allied offensive. The “Volkischer Beobachter” predicts that the German retreat will continue to North Italy, adding that Kesselring will give up territory and prestige to husband his reserves. “Only ' the High Command knows where the main defence will lie,” the paper adds. “It is quite certain that this line is not fixed in Central Italy.” The German radio’s chief correspondent declared: “Events in Italy have reached a dramatic climax. The Allies have thrown an unheard-of force of men and material into the fray. They are employing no fewer than 1,000 tanks and daily are bringing up new forces.” The German news agency stated that a gigantic battle is being fought in Southern Italy for the main German defence line. The heaviest fighting is going on along the front from the Fondi Plain to the slopes of Mount Cairo. The news agency added that the Allies started an attack from the Nettuno bridgehead eastwards, but were repulsed and suffered heavy losses. The Algiers radio tonight reported that Piedmonte had been captured. NAZI PREDICTION INVASION OF THE BALKANS OR SOUTHERN FRANCE. PRIOR TO MAIN ONSLAUGHT IN WEST. (Received This Day, 12.15 D.m.)LONDON, May 22. The Berlin radio’s military commentator, Von Olberg, suggested that Allied invasions of the south of France or the Balkans would follow the Italian offensive and precede the main invasion from the west. He added that German air attacks against troop concentrations in Corsica confirmed the view that the Allies were planning repeated secondary action before deploying the 3,500,000 British and American troops concentrated in the south of England ready for invasion.