The Wanganui Chronicle. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1944. THE CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 126, 29 May 1944, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1944. THE CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

|~|AVING failed to hold the shortest and best-prepared line in Italy, the Germans must now improvise a new one, which should be more vulnerable than that which they have vacated. Their present condition is, therefore, one of considerable'diffieulty. It is not clear what, their next step will be. The probability is that they do not yet know themselves, as the initiative has definitely passed to the Allies. The Allies have struck devastating- blows at the German forces, driving them northward through defiles and valleys which make the retreating troops excellent targets for bombing planes. The German losses in this retreat must, in the nature of things, be considerable. The linking up between the forces of the Fifth Army that, have advanced from the south and those that have been occupying the Anzio beachhead, is a good omen, despite the discounting of this fact in'the earlier reports. The Germans would be concerned to-prevent this junction of .forces , taking place if it had been at all possible, and the fact that they have been unable to prevent this speaks Tor itself. In the coastal regions the Allies have the the advantage of being supported by guns from the Navy. But even with this advantage the fact of the junction between the two forces having been achieved bespeaks enemy weakness where there should have been strength. The reinforcements of the Anzio beachhead were, apparently, not landed before the battle-opened, nor even in its first stages. They were sent in in force when once the Germans had been committed heavily to the south of this position. Then the transports landed under a cover of artificial fog. This device is no new feature of landing operations: it was employed during the lasi war when the Zcebrugge. raid was staged. That it has been employed successfully in the present operation is interesting because, it ean be.assumed that it will be in evidence when the landings are made on the coast of Western Europe. The question that now troubles many-minds is how the enemy will react to the present position. It is clear that the attack has developed in a,manner very favourable to the Allies, and that this development hiay' continue for a long time to the increasing discomfiture of the enemy. Can he improvise a new defence position south of Rome? He may endeavour to do this, for if he ean bring about the destruction of a considerable portion of the capital of Italy the Allies and the Italians will be impeded, and it is possible that some voices, such as de Valera’s, will be raised against the evil of destruction without their risking anything in defence of civilisation. The world will little note nor Jong remember the admonitions of such mentors. If the Germans ean make a stand before Rome they will certainly co so, but if they are not successful in this they must contemplate the.nature of-the country that is behind them. The road up to Florence is funnel-like in its nature, and by no means a satisfactory terrain, on which to fight a retreating’action with the opponent holding the balance of strength in the air. The present engagement indicates that the Germans have been outgunned, and this advantage is likely to continue into the future. With these two advantages operating in favour of the Allies, the German stand eannot be expected to last long in any one place. General Sir Harold Alexander has learnt by experience the value of tinquick follow-up once a breach has been made, for he exploited this in North Africa. He is not likely to fail 4o prepare to use it in thpresent campaign. Truly Italy does not offer the same opportunities for outflanking movements on the land as did the open spaces of North Africa, but the enemy can be permanently outflanked by amphibious operations on the two Italian coasts. The rich dividends that arc likely to be earned in this campaign appear to lie much nearer to realisation than they were a week ago. The outlook in Italy is dcidedly inspiring and much may be achieved in the near future.. .