DRIVE TO BERLIN

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22460, 22 September 1944, Page 3

DRIVE TO BERLIN

INVASION FROM THE SKY EARLY SURRENDER POSSIBLE

LONDON, Sept. 21

The main Allied drive to Berlin will be in the north, from Holland, says the Washington correspondent of the New York newspaper P.M. Military exeprts predict that if a breach is effected in the north the unconditional capitulation of Germany will be a matter of days, perhaps hours. The northern drive represents the shortest route to Berlin—3oo miles from the eastern border of Holland. If this drive is successful the correspondent adds, one of the most powerful defence areas of Germany’s West Wall will be avoided. The terrain in the north is suitable for tanks and the area also has the weakest defences. In addition there are many ports which the Allies will need for rushing reinforcements and supplies to the armies driving into the German defences.

Pressure on the Siegfried Line around Aachen and Metz will not be relaxed, says the correspondent, but if the Allies succeeded in flanking the main defences in the north German resistance in the south will be useless.

The first invasion of Berlin may come from the sky, said a War Department spokesman commenting on the success of the airborne operations in Holland. Lieutenant-General Giles, deputy-Commander of the Army Air Forces, said: “If an airborne army lands in Berlin it will stay there until ground forces join it.”