Evening star., 1940-05-16
Channel Believed
Objective Of Present
Nazi Offensive
Moi. Eliot Sees
Effort to Cut OFF
Allied Forces
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

Since Tuesday the war situation
has undergone one fundamental
change. It is now clear that the
Germans are developing a major
effort in the vicinity of Sedan to
break through the French main de-
tense line. Another attack is said
to be proceeding at Montmedy,
farther to the east. It is possible
that the Germans think they can
thus cut of all the allied troops be-
tween Sedan and the coast and roll
up this part Of the allied armies
against the Channel, as Ludendorfi
planned to do to the British in the
spring Of 1918. That the German
attempt is being made farther east
is significant of the greater range
and speed Of modern weapons and
means of military movement; and
also, of course, because 1t preserves
shorter and less vulnerable line of
communications.
It must be kept in mind that this
attack may be only a diversion or
side show and that the main German
effort may come farther north di-
rected against Brussels and Ant
werp; indeed, last night there were
some indications that this may be
the case.
At the present writing the Ger
mans in the Sedan sector appear to
have penetrated the French out
post zone in several places, as will
always be possible in attacking q
modern fortified position: but there
is no indication of anything family
resembling a break-through, and the
French have launched local counter
attacks which appear to have had
some measure of success.
Crossings Holly Contested.
On the center of the main battle
front along the Meuse, the Germans
claim to have taken three of the
forts of Namur (perhaps the three
on the last bank, Maizeret, Andoy
and Dave), and to have crossed the
Meuse elsewhere; but the crossings
appear to have been hotly contested,
and the fortress Of Namur appears
still able to contest the possession of
the bridges there.
Still farther north, in the Ant
werp-Liege-Brussels triangle, the
situation is confused, with armored
forces of both sides clashing furi-
ously in battles whose tactics, when
we learn the details, will assuredly
be of great interest, but whose out
come Is uncertain, as reflected in
the claims Of success by both sides.
The Germans claim two of the Liege
forts Ooncin and Lartin). The 9TH
ers appear still in Belgian hands,
and continue to hamper German use
Of communications. German armored
troops have advanced near enough
to Louvain to enable German long
range artillery to commence a rather
spotty bombardment of that city
The only certain factor in this situ-
alton is that the German movements
are meeting with stout opposition
This opposition may presently re-
cede, permitting q German advance
toward Louvain and Brussels; or ii
may be reinforced and press the
Germans back on Liege.
One further possibility is that the
Germans may now be collecting
troops in North Brabant for an at
tack on Antwerp, the fall Of which
would be a serious threat to allied
communications in Belgium and
might open the way to the Belgian
coast for the Germans. However,
Antwerp Is stoutly fortified and the
Germans are none too secure in
North Brabant themselves at the
| moment.
| No Counterstroke Yet.
No major allied counterstroke
has yet made its appearance. This
may be due either to the time
factor, to waiting for the German
drives against Sedan and the
Meuse to exhaust themselves, to
shortage Of troops for the purpose
or to German air superiority.
The latter appears to be one OF
the chief factors in the fighting,