The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-05
War Moves On
Today's Board
ny J. w. I. MASON
UNITED Press War Exnert


0ermanys start Of q new offen.
sive directed against Paris Is con.
fronted with the strongest part Of
the New WeSgand defense line,
marked by the somme River. This
natural water barrier gives an ini-
tial advantage 10 the Allies, en-
trenched along the south bank, and
at some places holding hridgeheads
on the north side. There Is no
stronger protective river shelter for
q defending army In Europe. The
Somme's snakelike course alone gives
General Weygand exceptional oppor-
tunlties for anking movements
against German attempts 10 cross
the stream.
The Germans have selected this
part OF the battlefront for their
new operations because OF the stra.
tegic advantage they would acquire
by Strengthening their line, The
German front runs In O fairly
straight line from Luxembourg 10
Scissors. Here II swings northward
and then winds In and out In o
northwest direction 10 Abbeville. II
drive against Paris were 10 be
started from Scissors, the nearest
point 10 the French capital, before
the battlefront were more or less
Strengthened, o dangerous salient
would DO developed, inviting flank
attack from east and west by the
Allies.
Hitler Facing Risk
Hitler would be risking grave re-
prisal by such maneuver. So, II
appears that he has had 10 start his
offensive along the heavily fortified
Somme, The Germans describe their
movement as aggressive action"
which Ii more nearly accurate than
10 call II q Blitzkreig, " appears 10
be o feeling out operation OF con-
siderable force 10 determine the
strength and disposition OF the
Allies south OF the somme.
There Is considerable difference
between the German tactics now
and when they drove Into Belgium.
The offensive against the Belgians
was O mass attack, crashing into
the Belgian dofenses with great
mechanical forces, which moved for
ward under q tremendous impetus,
That operation cannot be repeated,
aS an initial movement, In the pre-
sent case.
The Somme defenses are different
from the Belgian. The crossing Of
the river requires careful direction
and especially artillery and DIR at
tack against the Allies, entrenched
beyond the river. Tanks can have
little effect unless the Germans are
able 10 drive the Allies back beyond
The river No lightning stroke should
be able 10 do this Prolongation OF
the combat, therefore, is 10 bo OK.
pected II the Allies can continue
10 hold the south bank OF the Som
me, the Germans will have 10 re-
wise their strategy, and may be
forced 10 try 10 break through else.
where IN On entirely new move
ment
Reports that the southern British
oxpodltlonary force Ii occupying q
position near Abbeville brings the
British within o few miles OF Crecy,
where England, In i348, ~ the great
battle OF Crecy first became q lead
Ing military power, Az that time the
English made flrst use on the con.
tinent OF the log.bow, greatly OK.
tending their power OF attack They
also introduced IN entirely new do.
Tense consisting OF long.bowmen
fighting behind solid ranks OF
spoarSmen. Their new tactics over
came the advantage long held by
mounted knights, forcing the
Knights 10 fight on foot, The proxi-
nifty OF Crecy may well have o slim
ulating effect on the resisting power
Of the British during the present