Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-08-13
Maxi Military
Decayine. Italy
DefenseIess
Northern Line al Mercy
Of Bremen Pass Supplies
BY PAUL MALL0N
WASHINGTON, Aug, 13-The
w German military situation

- -
Italy is defenseleSS, as we con-
troll the air and sea on both sides
Of The Boot Wherever the
Nazis elect to dig their defen-
Sive line in Italy, we can turn
their positions by landing in
their rear from the sea. Frontal
attacks are not necessary.
Swiss rumors have suggested
they are digging in on the Pc
River line, which would leave
all The Boot TO the Italians and
us. 1t is too far north 10 be
turned from the sea. A better
line runs across the top Of the
Apennine Mountains, north of
Florence, but it could be turned.
However, both positions can
be fed from Germany only
through The Bremen Pass
Cabout 200 yards wide). Our
bombers can close that pass
and cut off any Nali defense in
Italy as soon as they get into
Italian mainland airflelds.
THE only other possible Ger
man supply routes for de-
Tense on north Italian soil run
through Switzerland, and the
neutral Swiss have promised 10
blow up the tunnels al the first
move.
The Balkans, weakened by
Withdrawals of the Italian gar
riSons shortly will become sub
ieCt TO feasible dual invasion.
our troops can land in Albania
faced only by Italians. If such
an attack is accompanied by
simultaneous declaration Of
war by Turkey and an invasion
Of Salonika from the east. all
Greece can be cut from NaZi
communications without the
hazards OF A frontal assault
through Crete.
The German homeland itself
is becoming practically defense
less from the air. The futility
of her efforts was shown by the
British attacks Wednesday on
NurnberG and Mannheim.
For four or five days previ-
DUSTY, ottr atr-forreS had been
relatively quiet obviously cock
ing UP a heavy new attack We
generally lay off week be-
tween bombing campaigns }
During this inactivity we cir
Culated rumorS that Berlin was
about 10 be attacked, causing
the Germans TO call in their
planes and anti-aircraft for de-
Tense OF their capital.
To do this. they had 10 I'M
cover most OF the rest OF the
country. including Nurnberg
and Mannheim. They cannot
defend everything, therefore,
they cannot defend anything.
TIE Germans defense in Rus
Il STA is likewise weakening
Their communiques feebly claim
their current Withdrawals are
voluntary But they cannot con-
Ceal or deny that they fought
their best possible battle for the
defense of Orel. and upon losing
it, had 10 retire.
Al Belgorod, they put up less
Of a fight. But you may be sure
The Germans are not now yield
ing a foot of Russian territory
voluntarily Everything they
held was vital militarily.
For instance. the loss Of Orel
and Belgorod gave the Russians
lateral rail line behind the
front for the best possible move
ment of supplies.
Nazi loss Of Kharkov will
lengthen this road behind the
whole Russian front. Loss Of
Bryansk Will be equally diSaS-
trouS from Nazl military
standpoint, as II was q strongly
defended rail junction.
DUT the greatest German de-
- feat of this war has not
been adequately reported or
popularity understood. Hitler
apparently placed great hopes -
far more than we knew Al the
time-upon unrestricted subma-
rine warfare.
Like the kaiser. Hitler Siaked
All on stopping the flow Of our
munitions and men 10 the battle
fronts Of North Africa, Russia
and Britain
TuniSia. Sicily and Italy were
lost 10 him when he failed 10
sink our ships. Just as all
Europe now obviously has be-
come lost TO him by the failure
Of his complete Atlantic sub
marine campaign
Historians may yet record
that he lost the war by his
failure on this front, as was the
case in 1917.
From a military standpoint
his position thus already has
become practically defcnSelcSS
on all fronts-in the sea. land
and air.
You may be sure the NaziS
know this better than We do.
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