Evening star., 1943-09-15
Lesson of SuIerno

Lesson OF S0lernO
Despite the confused reports from
the battle front, it is clear that Cen
eral Clark's Fifth Army Is fighting
for it's life along the crescent-shaped
beaches OF the Gulf OF Salerno. The
Germans report that from 5000 to
10000 Americans have been killed
and an equal number taken prisoner.
This probably is an exaggeration,
but there can be no doubt that the
American and British soldiers under
General Clark's command have run
into some of the hardest fighting of
the war.
Although something of a gamble,
the initial landing at Salerno was
successful. But the Fifth Army has
not been able to deepen it's bridge
head sufficiently to take the beaches
out of the range of German artillery
in the rugged hills back OF the
coast, and this exposes supply and
reinforcement operations to devas-
tating fire from the German 88-mm.
guns. If enemy reports can be cred
tied, the Americans, after the initial
landing, attacked German positions
on the heights of Eboli. There fol-
lowed two days of desperate fighting,
as result of which, according to
the Germans, the Americans were
badly cut up and driven back to
their landing places. If this is true
1t may mean that the Germans not
only have the beaches within range
OF their artillery, but can also sweep
them with the fire of small arms.
Thus, while our own communiques
have not shed much light on the
situation at Salerno, 1t seems evident
that the position of the Fifth Army
is dangerous, II not critical. This
does not necessarily mean that the
beachhead is lost. The latest Allied
statement says that our losses have
been Offset by the taking Of new
positions. Furthermore, we should
remember that American troops went
through critical days at Kasserine
Pass and again on Sicily, when the
Germans almost drove them into the
sea after the initial landing But,
at the same time, there is no point
in attempting to gloss over the black
aspects Of the picture.
The Germans apparently have
been able to Offset our numerical su-
periority in the air because they have
landing fields closer to the scene of
action. Thus, while we may be able
to send more planes over the battle
area, they cannot stay there as long
as the German planes. 1t also ap-
pears that they have been able to
bring ground forces to the Salerno
area with unexpected speed. And it
may be that the battle will turn on
whether they can bring up additional
troops more quickly than General
Clark can be reinforced.
In any event, Salerno should teach
us at least two useful lessons. One
Is that landing operations from the
sea against competent and deter
mined defenders are both difficult
and hazardous. We may hope that
this will be taken to heart by those
Americans at home who have been
clamoring for more than a year for
an invasion of France across the
Channel, which would involve land
ing operations against the strongest
defenses in the world The other
lesson is that the Germans are ca
pable of prolonged and costly resist
ance, If they are disposed to fight to
the limit of their military power.
Americans who have been coasting a
bit in the belief that it is all over
but the shouting would do well to
take long look at Salerno and gov
ern themselves accordingly.