Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-08-18
BEHIND
The NEWS
By Paul
MalIon

France. but they are paying an
undeserved compliment TO three.
The biggest and best, II not
the only real enemy army on
the western front, is north oil
the Seine and Somme rivers
guarding the lowlands gateways
into Germany and determined TO
cling to the robot launching
platforms tupon which Hitler
has built a false and desperate
breath faith among his
people at home, causing them to
expect this wsnten destruction
will weaken the Allies will to
battle. whereas it only speeds
and strengthens usl.
AS FOR the other armies,
"A none actually deserves the
name. The Nazi Seventh Army
has been considerably used up
fighting it's way out OF the
Falaise entrapment. We may
never feel disappointed that we
did not completely crush ana
capture IT.
But the Germans have been
similarly trapped, possibly 10 or
II times in this war, as deeply
as at Falaise. Only once, at
Stalngrad. did they fail TO
escape with the bulk of their
forces from the vigllant ana
swift Russians.
They got considerable por.
lions of their forces out this
time, by bitterly holding their
strong center on the Caen front
so long. In three weeks there,
the British and Canadians were
not able TO advance more than
few miles. Our delay there gave
time to the Germans 10 prepare
in the rear against the brilliant
flank circuiting of our armored
divisions.
THE Nazis put the bulk OF
Il their remaining force be-
tween Falaise and Argentan, on
both sides of the mouth OF the
bag. We could not get enough
power far around TO Argentan
10 close il from the south, ana
the Nazi positions on the north
side of the bag were full battle
line defenses which could not be
penetrated readily.
The Germans slipped their
men out OF the bag at night,
moving them across fields, using
the roads for light vehicles,
leaving behind on the outer line
of the bag fairly strong rear
guard pockets with good artil-
lery centers, expecting these to
be gobbled up as our line was
able to advance.
IN THE southern side oil the
~ bag, there was not a strong
battle line the first three days,
but only a thin front presented
by our armored force. Thus the
Nazis escaped complete kill.
but their army was sc. weakened
its future fighting power is
questionable. CAS- matter OF
complete truth, this Nazi Sew
enth Army was technically two,
being made up of the major ele-
ments of the two armies)
Nothing like an army and not
much of a fighting force re-
mains in southwest France. The
grouping of few divisions there
has been drained for reinforce
ments the past 10 days.
The fourth and so-called
southern army, facing our new
invasion of the Riviera aimed up
the Rhone Valley tread again
the column published April l3,
which described as IAN ideal
plan" for grand invasions the
two routes we are pushing up
the Seine and the Rhone TO
Paris contains more than 8 TO
10 divisions scattered along the
river.
THE Germans have some
Il troops at Vichy. and others
in central France before Paris.
This distribution of their
forces does not suggest they in
tend TO retire 10 the Maginot
Line or the Seigfried, but rather
plan to hold the north bank OF
the Seine-Marne or Seine-Oise-
Aisne and perhaps later the
Somme-Oise-Aisne. their major
remaining army being within
those river lines.
The Maginot would not be OF
mitch use ia them as its rear is
presented 10 us, and the Seig-
fried is within Germany, too
close 10 home for them.
Excellent defensive positions
are available to the Nazls
throughout eastern France in
the hills and mountains. there
being only a few gateways into
Germany. the southern one
around Belfort near the Swiss
border. the Lorraine gate IN the
center and in the north the Ar
dcnne. through which the Ger
mans moved west TO conquer
France.
If THE NaZis run back 10
Il these hills and the defense
Of these gateways. they could
-eeHeeirabl@ Aeld-stEeRg posi-
tions with their weakened forces