The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-06-09
Avoid Optimism

It is within the realm of possibility that the
power of the Allied invasion of Europe from
the west will prove so great that the Germans
will ask for peace terms within a matter Of
weeks, particularly if the Russians resume
their drive from the east with the crushing
might they employed in the counter offensive
which carried them from Stahngrad across the
Polish and the Romanian frontiers.
We repeat. It is possible. But there is
nothing in the record of past campaigns that
suggest it is probable It is more likely that
the present drive will be fierce and stubbornly
contested, with the approach toward the Ger
man frontier slow and costly.
This is not said to discourage faith in the
success OF our arms. That is inevitable. But
there is nothing in the present situation or
the past performance of Hitler's armed forces
to justify belief in their swift collapse except,
perhaps, greater willingness of the German
high command to surrender to the Americans
and British than to the Russians who have a
terrible score to settle with the Nazis.
1t must be remembered that while the Allies
chased. Rommel out of Egypt and destroyed
his forces in Tunisia, he fought like wildcat
every foot of the way and delayed the sur
render until the Africa corps was overwheln-
ed.
The Germans have genius for delay.
Nearly a year passed between the Allied
landing in Sicily and the all of Rome.
Throughout this period of time or at least
until the final drive on the Eternal City was
launched, progress was slow and for months
at stalemate. Note the record:
The Allies landed at Pachino, Sicily on
July 9, 1913. Messina was not taken until
August 5. General Montgomery took the first
contingents of his Eighth Army across the
Messina strait and landed on Italy's mainland
on September 3. Salerno fell on September 8,
Foggia on September 81 and Naples on Octo-
Der 1. The Eighth Army advance on the
eastern end of the Italian battle line started
on the latter day, with Termoi taken on Oc-
tober II, but not until December % was this
great army that Montgomery had created able
to take Ortana.
A11SII tllS SLd1clIldtS started. Inc Germans
had withdrawn trained divisions from Russia.
They had instructions to hold Italy at any
cost. General Clark got his Fifth Army under
way out of Naples on May II, 1914 after es-
tablishing the beachhead at Anzio and Net
tuna on January %. 1t was on March IS that
the record air assault on Casino was launched
with the purpose of destroying the city, which
was done, and driving the Germans out, which
was not done until May 49,
By this time the Allied forces had increased
their fire power to such an extent that the
Germans could no longer hold their lines. The
Gustav line was taken. the Adolf Hitler line
crumbled, the last defenses of Rome cracked
and Clark's men drove the enemy from the
city on June 4.
It required eleven months of bitter fighting
to carry the battle Malt way up the Italian
boot to Rome and, with all the advantages of
superior forces and equipment, the Allies are
moving northward above Rome none too swift
ly.
German stubbornness in retreat and defeat,
as illustrated in Italy, must be borne in mind
in specializing on the probable time it will
take to defeat Hitler's forces in Fortress Eu-
rope. There is no justification for over-opti-
mism. Well win, but not in a waIk-over.