Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-03
BEHIND
The News
MaIIon

Rome has been advertised as the
greatest thing yet in steel and
concrete.
The truth is it was only at a
couple of strong points. one at
Valmontone astride the CAST
lima escape road to Rome. and
the other at Villertri on the
Appian Way. These two points
the Germans fortified with
hasty works and held obsti-
nately as usual, but we went
plunging straight through the
Alban Hills directly to Rome,
swinging on the outer pickets
of the gate hinged on Valmon-
tone.
AS a matter Of fact, none of
these Wanted Nazi lines in
Italy were much more than
good hill positions with a few
unthoroughly prepared fortifi-
cations. The Germans relied
far more on land mines and
barbed wire than on steel and
concrete.
THE best thing they had In
l. the Gustav and Hitler
lines were the Notifications in
the Liri valley upon which they
had spent two months of effort.
When the French swung around
IN the mountains behind those
Notifications and caused them
10 be b n lon d without
much fighting, German morale
shrank.
Weak German manpower-
the factor that finally brings
the end to the defeated in all
wars-likewise is the answer to
what has been happening on the
Russian front. There, they have
also been putting up scattered
strong-point rather than Zine"
defense with a deficiency of
manpoWer. which would have
caused a foe with more respect
for life to collapse long ago.
THEY have saved themselves
Il only by cooperation of the
Hungarian and Romanian ar
mics, and the use of Polish,
Estonian and Latvian divisions
TO plug the gaps estimates of
this help running as high as ID
divisions). With the exception
of the latest Nazi counter
attack. they have not had
enough men really TO fight the
Russians openly on any front.
Their tactics have been re-
Stricted to Observation-Disclosures
operations to cause Russian
losses with the least sacrifice
to themselves. To cover their
lack OF manpower, they also
have used artillery and tanks
with which they seem to be
more than fully suppliedD to an
unprecedented extent.
The detailed accounts of these
operations forecast the near
ness of the end. Yet the Nazis
contrlve amazing. unheard of
tactics TO Stave off the inevi-
table. There is, for instance.
the untold story of Gen. Hans
1ube (from Sicily who moved
10 motorized or armored divi-
sions around in the center of
overwhelming superior Russian
forces from March 10 to April 8.
He hid this large force in
valleys 10 cover himself from
air observations. changed posi-
tons by night. was supplied in
part by air. but lived considera-
bly, off the country.
He fought numerous battles.
but changed positions so fast.
the Russians could never get
heavier armor than his against
him, and he escaped with % di-
visions, seven more than he had
at the start, by picking up re-
lief garrisons as he went along.
TiE average German division
l. now has been cut to about
10000 men (two-thirds normal
fighting strength. Even this
figure probably cannot apply to
Hube's forces, which were
manned here and there. Russia
claimed $4,000 killed. $4,000
prisoners, 10000 escaped. thus
accounting for only $4,000 of his
possible force of 100000.
But sickness in last ditch
fighting and orders to hold at
any cost cannot long continue
10 cover the Nazi now critical
loss in manpower. nor can it
he met by the terrific Hitler
communicating of every avail
able troop in Europe.
The return of Ambassador
Wlnant with what is reported
10 be the armistice terms, there
fore, may have had its signifi-
canoe, and at least does not
seem premature.
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