Evening star., 1944-07-02
War Review
Nazi Morale Hurt BY
Allied Successes
By Ho,card p. Bailey

BY Hoicayd p. Bailey
Signs of weakening German mo-
rale and some evidences of panic
among the high command came
out of another week OF heavy fight
ing in Europe, but over in the Pa
cific change in Japanese strategy
arising out of necessity indicates
that the fight for Saipan may easily
become one Of the most important
campaigns of the war against the
little men.
On two fronts in Europe, the Rus
sian and the italian, the Nazis are
in full retreat bordering in some
places on rout with heavy loss of
men and equipment and with thou
sands surrendering. On the other
front. that in Normandy, the Nazis
are employing hastily summoned
reserves in what is considered a
most reckless manner, throwing
them in at weakening points upon
arrival without pausing for the
concentration of sufficient strength
to strike heavy blows. Some OBJ
servers see in this new defense a
desperation detrimental to sound
judgment and tactics.
Adding Importantly to the Nazis
problems is the organized campaign
ing of the French Forces of the In
terror several hundred thousand
strong operating under command of
Maj. Gen. Joseph Koenig, who is
directly responsible to Gen. Eisen-
hover. These French patriots, well
armed and well drilled, have
fought numerous pitched battles
with the Nazis besides carrying out
many acts of sabotage which hit
directly at the supply lines to the
rear of the German positions. The
sabotage is carefully organized and
planned and is of vastly more i'm
portance than the hit or miss ac-
tivities during the early days of in
ternal resistance.
Greatest Tank Battle.
American success in cutting OF
the Cherbourg Peninsula has paved
the way for the British drive in the
Caen area which has grown in vio-
lence until it is now considered the
greatest tank battle of all times
with every Nazi armored division in
Normandy involved and with the
Nazis tossing in veteran troops with
drawn from the Russian front as
fast as they reach the battle scene.
Yet despite all the Nazis have been
able to muster in the way of
strength, the British are pushing
relentlessly forward until now Caen
itself is nearly surrounded A bridge
head across the Odon River has
been established and expanded as
the British hit vigorously for a
break through which will permit
Allied forces to pour out onto the
plains of Normandy where Allied
mechanized strength will prove tell
ing in the drive for Paris. i
The American forces during the
week completed the capture of
Cherbourg and already Seabees are
at work restoring the port facilities
which had suffered considerably at
the hands of Nazi demolition
squads. 1t. Gen. Carl Wilhelm Won
Schlieben, Nazi commander at Cher
hourg surrendered and Rear Admiral
Hennecke also gave up on Tuesday
after which disintegration of the
defense was rapid. Now only one
small area near Cap de la Hague
on the tip of the peninsula remains
In Nazi hands. Some 10000 Nazis
there face death or surrender and
If the past few days are criterion,
there will be more surrendcrs than
deaths. Berlin states, however, there
are only 1000 troops involved.
Nazis Lose Six Divisions.
So far in the campaign since the
first beachheads were established,
the Nazis have lost the equivalent
of six or seven divisions. Definitely
identified as destroyed are the 352d, |
709th, 77th. 243d and 9lst divisions,
while the dead, injured and cap
tured aggregate enough 10 be the
equivalent of almost two more divi-
5ions. Against these losses. the AL |
lies report casualties of 40,549 of
whom 24,162 were American killed, |
wounded, missing or prisoners.
The heaviest American losses were
met when the 1st and 29th Divisions
had the misfortune at the moment
of landing to run into German divi-
sions engaged in maneuvers intended
to prevent Allied landings. Like the
Inflated raid on Dieppe when the
element of surprise was eliminated
by a bit of bad luck, the landing was
costly but in contrast to Dieppe, this
landing was for keeps and there was
sufficient power behind the initial
landings to make the invasion good.
AS the week ended in Normandy,
Berlin reported that new large
scale offensive by the American
forces is in the making and that
already dents In the German line
near st. 10 had occurred. The Brit
ish are reported making new and
heavy concentrations of men and
equipment including an American
mechanized division near Caen and
vitality important developments are
impending.
Oil Refineries Hit.
All week long, the airforce kept
up its campaign against German
transportation and against import |
ant centers of production. Especial
ly the area from which the rocket
bombs are launched against South
ern England was pounded though |
the terror weapon still is taking it's
toll among the civilians in the tar
get area. New techniques in defense
are limiting the effect of the bombs
and the air force is shooting down
many before they can reach land
However, every plane occupied in
defense against the rocket bombs is
a plane which can not be used
against the enemy and therefore the
effect of the bombs is felt to some
extent
United States heavy bombers ope-
rating from Italy Monday struck
sharply at six oil refineries. an air.
craft factory and railyard in the
Vienna area. Between 500 and $50
planes were in the raid. Following
up raids Sunday by $500 Allied
bombers from England against the
Pas-de-Calais section, osquito
l,