The Wilmington morning star., 1945-03-19
Weak Ciirder
Held Cause:
Probe Starts
German Explosive Charge
Held Real Reason For
Spans Failure
CBy HOWARD COWAN and
DON WHITEHEAD

WITH AMERICANS ACROSS
THE RHINE, March 18.-tR-The
l2OO-foot Ludendorff bridge at
Remagen, weakened by a German
demolition charge that severed a
main supporting girder, collapsed
with a rumble and shudder Satur-
day, carrying many Army Engi-
neers to death and injury in the
swift waters of the Rhine 70 feet
below
was announced that the bridge
can be repaired and returned to
use soon.
The German explosives dam
aged lower arch girder 10 days
ago wnen the span was seized,
and failure to repair or replace it
proved to be the real reason for
loss Of the bridge. Stresses and
strains on remaining girders be-
came too much.
But the first task was to build
up the bridgehead and throw over
experimenting pontoon spans.
Engineers were rking to
strengthen the girder when the
bridge gave way.
An investigation was under way
tonight, and until full report is
made there is some reluctance to
place any responsibility. Unof-
fetal reasons for the fall are that
it gave way as the result of ma
ural causes through enemy ac-
ton. ="
Two engineering units were
working on the bridge at the time
one group had the job of keep
ing the superficial structure re-
paired so traffic could cross, while
unit of specialists had been CIV
en- S-e task of repairing the basic
structure. Both units were at work
when the Orders snapped.
Ironically, the great span which
gave Americans a solid bridge
head across the Rhine collapsed
few hours before a German High
Command announcement that four
officers had been executed for
coTardice and negligence in per-
hitting seizure of the bridge in
tact March 7.
There was no explosion OR shell
burst when the bridge tumbled
down at $40 p. M, nd enemy
action was not directly responsible.
L. Gen. Omar N. Bradley's head
quarters said the main central
span, 5l2 feet long, toppled into
the water as a result of cumula-
tive strains and stresses which
American Army Engineers had
been trying to offset with repairs.
Inc span had been closed for
repairs except for brief intervals,
and no traffic was passing over
at the time of its collapse.
About 200 engineers were work
ing On the structure, frequently
managed by blast and shellfire,
"Aen It gave way without warn
ing. Some were killed, others
drowned and many were injured.
heroic work by soldiers saved
me lives of dozens of engineers
VINO. after days of toll in a hail of
Snellflre, had the historic road and
railway span ready for traffic.
Loss Of the bridge did not i'm
hedlately imperil the Americans
N:eadlly-expanding br i d 6 ehead,
@nce pontoon bridges are in op-
grafton. But the supply of rein
iOIcementS and tanks now is limit
~ 10 spans which are easy prey
wi hoods, and the Rhine frequent
surges out of it's banks with
Spth9 rams. The terrain already
se-zed east of the Rhine is rugged,
0na III suited for landing fields.
me whole steel framework OF
ae bridge collapsed, leaving three
w.. piers and the approaches IN
o .avI' A section leading from the
s se",er 10 the east bank went I'm
ser water, and the section leading
S ~ Ee west side fell partly on the
'a ak and IN shallow water.
p 'S' George L. Wolsey, Highland
s;J J.A' Mich, was working on one
, 1-oe OF the bridge, and looked east
"n ,aI 1t started to sway.
one started to give it this" he
ia. .a,o' waving his hand slowly from
+ saoe to side. Then it fell over to
n we south. There wasn't a lot OF
muse; Just a deep rumble or like
9oomeoody saving wood. Men fell
T' s INTO the water like dominoes.
a1a .oh 10 the west side and barely
'ieafed 10 the pier"
''P'ehts later downstream doz.
'ucd on Page Three; Col. II