Detroit evening times., 1945-04-19

is only two or three hundred
yards wide.
THIS.was a reverse for our
- army, and the first that il
had encountered in its rapid
progress since the Rhine. But
it cannot properly be called
"Dunkirk."
The Ninth Army did not lose
its momentum. 1t effected an
other crossing farther up the
river at Barby and promptly
brought Magdeburg under at
tack from heavy artillery.
Nevertheless, the repulse was
the local defeat of single ele-
ment, such as generally occur in
all hard-fought battles and cam
paigns.
However, the combat is likely
to leave a distinct impression
upon the memories of our fight
ing men. As a matter OF fact,
because Of its character and
military history. Magdeburg is
worth remembering.
The Elbe is the most i'm
portant river OF central Ger
many. 1t is not a broad river.
like the Rhine or the Vistula.
but il has a very long course.
II rises in Bohemia and
breaks through the mountain
barrier that encircles Bohemia
on the north. in a gorge that is
picturesque and beautiful.
To the German mind, gen.
orally unaccustomed TO noun
tain scenery, the defile is truly
striking. From southern Saxony
the Elbe pursues long course
across the flat plains OF Ger
many to the deep estuary of
Hamburg.
TTiE Elbe is the natural boun-
i Diary between the old Prus-
sian part of Germany and the
rather different states that lie
TO the westward.
Magdeburg lies in a central
position and is the most i'm
portant outpost and covering
fortification for the defense OF
Berlin.
1t has played this military
role for centuries. The city has
always been fortress of first
rank"
Magdeburg lies on the west
bank of the Elbe. but one of its
four or five important suburbs
is on the east bank.
Long before the present war.
each one of these Notifications
had its own glacis and redoubts,
while the entire area was en-
braced in a circle of enveloping
Notifications.
The Elbe divides. briefly, at
Magdeburg into two streams.
the Alte Elbe on the east and
the Strom Elbe on the west.
The island thus formed also
possesses a strong fortress or
citadel.
THE commercial traffic that
L moves up and down the
Elbe by boats and barges has.
for centuries. given Magdeburg
commercial as well as mill
tary Importance.
The city was a great trading
center even in the middle ages.
1t was a member of the Han
seattle League, enjoyed autonomy
and independence and produced
at least one famous code of
medieval law.
Needless TO say. Magdeburg
has been bitterly ( oug h I for
many times, and as resolutely
defended many times.
When, in 1906, Napoleon de-
stroyed the Prussian armies. by
his famous victories at Jena and
Auerstadt, his pursuit was re-
lentless and was carried clear
to the Baltic Sea and to the
banks of the Oder.
The Prussian fortified cities
fell. Berlin. Lubeck and Stetin.
Magdeburg was the last to
capitulate. 1t finally surren-
dered. after all the rest of Prus-
sia had fallen. to the corps of
the Grand Army, commanded by
Marshal Ney.
IN THE present war the
L notable development of Of
fensive weapons. mobile heavy
guns, air bombing. the ruptur-
ing force of tanks, have short
ened the periods of resistance of
fortified places under siege.
Our Ninth Army may destroy
Magdeburg in the space of a
few days. On the other hand,
the city may hold out and be
by-passed, while our r m G S
press on to Berlin,
But whether the period of as
sault be brief or prolonged,
Magdeburg will be taken. and
when our American soldiers
gain il. they will have captured
one of the most famous military
strong points of Europe.