Detroit evening times., 1945-04-03
BEHIND
News
By Paul
MaIIon


early part of May should do for
the Germans.
When Gen. Eisenhower said
the Nazi armies had been
whipped, he did not mean ex-
terminated. Two days after his
statement. they were still put
ting up a blockade of successful
resistance in three sectors, par
ticularly, including even in the
old Remagen- -hridgehead- area
Their army as whole was
hopelessly whipped. but mill
tary judges here who have not
been wrong often in this war
considered it four or five weeks
away, from unit destruction.
Eisenhower also said he ex-
pected the enemy finally TO
retreat 10 a line covering
the northern sea and land
boundaries of Germany with a
front running down TO an east
west line on a parallel Of Han
over. or retreat into the
southeastern mountain strong
holds. This would cover Bremen.
Hanover. Emden and many
German cities, even IL not
Berlin.
RUT the Germans since have
~ concentrated the bulk OF
their remaining force north Of
the Ruhr River. We got across
easily there, but both the
British and our Ninth armies
ran into trouble. and the going
was slow for several days.
In view of this heaviest con-
centration on the northern ex-
tremity, it appeared the Ger
man generals were heading
back toward the northern al
tentative. The line in the south
was thinly held and when our
armored columns had cut
through and easily flanked the
German divisions there and in
front OF Harum and Hanover.
making their west bank posi-
tions untenabie. Eisenhower
was able to make his statement.
But the thinness of the line
plus the grand scale demolition
of the Nazi railroad system and
the heavy Russian drive upon
Vienna made it unlikely that
many Nazis except those on the
Italian front will be found in
the mountains in the end. al
though that is the locale most
widely heralded for the last
stand.
TT WAS apparent also that un-
4 less a miracle could repair
the railroads and furnish troops
from nowhere Tor the Russian
'front.' they could only make
the fighting bitter in spots.
The Russian drive toward
Vienna was in good force and
promises success from the out
set. They have policy Of not
announcing their drives until
after they have been assured OF
success.
A northern attack was put
under way several days ago, but
its size was not known at this
writing. What was needed. OF
course, was large scale Rus
sian push into Germany. par
ticularly in the Berlin sector.
1t might prove dangerous both
to our expectations and the
Russians il this drive fell short
OF sufficient power.
COMMON speculation now ac-
~ cepts the theory that the
island-seiZing we are dong
around Japan means an early
full scale offensive upon the
Tokyo homeland rather than
upon the China coast. But 1t is
known the Army Air Force con-
siders it entirely feasible for us
TO seize and maintain air and
sea bases on the China coast
without a full scale invasion OF
China.
The next blow therefore pos
Sbly may be toward establish
ment of these bases. All we
need for that is Sea-and-land
air power, and a portion of the
feet plus relatively small land
ing force units.
Invasion Of Japan would he
major all-out operation. Any
news of China landings might
we'll he Scrutlnized with this
reservation IN mind.
The cleanup in the Philippines
is now nearly complete and
MacArthur's troops soon may
be available for further action.
if large number are not AL
ready. We have seized Ia Phil
ippines islands. Jap resistance
continues on only three-Cebu.
Panay and Luzon (three differ