Detroit evening times., 1945-02-15

IN REVIEW
Maj. Gen.
D. P. Barrows

renewing their powerful of1en-
sive against the Rhineland.
To utterly crush the power OF
the German wehrmacht, a SIM
ultaneous assault must be
launched by the Red armies
across the Oder River that will
carry them 10 Berlin.
The possibility Of the Russians
doing so much as this is of great
immediate Importance.
The rapid sweep Of the Rus
slams from the Vistula River
across western Poland, and their
powerful thrustS into East
Prussia and Upper Silesia, have
now been slowed by German re-
sistance, not previously encoun-
tered.
The rapid forward movement
from the ViStula 10 the Oder
was remarkable for its speed,
and il covered a distance of
dDOul @CO illll'Ns
II may he compared with the
swift movement of the Allied
armies in France. after the
break-through in Normandy at
Saint Lo, which liberated nearly
the whole of France, and was
co-ordinated with the progress
of Gen. Patch's Mediterranean
army from the Riviera to>the
region OF Belfort.
The distance covered by these
rapid movements in France
were more than 100 miles longer
than the Russian advance from
the ViStula 10 the Oder.
It is about $50 miles from
Cherbourg 10 Brussels and Ant
werp or to Verdun and Nancy.
4 T TIE end of the Allied
n sweep across France the
problem Of supply imposed a
halt on the armies Of Gen.
Eisenhower. The problem was
exceptionally difficult for every
thing had 10 come from over the
seas. and until Havre and Ant
werp could be opened there was
only the single port of Cher
bourg
Similarly, the rapid advance
OF the Red armies across Poland
may necesSitate reorganizing
their lines Of supply. although.
in this respect, they have the
advantage of the open, frozen
plains for the use of the enor-
nous number OF trucks and
motor vehicles, supplied 10 Rus
sla by this country, and their
zone Of the interior is right be-
hind them.
The Russian supply problem
cannot compare In lis difficulty
with that of the Allied armies
on the German border after
their SUCCESS in France butt
may need time
If WE look al the military
L situation on the Eastern Front
il appears That the position OF
the Russian armies NAV have 10
be improved before they can
cross the Oder and thrust for
wardto Berlin
The furtheSt point OF advance
of the Russians Is 10 the sector
on the. east bank Of the Oder
facing the fortified cities of
Frankfort and KuSTin.
These two important for
trcSSeS. the Germans viii fight 10
hold as long as they can.
The Russian position i a
great wedge with its blunt point
close To the Oder. the Germans
still holding on 10 their territory
on both Russian flankS. on the
south, lower SlleSia; on the
north. the Province OF Pome-
rania reaching east OF the city
of DanzIg
Pomerania is divided in a GER
tain sense by a long chain of
lakes stretching from north
east 10 southwest.
South of these lakes is the
marShy valley of the Warthe-
netze River. which joins the
Oder at kuStrln.
The Russians have crossed
the Warthe. though apparently
not IN great strength, and have
thrust tank columns northward
to Soldin and ArnSwalde but
they have not yet gained much
of Pomeranla.
1t may be the German plan is
10 hold tenaciouSly 10 the north
crn half Of this province, which
affords railway connection from
Stettin TO Danzlg.
This raises the quest o N
whether the Russian wedge,
even though kustrin and Frank
furt are taken. can be pushed
forward 10 Berlin, in the face OF
possible German -cnunteratlacl<S.
against both fianks.
a Russian penetration TO Ber-
lin viii be long and very mar
row until il can be broadly
widened by the occupation OF
Pomerania and Lower SlleSia.
HIIS situation makes II seem
Il probable there must he
certain lapse of time. and fur
thcr Russian successes 10 the
north and 10 the south, before
they can open a great assault
on Berlin.
II such a delay becomes too