Evening star., 1945-01-08
By the Associated Pres.

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2lst ARMY GROUP HEAD
QUARTERS, Jan. 8.-The German
drive In Belgium has failed in Its
strategic purpose, largely because Of
American valor, and Allied armies,
ready for anything the enemy has
to Offer" now hold the initiative,
Field Marshal Sir Bernard l.. Mont
eomery declared last night.
The British commander, who took
over command of American and
British armies counterattacking the
Nazis on the north, said the battle
was not yet over, but added that he
didn't see how Marshal Karl Won
Runstedt had gained very much"
Zone must admit that he has
dealt a sharp blow and he has sent
us reeling back, but we recovered
and he has been unable to gain any
great advantage" Marshal Mont
gomery asserted in his first press
conference in months.
Grimly earnest, he punctuated an
hour-long interview with references
to American heroism at st. With,
Bastogne and south of Monschau.
He singled out two American ar
mored divisions, the I'd and 7th, and
two air-borne divisions, the 82d and
101st, as doing a great job.
what was Won Rundstedt trying
to achieve? I don't know" Marshal
Montgomery said. "The only guide
we have is his order of the day
which told his soldiers they must
60 all out on this last big effort.
"On the map you see his gains
That will not win the war. He is
slowly but surely to lose it all. He
must. have scraped together every
reserve he could lay his hands on.
Even as he spoke, the colorful
Briton saw his prediction bearing
fruit as the American I'd and Sd
Armored Divisions slashed the
German northern supply artery
from Vielsalm to Roche.
Marshal Montgomery, veteran
leader in the African campaign,
said the battle "is one of the most
interesting and tricky battles
have ever handled, with great is
sues at stake"
He said he formed an offensive
army corps-the 7th-under "the
very fine American Gen. Collins
(Maj. Gen. j. Lawton Collins of
Washington) which now is attack
ing" to wipe out the German bulge.
Marshal Montgomery said Allied
forces are now writing off" the
Germans and the Nazis have "suf-
fered heavily" but he added:
1T is very great mistake to
think 1t is over. The worst parts
are over, but great deal more
must be DONE"
Won RundStedt attacked on De-
cember 16," he said. He obtained a
tactical surprise. He drove a deep
wedge into the center of the 1st
Army and split American forces in
two. The situation loomed as if it
might become awkward. The Ger
mans had broken right through the
spot and were heading for the
Meuse.
"As Socn as saw what was hap
pening, I took certain steps myself
to insure that If the Germans got
to the Meuse they could certainly
not get over that river. And I car
ried out certain movements so as to
provide balanced dispositions to
meet the threatened danger"
Marshal Montgomery at the time
had command only of the British
I'd and Canadian lst Armies, and on
his own he shifted some troops
south to meet the threat.
Situation Deteriorated.
Then the situation began to de-
teriorate, but the whole Allied team
rallied to meet the danger. National
considerations were thrown over
board; Gen. Eisenhower placed me
in command of the whole northern
front.
Il employed the whole available
power of the British group of armies.
This power was brought into play
very gradually and in such way
that it would not interfere with
American lines of communications.
Finally it was put into battle with
a bang, and today British divisions
are fighting hard on the right flank
of the United States 1st Army.
This is a fine Allied picture"
Marshal Montgomery strode about
a small platform like a schoolmas-
ter, and explained his theory of
battle.
"The first thing you must do in
battle is to shape it to your de-
sire. You must have poise and bal
ance so that no matter what the
enemy does it will not push you off
balance.
you must look around for weak
spots and bring something up to
plug them, and then after you have
done that you can go ahead with
your own plans. This is the terrific
principle of battle. I learned it in
Africa.
Battle Area Was Untidy.
"TIhe battle area was untidy and
so it had to be tidied up and I bus
led myself with getting it tidy and
getting things in balance. It was
necessary to regroup the lst and 9th
American and British Armies.
II formed an offensive army corps
the 7th-under the very fine
American Gen. Collins and had to
decide where to put it. It turned out
that where put it was not a bad
place, although it was a large part
luck"
Although he had placed the 7th
Corps there for offensive purposes,
Marshal Montgomery continued, Won
Rundstedt tried a powerful left