Detroit evening times., 1945-03-27

AT this point he is at the con-
fluence OF the Rhine with its
greatest tributary, which is
the River Main. n.-----..-------------
The beautiful valley OF the
Main is an open passageway
across Germany from the Rhine
10 the hills and forests OF Bo-
hernia.
The conqueror Of this valley
cuts the German Reich in two.
To the north lies the great
area of Prussia. two-thirds OF
Germany, with the smaller ter
ritories Of Westphalia, Hanover.
Hesse, Thuringia and Saxony.
To the south OF Baden, Wurt-
temberg and the former king
dom of Bavaria, next to Prussia
the largest state of Germany.
The Line of the Main" was
a recognized boundary between
northern and southern Ger
many.
Frequently these two sections
were hostile TO one another.
Napoleon organized the south
ern states into the "Confedera-
tion of the Rhine" 10 oppose the
power of Prussia.
The Main Line represents all
that may be said about funda-
mental differences in character
between PruSsians and South
Germans.
The southern dislike for Prus-
sia was the most serious
obstacle TO the unification Of
Germany
BISMARCK overcsme this OBJ
- stacle by the war with
France in 1870. and the Ger
man Empire OF 1871 was born.
But certain differences be-
tween north and south Germany
have persisted.
Socially, they are the differ
ences between the city Of
Munich and the city OF Berlin.
But the line of the Main has
more than political significance.
Strategically il is by far the
greatest weakness in Germany's
defense. because il is a great
valley. open TO invading armies,
between the hilly area of the
Black Forest and the Thuringen-
wald and il dominates the valley
Of the Danube.
1t was up the Necker valley
that John Churchill. Duke of
Marlborough, the ancestor OF
Prime NJ mister Winston
Churchill, swept from the Rhine
valley 10 the Danube and won
his famous victories of Donau-
worth and Blenheim in 1704.
1t was through this same
Main Valley pasSageway that
Napoleon, in 1905, executed his
greatest strategic operation,
and by surrounding the Aus
trian army Of General Mack OF
Ulm. forced its complete capitu-
lation.
II will be recalled that the
Treaty of Vervailles gave Allied
forces temporary Rhine occupa-
ton, with bridgeheads across
the river.
The Belgians occupied Dussel-
dorf, the British, Cologne, and
the Americans, Coblenz.
But the French, whose Solici-
tude was greatest and who had
most TO guard. chose Mainz be-
cause they knew that 10 hold
Mainz was the most powerful
threat TO Germany.
/ OUR Allied military comman-
" ders and staffs. now on the
Rhine, Of course. understand
most thoroughly the opportu-
nifty before them to gain the
Main Valley.
With complete confidence We
may leave 10 them the strategy
OF the conquest OF Germany.
But in that strategy it is not
too much TO anticipate that they
may launch Pattons Third
Army up the Valley OF the Main
into the heart Of Southern Ger
many.
Great cities lie in this path:
Frankfort -the-Main, Nurem-
berg, Munich and Vienna.
This may be the swiftest and
most decisive line OF attack. as
il is almost certainly the easiest.
There are other considera-
tions. II is widely surmised that
Hitler and the Nazi leaders plan
10 make their final stand in
south Germany, with its Alpine
ranges TO the south
Included in this area OF pos
Sible last defense some believe
Will be also northern Italy,
Austria. western Hungary, and
Bohemia.
The successful invasion OF
Bavaria would defeat such
plan. Here. rather than in
north Germany, the Allied
troops might effect their juno
tion with the armies in Italy
and the Red armies in Hungary
and Slovakia.
( THERE is another reason for
Il American interest.
This southern Germany Is the
area designated for military
occupation by American armies.
The population is more likely
10 accept our military govern
ment, and trust our fairness,
than Is the northern population
OF Prussia and Of Saxony.
Finally II looks nractical The