The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-03-25
American Troops Believe That Last Great
Rattle That Will End The War Has Begun
nv YVES GALLAGHER

ON THE RHINE, March w
ror the first time the always-pes-
sinistic American foot soldier feels
tonight that this is the beginning
IT the last great battle which Will
bring the war to quick eno'
Every thing the Allies have, IN
Guiding some weapons still on the
secret list, has been thrown mo
This battle to crush the most power
f1l German fighting force left IN
the west, and amazing progress IS
being made by a combination OF
british and American skill and
CUTS. =. +ha
Despite the enormity OF tne
stake. German resistance at nrst
was spotty and prisoners were Ia
ken in abnormal numbers IN the
opening hours of the attack.
followed the Doughboys ana
Tommies from their secret assem-
blv areas to the Rhine over moon
1it roads and watched the attack
develop from front line regimen.
tai command post. Then | crossed
the Rhine, and finally flew In a
cub spotter plane to watch thou
sands of parachutists and glldef
troops drop into Germany
The most impressive sight OF all:
as always, was that of long lines OF
silent infantry walking across the
fields and along the roads. Inc
sight always brings tightness to
ones's throat.
Among the hundreds OF factors
contributing to the success OF the
vast, intricate attack was the ICY
courage of British commands VINO
Law within a mile of Vessel while
200 Raj Lancasters destroyed the
Town in IS minutes of night pre-
cision bombing, then rushed into
the flaming rubble and crushed the
garrison of tough German para
chute troopers.
Too, there was the bravery OF
American transport pilots who flew
their cumbersome ships with heavy
elders in tow through a wall OF
flax and dropped grim airborne
troops. Some returned in flames,
Some did not return.
Yesterday afternoon a curtain OF
smoke blanketed the entire Ruhr
and the Rhine from Dusseldorf to
Anthem, Most of it rose from the
flaming buildings of the Ruhr and
the impact of thousands OF Amer
lean and British bombs. The rest
came from chemicals set of to
screen allied troop dispositions.
Men and machines lay silent IN
til dusk. But with the darkness the
Allied front stirred to life.
In the forests there came rum
BILE of tanks and trucks, and on
forth loaded with every conceivable
piece of equimpent, including thou
sands of tons of bridging material
and huge landing craft on giant
trailers.
It seemed impossible that this
vast assortment could be untangled
and moved to the right place al
the right time. But most Of it got
there.
Near the river dixie a barrage
from mortars kicked up dust and
steel Whistled about the veteran
regimental command post in a ruin
ed house.
In the cellar the commanding
colonel-a short man with "a As
slung on his hip-was just getting
his communications in order. It all
had to be done by telephone for
this division had been moved to the
front secretly and could not use
the wireless for fear Of advertising
Its presence to the Germans.
The worst thing about this Pc
Rod" ne complained. lis that you
have to sit and wait. There is moth
ing you can do, just sit and wait.
You can't stop all this stuff from