Detroit evening times., 1945-01-20
BEHIND
The News
BY Paul
MalIon

Roosevelt highllghted his
annual message with the news
that we have a new superior
tank.
That is true, but he did not
go into the important aspect of
how many we have in action, If
any.
For. truth is. the Germans
came slugging their way into
our lines through Belgium with
a better tank, at least bearing
heavier guns and containing
more armor, as we'll as more
rocket planes, in which their
production gave them an edge.
The efficacy of their tank is
being subjected TO military ar
gument. One group contends
that its superior power sacrifices
maneuverability and ours were
swifter if more vulnerable. That
argument is likely 10 continue.
THERE is no argument about
Il the superiority of the rocket
plane of which we did not have
enough. Nor is there any answer
TO the plant Of some experts
that we were inferior atsthat
front at that time in quality OF
these. our best weapons.
Yet. of course, the final an
swer is we have been slowly
shrinking the salient, narrowing
the passages of escape from the
drive which shook and scared
the whole nation. much more
than il did authorities here. An
nounced casualties of 10000 for
us during our losing part of the
fighting, were less than half
what experts expected.
The positions we have now
are extensively powerful, but
there is wide room for doubt as
10 how far we can 60. The Ger
mans have used their reserves
rather fully, and there is, OF
course, hope that they can be
finally crushed, swiftly, but no
one l know in any position OF
authority. is counting on that.
They all seem 10 be relying
on the spring drive TO clean up
the front. 1t must be conceded
our offensive plans Of not also
our powerD were thrown COM
pletely off balance by the Nazi
drive.
TTIE Germans have retired
Il very skillfully, as is their
usual custom. They seem to be
better in retreat than in Of
fense. with the tricks they
picked up in Russia.
Yet whenever the weather
has been half decent for flying,
our planes have been able 10
take heavy tolls of men and
materials. The further extent
of this destruction depends on
weather.
Dark reports and rumors al
ways fly fast and far on reper-
cusSions provided by any set
back. There have not only been
reports of a few officers sent
home, and accounts of black
marketing by some other of our
military men treflecting a
somewhat demoraliZing condi-
tion, perhaps no greater than
here at home, but certainly less
TO be expected or countenanced
at the battleline), but also ru-
mors of dissatisfaction with
Gen. Eisenhower.
THE criticism of the general
Il so far aired. can be traced
mainly down to mlSinterpreta-
tion or overexpansion of Brit
ish situation, and indeed it
came through the British press.
The British wanted Marshal
Montgomery named as deputy
supreme commander for the
whole west European theater.
Their people in authority offered
no complaint regarding Eisen-
hover or his tactics, or men,
toned none.
As a matter of fact. they
seem TO think him a good gen.
eral. but they wanted the pres
tige which would come by up
ping their man. This at least is
the understanding of senator
who looked into the facts.
THE American Army was
Il definitely opposed. Mont
gomery is a good general, but
opinionated, and some people of
exceptional candor, have called
him conceited. Our people
thought at any rate he would
provide some internal clash.
And after all, the ration of
troops in that theater is about
73 per cent American, p per
cent British and 5 per cent
Canadian. The operations are
therefore three-fourths Ameri-
can.
That source Of criticism
therefore, has been stopped. and
if there is any change in the
status of Eisenhower. il will
have TO be initiated by Mr..
Roosevelt. These developments,
however, may have served to
delay the get-together Of
,Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill.
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