AERIAL SIEGE OF GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 191, 11 May 1944, Page 5

AERIAL SIEGE OF GERMANS

Allied Programme RAILWAY BLITZ THE FIRST STAGE

LONDON, May 9.

“The Allies’ non-sto<p blitz on the railways of western Europe is only the first stage of. an unparalleled offensive,” states Colin Bednall, the “Daily Mail’s” aviation writer.

“This offensive,” lie says, “is designed to force a state of siege on Germany's army in the expected invasion battle areas.

“Aided by a large and efficient repair organization the enemy has up till now succeeded in getting at least one or two lilies running through the bombed railway junctions shortly after attack. In spite of the terrific battering of the marshalling yards at Paris, for example, the French capital is still fairly well served by main line railways, but the dislocation of the railway system is only the beginning of the paralysis. “The Allied air forces have yet to complete a long and systematic programme covering the enemy’s entire communications. By the time the programme is well under way the nights will be shortening to such an extent that the enemy’s chances of movement under cover of darkness will be small.

“Up till now there have been virtually no assaults on the road communications. These may come late on the list. “Another form of transport mot yet directly attacked is air transport. The Germans are expected to make skilful use of this mode of transport. “Yesterday’s reports of more successful Naval Air Arm surface attacks on coastal convoys show an intensification of the long campaign against this third important branch of enemy transport—sea haulage.”

UNKNOWN FACTORS Germans’ Uncertainty LONDON, May 9. “Germany i s undoubtedly now in a state of siege,” said the German High Command radio spokesman, LieutenantGeneral Dietmar. He added: “There is tension among Europe’s defenders, but no anxiety. Coming events will require greater forces ou both sides than have ever before been engaged in military operatious. “We are as much in the dark about what we must face as the enemy is about what he must face. It is certain that we face action without example in history, aud that the number of unknown factors is much larger than in any action yet undertaken.” Dietmar described the Allied non-stop bombing as pre-iuvasion softening, l adding that the Allies’ invasion plans had been completed. Constant vigilance was required. The date of the invasion was not known, but it was obvious that the Allies eould not hold up their operations too long because of the extreme tension within their own countries which the invasion prospects created. He admitted that many German dugouts and batteries had been under a hail of Allied heavy bombings, but claimed that the confidence of the German soldiers had risen as a result. He predicted that the Anglo-American and Russian onslaughts would be synchronized, but said that the Germans would face this “extreme contingency” with sang froid.