AIM OF LIGHTNING CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 5

AIM OF LIGHTNING CAMPAIGN

Likely Plan In France AVOIDING BATTLES OF ATTRITION (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received Jufie 28, 8.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 27. “On the basis of the latest military Information from the battlefront, it is possible to state authoritatively that the Allied strategy in the invasion of Europe will follow a pattern of sharp, overwhelming blows, avoiding as far as possible any slow and costly stalemates involving Jiuge forces in battles of attrition,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” "The Allied strategists, aiming at the speediest and most economic knock-out, are determined to employ the principle of a genuine lightning war, combined with overwhelming force. “It is pointed out that the landings in Normandy were a perfect example of this strategy. We landed quickly, with the element of surprise, and in sufficient force to achieve our objectives. “Our losses in France have been considerable so far, but a good deal less than the high command provided for. One of America’s ‘secret weapons,’ both in Italy and France, has been an extraordinarily effective system of replacing battle casualties and battle-worn troops every 24 hours, thus pitting constantly fresh and efficient full-strength divisions against the Germans, who have no such reserves in France. “This constant pressure is reported to be demoralizing the Germans, who have been further dismayed by the knowlege that green American troops are actually outfighting the veteran Nazis.” “The capture of Cherbourg _ represents a very great Allied strategic triumph, and probably means the beginning of the end for the Germans,” says the “New York Times” London correspondent, Hanson Baldwin. “It seems to mean that unless the Germans have secret weapons of undreamed of potentialities they have lost their last chance for victory or even averting defeat. “The enemy has not thrown in. the sponge, os is not likely to do so so soon. Nevertheless, June 27 must go down as a red-letter day, because the fall of Cherbourg means the bankruptcy of German strategy. Our foothold in France is now absolutely secure, and regardless of possible enemy counter-atacks the Germans can no longer hope to throw us into the sea.”