Airpower in Relation to Invasion

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 65, 20 March 1944, Page 5

Airpower in Relation to Invasion

Received Sunday, 7.15 p.m. NEW YORK, March IS. The Cassino bombing has focussed attention on two problems currently receiving very serious consideration in military circles in Washington and London, says the New York Times’ Washington correspondent. The first problem is, how effectively can airpower clear a beachhead for invasion? The second is, have we enough trained and tested combat infantry to match the Germans in sucti a test of strength? Obviously both problems have a most important bearing on the grand assault on Europe. After the massive bombing of Cassino our attackers found the Germans still holding out. Did this mean airpower cannot completely annihilate entrenched infantry? There is reason to believe the Germans quickly brought up reservos to Cassino. It is obvious that, given sufficient strength, airpower could clear and extend a beachhead for amphibious troops while bombers prevented the enemy from bringing up reinforcements, otherwise the enemy might easily outnumber our fir,it attack waves. Undoubtedly sheer infantry strength is going to be a serious problem.