Editorial: Fluid front
With Cherbourg available for the pouring in of heavy reinforcements and supplies, perhaps direct from the United States instead of by way of England, it will soon be evident whether the Germans will be able to reduce the Allied attack to static warfare.
So far, the fighting in Normandy has been half static and half fluid. The British and Canadians advanced inland to Caen and either stopped because of stubborn Nazi resistance or did so designedly to provide a firm anchor for the American right wing driving on Cherbourg. Whatever the true situation, it has been rather static warfare on the Allied left wing and in the center.
Now the Allied position is about to be consolidated and a broad front established. Undoubtedly the Allies will try to drive in some direction – toward Paris or to the west to take the port of Brest. Then if the Germans can bring in enough strategic reserves to stop the advance, static warfare may ensue.
No military observer believes it will be possible for the Germans to do that. They hesitate to bring all their reserves into the Normandy bridgehead, fearing the Allies will open another bridgehead elsewhere. And by all accounts the quality of the German reserves is not good
Chances are the Allied drive will continue when Eisenhower is convinced all is ready. It will be launched behind thousands of tanks and planes, creating a fluid front with the Germans doing the retreating and taking most of the punishment.