Stimson: Counterblow by Nazis near
Expects furious attacks to come ‘any moment; warns of optimism
Washington (UP) –
The full fury of German counterattacks in northern France can be expected to begin at any moment, Secretary of War Stimson said today.
He cautioned the public to guard against excessive optimism and to await disclosures of actual accomplishments which of necessity must be temporarily withheld from the enemy.
Stimson said:
The Germans are now gathering strength and moving in for their real counteractions.
He described Allied losses in the initial landings and in the air as unexpectedly light.
The first step in the operation to establish beachheads, has now been accomplished, he explained. The second step is to consolidate them and repel local counterattacks and then move forward.
The invasion began around 11:00 p.m. ET Monday night (5:00 a.m. Tuesday in Europe). Then the first paratroopers dropped in Normandy, followed by glider troops. Over 1,000 planes participated in the greatest airborne operations ever attempted, with losses only slightly over 2% from anti-aircraft fire.
During the first phases, German planes were comparatively few, supporting the inference that despite all public speculation, the invasion caught the Germans by surprise. However, inroads on the Luftwaffe by British and U.S. Air Forces during the past year – actually the commencement of the Invasion – played its part.
Turning to Italy, Stimson described the fall of Rome as a “happy augury,” the result of a well-conceived and executed flank movement against the enemy.