Melting Beachhead

The Germans in Yugoslavia seemed to be rapidly closing the dangerous Dalmatian gap in the wall of Axis Europe. Credit for this achievement went to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, whose command in northern Italy was recently extended to include Yugoslavia.

The problem given Rommel was tough and thankless, but just the thing for a former genius trying a comeback. The Partisans under Tito (Josip Broz) then held much of the country in patches of varying strength. They occupied Split (Spalato), the most important Dalmatian port, and many of the islands off the Adriatic coast from Fiume to Dubrovnik (Ragusa). The Germans were on the defensive everywhere, attacked from all sides.

The Partisans were no furtive guerrillas. The disintegration of Italy's 30-odd divisions in Yugoslavia had given them arms, allowed them to consolidate, occupy strong positions. The country had changed overnight from a rebellious occupied region to a vigorous enemy nation which would have to be occupied over again. Eleven German divisions were sent to do the job.

Worst problem for the Germans was Partisan control of much of the Dalmatian coast, which offered a ready-made beachhead to Allied forces in Italy. Best break for the Germans was the persistent fighting between the Partisans of Tito and the Chetniks of General Mihailovich.

Last week the Partisans were cleared from Split. The Germans occupied several islands off the coast, including one named Krk. A force of Partisans was penned on the narrow Peljesac Peninsula southeast of Split, where they begged for Allied naval rescue. Six German motorized columns were cutting six fast swathes along the Dalmatian coast.

The Dalmatian beachhead was melting away.

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