"SLOBODNA DALMACIJA" COMMENT PIECE: SERBS LOSE CORPS, CROATS GAIN BRIGADES

BRIGADES ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - Today's SLOBODNA DALMACIJA carries a geostrategic commentary on the Western Slavonia action, written by Mario Galic. "The military-police operation in Western Slavonia was completed after thirty hours of fighting.(...) The Serbian 18th corps was scattered after suffering huge losses. Not only has the Croatian army achieved complete control over the Novska-Nova Gradiska section of the highway, the action has changed the balance of power on other Croatian fronts. The Croatian army no longer has to cover a frontline stretching from Jasenovac to Pakrac to Stara Gradiska - now they only have to control the area between Jasenovac and Stara Gradiska, on the left bank of the Sava. To cover this area they need three time less forces. Thus, the rest of the manpower formerly deployed in the area will be available as reinforcements on other fronts, particularly in eastern Slavonia which is a tough nut because it is bordering on Serbia. Thus, after only thirty hours of fighting, Croatia has gained several brigades and the Serb paramilitary forces lost a whole corps. There is no need to elaborate how this will affect the morale of both sides (...)," the comment piece says, in part. (hina) mm as 041531 MET may 95