OPENING THE VALVE ON A GASOLINE PIPELINE. The critical fuel situation of September, which had stalled the armored divisions at the West Wall, was materially improved by December. At that time three main pipelines were constructed or under construction: one for the northern armies, one for the central armies, and another for the southern armies.] [Illustration: FRANCE FIVE-GALLON CANS BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE at a distribution point. On 15 December 1944 the armies had from a five-to nine-day supply of gasoline on hand while the Ninth Air Force had over 600,000 gallons of aviation gasoline and oil stored in the Namur area.] [Illustration: BELGIUM ARMY SUPPLIES BEING UNLOADED at Antwerp. The greatest single factor in the improved supply situation was the port of Antwerp which became operational on 27 November. Despite heavy attacks from the German “V” weapons the port discharged cargo which was badly needed by the forces fighting along the German frontier. Utah and Omaha Beaches ceased operations in November and then only the larger port cities were used as supply ports of entry.] [Illustration: FRANCE AMPHIBIAN TRUCKS LOADING SUPPLIES into railroad cars after bringing them ashore from ships in the harbor of Le Havre (top). In addition to Antwerp, the major Allied ports were Le Havre, Ghent (opened in January 1945), Rouen, Cherbourg, and Marseille. An enlisted man reading a directive, signed by the theater commander, concerning the conservation of tires, an effort made to curtail the wasteful use of equipment and supplies (bottom). While in general the supply situation was much improved over that in September there were still critical shortages in a wide variety of items including antifreeze, tires, post exchange rations, miscellaneous signal equipment, and some winter clothing.] [Illustration] [Illustration: BELGIUM 2½-TON TRUCKS PICK UP RATIONS at a Belgian railhead (top). 10-ton semitrailers loaded with rations at Antwerp, ready to be hauled to the forward depots (bottom). The multiple-drive motor transport vehicles were continuously on the move and made possible the supplying of troops during the rapid advances.] [Illustration] ARDENNES-ALSACE CAMPAIGN SECTION V Ardennes-Alsace Campaign