EXCELLENT PROGRESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 154, 12 April 1945, Page 5

EXCELLENT PROGRESS

ALLIES' ADVANCE IN GERMANY. POLES TAKE PART IN GAINS. CLEARING OF TWO RIVERS. (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright.) (Rec. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, April 11. The British and American advance into Germany continued to make excellent progress to-day in many parts of the front. The capture of Essen and Coburg are reported arid advances were made into Eastern Holland, toward the North Sea coast of Germanq. Brunswick is seriously threatened, if not already taken. An advance of 15 miles by the Ist Polish Armoured Division under the command of the Ist Canadian Army has brought the spearhead of this division to within 12 miles of the Norfh Sea in their drive toward . Emden, writes a correspondent with the Canadians. They have also linked up with a number of parachutists dropped in Northern Holland on the Dutch-Ger-man border. The enemy is opposing at certain points any attempts by our forces to clear the entire lines of the Aller and Leine Rivers, the last natural obstacles of any importance in front of the Elbe. According to a correspondent the town of Verden is the strongestheld bastion on the banks of the Aller. The British 6th Airborne troop, 20 miles north-east of Hanover, still hold Fuhberg in the centre of the forest of the same name, with reconhaissance elements within two or three miles of the vital centre town of Celle.

Canadians on the left flank of the 21st Army Group are pushing out in all directions with reconnaissance elements in the Meppen, Assen and Zwolle areas. .In drives from Sogel to-day Canadian tanks reached points less than 25 miles w r est of Oldenburg.

Over 300,000 German prisoners were taken on the Western* Front in the first 10 days of April. This is officially announced (according to a correspondent at Supreme Headquarters).