CANADIANS LAUNCH A NEW OFFENSIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 250, 21 October 1944, Page 5

CANADIANS LAUNCH A NEW OFFENSIVE

NORTH OF ANTWERP

Effort To Eliminate Scheldt Pocket

Rec. noon. LONDON. Oct. 20. British and Canadian troops with tank and air support this morning launched a new offensive north of Antwerp, aimed at protecting the flank of the troops sealing the South Beveland causeway and eliminating the elements of at least two German divisions concentrated in this area, says Reuters correspondent with the Canadian First Army.

The drive, in the direction of the German defence line, is extending from Bergen op Zoom to Rozendaal. The R.A.F. and artillery are laying down a barrage ahead of the troops as' they push forward into the German defences. The Canadians gained several miles in the first few hours.

The British United Press correspondent earlier reported that nearly half the original Scheldt pocket is overrun. The Canadians are now engaged in the next stage of operations f.or the complete elimination of the pocket and freeing the southern bank of the approaches to Antwerp. The remaining Germans in the pocket apparently intend to make a suicide stand.

Progressing Favourably The new Canadian offensive on the narrow but important front northeast of Antwerp progressed favourably to-night with advanced elements already more than five miles from the starting point near Cappellen, says the Associated Press correspondent with the Canadians. British infantry simultaneously moving northward from the vicinity of Brecht and St. Leonard advanced more than three miles in the thrust designed to protect the Canadian right flank.

Although the new thrust of the Canadian Army this morning across the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal in the neighbourhood of St. Leonard and Brecht is believed not to be in great strength, initial reports show that things are going xVell, says a correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. It is not yet known what armour, if an}', is being used.

Little change is reported in the position of the troops around Venraai. The weather is described as appalling. In the Scheldt area it can definitely be stated that Breskens has not yet been captured.

To-day 40 Marauders attacked two very important bridges in Holland— the" rail bridge over- the estuary at Moerdijke and the road bridge at Gertruidenburg, and reports show that both were hit. There was no enemy opposition in the air and flak was light. Fighter-bombers concentrated largely on rail communications in the Rhineland, and following the operations at Cologne they ran into 36 fighters, ten of which they shot down for the loss of. seven.