ACTIVITY SLOWS DOWN ON NORTH OF SALIENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 2, 3 January 1945, Page 5

ACTIVITY SLOWS DOWN ON NORTH OF SALIENT

PAITON REINFORCED Extending Area Around Bastogne N.Z. Press Association —Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 2. The. Daily Express correspondent ■with the Third Army says General Patton has now two distinct drives under way into the German salient. The first, which began at dawn on Saturday west of Bastogne, has gained in places up to six miles on an 11-mile front, according to latest official information. The second, "Which started off early on Sunday morning, is spearheading northwards from Bastogne towards the road hub of Houffalize.

"Our convoys," the correspondent adds, "continue to roll into Bastogne and combat officers have no fear of losing control. We have the weight and measure of the enemy.now." Four more divisions have been incorporated into General Patton's Third. Army, making a total of 12 divisions in the Army, states the Press correspondent with the Third Army on the Western Front. An American division is normally equal to 15,000 men. Bastogne Area Extended Activity is slowing down on the northern part of the salient, says the British United Press correspondent on the Western Front. It would appear as though the settling down process will continue so long as snow and ice prevail. Any largescale movements would have to be undertaken under considerable handicaps. Allied patrolling is continuing on both sides of Hotton, where penetrations of as much as 3000 yards were made before contacting the enemy. This is not regarded as an indication of retreat, the correspondent adds, but merely of withdrawal to defensive positions. The enemy in the southern part of the salient has concentrated more men and tanks and is putting in an increased number of counter-attacks. The Third Army, despite opposition, is extending its area around Bastogne. American Third Army forcV: have recaptured both Remagne and Wardin, on the south flank of the

German salient, says the British United Press correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. Remagne, which, with Moircy, fell to a powerful German counter-attack on December 30, was taken by the Americans again after the enemy's attack had spent itself. Moircy is still in German hands.

Reuters correspondent says the purpose of the enemy's pressure in" this sector is apparently to deny the Allies road communication between Bastogne and St. Hubert by holding Moircy. The German positions also provide a good natural obstacle against the American advance.

American Third Army troops are locked in seesaw battles on the southern flank of the German salient in the Ardennes along an irregular front between Bastogne and St. Hubert. This 15-mile stretch is what the American troops call Indian country—rough, hilly and wooded. It is not easy to find the enemy strength in advance and progress is necessarily slow. The gains which Third Army forces made north of Bastogne and to within two miles of St. Hubert were the result of separate advances.