BRITISH VICTORY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11, 13 January 1945, Page 5

BRITISH VICTORY

LAROCHE GAP BATTLE

Way Opened For Strong Drive Southward N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 12. The British fought and won the battle for the Laroche gap, which has opened up the way for a drive south from Laroche, says Reuters correspondent. They clambered up almost sheer cliff faces of the Ourthe River gorge to get within range of German mortar and machine-gun positions among the crags. The British suffered casualties but Germans one after another toppled down to the river or slumped over their guns.

Laroche is a dead city in every sense of the word. The whole place bears the trade marks of heavy bombs and shells. The only living civilian left in the town was a woman, who was buried under the wreckage of her home for four days. U.S. First Army Advance Describing the American First Army advance south towards the heart of Rundstedt's salient, Reuters correspondent with the American Armoured Division, says that columns of tanks were moving along roads, while others were working through open country. There were short, sharp skirmishes with German infantry supported by anti-tank guns and self-propelled weapons. A feeble sun cleared the skies sufficiently for Allied planes to take the air on reconnaissance for American artillery, pinpointing any likely targets. The snow-covered mountains constantly echoed with the crump of shells. Rundstedt has evidently withdrawn his Mark V. and Mark VI. tanks in the direction of Houffalize, leaving the Volksgrenadiers to try to impede the Allied drive. The Third Army wiped out the German pocket south-east of Bastogne to-night, seizing 3400 prisoners, says the Associated Press correspondent. Although the Third Army so far has destroyed the equivalent 'of ten German divisions, the American spokesman warned that Rundstedt might again attack. Salient Shrinks to Narrow Pocket

Continued Allied pressure in the Ardennes has caused the German salient to shrink to a narrow pocket. Since stopping the German offensive the Allies have advanced some 10 miles from the north, 16 miles from the south and 17 miles from the west.

The salient now measures 10 miles across. Some of the heaviest fighting is in the north-east, where Allied tanks are fighting a grim battle near Petit Langlir, just east of Langlir, and pushing steadily through the woods south of Bihain.

Allied patrois are beginning to meet screens of dug-in tanks, strong points and mortar positions. Allied patrols continue to cross the Salm River.

The Tarchamps pocket, south-east of Bastogne, so far has yielded 1200 prisoners, but is not yet completely sealed. The German attack in Haguenau Forest area has been blocked near Hatten and six of 25 tanks employed were knocked out. The Germans in Northern Alsace yesterday launched fresh attacks against the American Seventh Army front. Up to yesterday afternoon the enemy had been held in hard fighting, but there was no sign of its pressure slackening. North of Strasbourg the Allies gave up some ground and withdrew to more favourable positions, but they are still containing the German attack. South of Strasbourg French First Army counter-attacks halted the German tank thrust about 11 miles from the city.