U.S. FIRST ARMY BITES DEEPER INTO GERMANY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 29, 3 February 1945, Page 5

U.S. FIRST ARMY BITES DEEPER INTO GERMANY

KEY POINTS TAKEN

Heights Above Siegfried Network N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec, 1 p.m. LONDON. Feb. 2. Americans of the S2nd Airborne Division to-night are fighting in Udenbreth, Hi miles south-east of Monschau, where they are meeting the stiffest resistance yet from the Siegfried Line defenders, says the Associated Press correspondent with the First Army. The Siegfried defences are proving stronger with each American advance, although .only those pillboxes occupying the most commanding positions are manned. Others have been evacuated. Reuters correspondent says that the whole First Army front bit deeper into Germany to-day with advances up to three and a half miles. The 2nd Division made its greatest gains, reaching a point halfway between two branches of the Siegfried Line. The Germans counter-attacked with tanks in an effort to recapture a fortified village inside the line. The American airborne troops, by fighting their way into Udenbreth, have won a foothold on key heights dominating the entire Siegfried network in this sector, says the Associated Press correspondent in a later message. The Germans are still fighting desperately for Udenbreth, whose fortifications rise 2000 feet above the surrounding forest. From Udenbreth to the Rhine it is downhill going. Through Dragons Teeth Belt

Two American First Army divisions probed through the dragons teeth belt of the Siegfried Line to-day and into the concrete pillbox barrier against resistance which was too sporadic to suggest any major defensive stand, says the Associated Press correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. Either the Allied assault had yet to run into the main enemy line, west of the Rhine, or the Wehrmacht was spread too thin for more than a delaying fight on the way back to the river line.

The Exchange Telegraph correspondent with the First Army says that pillboxes of the Siegfried Line are being hastily manned. Allied patrols last night found that pillboxes were empty but attacks against the line this morning revealed that troops had been brought in. American infantry pushing past the dragon's teeth, three miles east of Rocherath, came on the first reoccupied defences. Other Americans last night won possession of crossroads south of Monschau Forest after a two-day battle. Pillboxes Knocked Out Behind the two divisions in the Siegfried Line there are at least four other divisions closing up against outposts. Some of the troops who pierced the dragon's teeth came within 500 yards of the main defences. American heavy guns this afternoon bombarded strong points which the Germans tried to hold. The Germans, as the Americans penetrated their line, began to μse artillery, but there was no indication that their fire was heavy enough to be regarded as defensive fire.

Reuters correspondent at Supreme Headquarters says that the Americans have captured or knocked out several Siegfried Line pillboxes east of Malmedy, near the BelgianGerman frontier. Some fortifications were found to be abandoned. The Allies, in this sector, which is in the area of Losheim, captured 12 88 m.m. guns, complete with ammunition.

The thaw continues in most sectors. There is brilliant sunshine, which is melting the snow on the northern sector.

Reuters correspondent with the Third Army, says, "In maximum advances up to two miles General Patton's troops have captured two more small German towns southeast of St. Vith." The German news agency quoted a Berlin military spokesman as saying that the Germans had withdrawn from two sectors south-east of St. Vith and the upper Alsace.