ALLIES BITE DEEPER INTO SIEGFRIED ZONE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 5

ALLIES BITE DEEPER INTO SIEGFRIED ZONE

ENEMY HARD PRESSED

Signs Of Weakness In German Lines

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, ~Feb. 13. British troops with fixed bayonets, who have now cleared the whole of the Reichswald Forest, relieved a battalion which had been holding out on the eastern edge of the forest for 24 hours without food or ammunition supplies, stated the British united Press correspondent with the British forces in Reichswald to-night. The correspondent added that the British forces are biting deeply into the second belt of the Siegfried fortifications at a point east of Kleve and some 11 miles from the starting line of the five days' old offensive. Once they are through the anti-tank ditches and earthern pillboxes thick minefields are making up this zone. They will be facing the third line two to three miles further east. The enemy is throwing in troops straight from the rear areas, in attempts to plug the holes in his line as they are created. One unit of 200 men was brought up from the Ruhr and thrown into the front line, only to be captured or wiped out within 12 hours. The battle this afternoon became a violent artillery duel between British and German big guns. The Germans began to put up a barrage 48 hours ago, and to-day the roar of gunfire has been echoing along the line. The weather cleared enough this morning to enable our planes to go out, at the Army's request, to smash enemy gun positions. Germans Surrender The Germans have strung out an entire panzer corps between the southern Reichswald and the town of Goch, stated the Daily Express correspondent on the Western From to:day. He added that they here have a good natural line, strengthened by minefields and earthworks flung up in the past few months. The general picture might look a bit gloomy, but promising. Things are happening inside the German lines. For instance, two days ago two German companies gave themselves up for no urgent reason. They simply said they were fed up. A unit of German gunners taken prisoner at another place said they had their artillery taken away "because guns were needed on the Eastern Front." Prisoners from a third spot complained that no guns and no ammunition had arrived in their sector after the beginning of the battle, but the enemy now has little to spare, for the Eastern Front can send no more divisions away with safety. Reuters correspondent with the American Third Army says that the Siegfried Line garrison town of Ferschweiler, three and a half miles north of Echternach, was captured to-day, against opposition described as moderate to heavy. The troops pressed beyond the town. Tanks and tank-destroyers in this area are blasting the Siegfried Line pillboxes. The German news agency's war correspondent says: "Our grenadiers and paratroops cleared the Americans out of Prum after ten hours' street fighting. They withdrew beyond the ridge north-west of the town." General Crerar's troops have now broken out from the eastern edge of the Reichswald Forest, says a correspondent with the Canadian and British forces on the Dutch and German border. Forward columns are ranging out from Kleve along the Kleve edge of the road. Famous Welsh and West Country formations have been fighting in the battle.

German Forces Trebled Von Rundstedt has trebled his forces facing the British and Canadians, and has now committed the elements of seven divisions, including infantry, paratroops, panzers and panzer grenadiers, reports Reuters correspondent at Canadian Headquarters. Enemy opposition is generally stiffening. About 5000 prisoners have now been captured in the present offensive. The Associated Press correspondent with the Canadians says the eastern borders of the Reichswald Forest are aflame as British and Canadian troops drive forward against heightened resistance. The Germans, strongly reinforced with armour, have launched a number of counter-attacks all the way from the south cf the Reichswald Fores.t to the'vicinity of Kleve. The early enemy gains have been wiped out. His losses have been very high. The British and Canadians . are pressing ahead slowly despite the most difficult weather and ground conditions under which they have so far had to fight. The British United Press correspondent reports that the Germans blew up the lock gates of the Spoy Canal, which runs through Kleve. This further complicated the flooding of the area between Kleve and the Rhine. British troops to the southward reached the Niers River, opposite Kessel, which the Germans are hurriedly fortifying. U.S. Bridgeheads Ijink Up The United States Third Army bridgeheads at Echternach and Wallendorf have been linked up, and a combined bridgehead now extends for ten miles, with a depth of two miles, says Reuters correspondent with the Third Army. Heavy German counter-attacks have been repulsed. The link-up was made last night by infantrymen two miles north of Bollendorf. The Americans have cleared the Luxemburg half of the border town of Vianden, but the Germans are still resisting in the German half of the town, east of the Our River. Prum has been completely cleared. Two heavy German counter-attacks a mile and a half north-east of the town were repulsed with heavy enemy losses.

AMERICANS' HAUL

Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 13. A correspondent at Supreme Headquarters says that since the Third American Army became operational on August 1 last it has destroyed or captured. 1299 Mark 111. and Mark IV. tanks and 731 Tiger tanks, and also claims 2525 artillery pieces of 75mm calibre, over 6350 vehicles and 170,000 prisoners.