CANADIAN FORCES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 5

CANADIAN FORCES

Closing In On Key German

Stronghold

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 14. General Crerar's First Canadian Army forces, after clearing up the whole of the Reichswald Forest, are to-day closing in on the Siegfried Line city of Goch, a vital communications centre south-east of the forest, says Reuters correspondent. British troops beyond the northeastern fringe of the forest are striking down the road running south-east of Kleve to Udem. They are now well through the second belt of defences. The British United Press correspondent states that the battle is now raging west of Kessel, beyond the south-eastern corner of the Reichswald Forest. British troops last night stormed across the Niers River in assault boats in the Zelderscheheide area, where the river makes a wide loop. They have fought their way east to the village of Viller, where very stiff fighting is in progress about a mile from Kessel. The Germans threw tanks and infantry against the first bridgehead over the Niers River, but they were beaten back with casualties. Another thrust from Kleve is moving down the Kalka road against stiffening resistance. The Canadians north of these two British thrusts now control nearly a six-mile stretch of the Rhine. There are no Germans left south of the Rhine in the .sector north-east of Kleve. The Canadians along the Rhine are fighting a sort of inland naval battle, with amphibious ducks and buffaloes. Reuters correspondent with the Third Army says that the Americans in the Echternach bridgehead sector have penetrated the first and probably the thickest belt of the Siegfried defences. Half of the Siegfried Line town of Ernzen is in American hands, but street fighting continues. " 1