Huns Staggering Under New Blows

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 5

Huns Staggering Under New Blows

VIOLENT PRESSURE

Allied Armies Close lln On Whole West Front

N.Z.P.A.—Copyright—Rec. 11 am

LONDON, April 29.

The Allied forces on the Western Front are applying violent pressure in all sectors from the extreme north to the farthest penetration south into Bavaria. British and American force* all day hammered the staggering Wehrmacht, driving nearer and nearer both to the southern and northern redoubts, with three columns of the Americans across the Austrian border, French troops pounding into Italy's maritime Alps and the British nearing Hamburg. Along the east banks of the Elbe the Russians are moving up solidly from Wittenberge southward for 70 miles, almost to Dresden. The Americans around Torgau, where the original junction was made with the Russians, are meeting scarcely any opposition. The prospects of the 70-mile link-up completely strangling the central German positions seem very bright. The Seventh Army has linked up with the Russians of Marshal Tolbukhin's front, north-west of Linz, according to Brussels radio. Along the whole southern front the American Seventh and Third Armies are sweeping southward from the Danube. The German position in what was to have been the southern fortress is hourly becoming more desperate. Seventh Army troops on the active end of this front hold a 55-mile line 'from Augsburg to Fussen. The Americans, in a great sickle-shaped line, are now sweeping eastwards with spearheads in Munich. The Americans entered Munich following a 20-mile advance to-day. At any moment they may overrun the Dachau concentration camp, which is reported to be already in a state of mutiny. There has been no further sign of unrest in Munich since the Nazis quelled the revolt there yesterday, but according to Swiss correspondents discipline is vanishing throughout southern Germany. The French communique states that French First Army troops have advanced 20 miles to the Austrian and Bavarian Alps and have entered Weingarten and Leutkirch. They have taken prisoner six generals in the past four days. Reuters correspondent with the Second Army across the Elbe says that the British operation has been a magnificent success. The bridgehead is growing fast, and guns, men, ammunition and supplies are piling into it. The bridgehead is four times asbroad as it is long. British have entered Lauenburg, south-east of Hamburg. The Canadians on the east bank of the Ems River control virtually the whole of Leer, on the eastern side of the estuary of the Ems, and are within seven miles of Emden. German resistance remains bitterly determined, but despite this and snow storms good progress is being maintained. The faU of Leer will mean the turning of the last defence line before Emden and Wilhelmshaven. The Canadians, Poles and British are closing up against the German lines at strongpoints at Zwischenahm and Oldenburg, between Emden and Bremen. Enemy armour has appeared for thefiret time in this sector, Mark 4 and Panther tanks being used.