NORTH-EAST OF NANCY

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24372, 26 September 1944, Page 5

NORTH-EAST OF NANCY

AMERICANS BEATOFF COUNTER-ATTACK TANK AND ARTILLERY ACTION LONDON, Sept. 24. “American armour, artillery, and aeroplanes to-day (Sunday) successfully stopped a German counter-attack north-east of Chateau Salins (15 miles north-east of Nancy),” says the correspondent of the British United Press with the American 3rd Army. "The attack began at 5.30 a.m.. and it was completely beaten off by 10.30 a.m., through the team work of the American big guns. The enemy used considerably fewer tanks than in previous engagements, and these were unable to penetrate our defences. Our aeroplanes heavily hit German transport behind the Moselle and cut many railways covering an area of 50 miles." Reuter’s correspondent with the 3rd Army says: "Fifteen German ’ambulances filled with wounded drove into the American lines east of Nancy and gave themselves up. This and several similar incidents indicate that the enemy may be trying to send wounded to American evacuation hospitals when possible, perhaps because of the lack of medical supplies in some German sectors. "The Americans have taken Leyr, eight miles north-east of Nancy, after particularly hard fighting." "The American 3rd Army smashed German counter-attacks west and north of Dieuze (25 miles north-east of Nancy) late on Sunday,” says a British United Press correspondent. “American tanks, aeroplanes, and infantry participated in the battle. "It is officially revealed that the 3rd Army since August 1 has knocked out 1077 German tanks." Two squadrons of Thunderbolts of the 19th Tactical Command intervened in an armoured battle near Nancy on Sunday morning at the urgent request of ,an American 3rd Army commander, though the weather was completely "non-operational.” The aeroplanes took off from a rain-sodden airfield under a 500 ft ceiling. One squadron commander said: “We flew#straight through the weather to the biggest tank battle I ever saw. The main groups of Germans and Americans were shelling each other. The air was filled with Cub spotting planes, which scattered like birds when we came in.” The Thunderbolts knocked out two or three tanks in a field and then raked the woods in which the remainder of the German armour was deployed." INFORMAL CONTACT WITH GERMANS AMERICAN TROOPS WARNED LONDON, Sept. 24. Troops of the American Ist Army, who are pressing steadily into Germany, have been warned that they must not visit the homes of enemy civilians except on official business, must not buy from them, or talk with them. Sight-seeing tours in German towns are also forbidden. These are points of a general order issued by their commander, Lieuten-ant-General Hodges, who said that these stringent measures had been taken to ensure the safety of the United States troops. The order ends with a warning that the German people are engaged in total war, and, individually and collectively, are the Americans' enemies. "Conduct yourself with military bearing and efficiency in order to make the Germans realise the power of our Army and our-high discipline,” says the order. FRENCH FORCES OF INTERIOR (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24. An official decree has been published in Paris incorporating the French Forces of the Interior into the French Army, under .the sole authority of the War Minister. The Forces of the Interior will be reorganised and regrouped into regular battalions, but will retain their identity. FLYING BOMB ATTACKS LONDON, Sept. 25. There was small-scale flying bomb activity over the southern counties, including the London area, last night and early this morning. Damage and casualties resulted. The bombs are thought to have been launched from aircraft ,