FIGHTING IN AACHEN

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24389, 16 October 1944, Page 5

FIGHTING IN AACHEN

Americans Enter City GERMANS BRING UP ARMOUR

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14. "The Germans are still risking air and artillery bombardment in their effort to build up their forces northeast of Aachen, but the inroads the Allied forces have made into the German armour can be judged from the fact that the biggest tank concentration observed on Saturday numbered 17, compared with 70 on Friday,” says Reuter’s correspondent with the United States Ist Army.

' The Associated Press correspondent says that the American bombardment has prevented the Germans from mounting a counter-attack in the last 24 hours,

"American troops, supported by a heavy air and artillery bombardment, have fought their way into Aachen street by street against surprisingly light opposition. The Germans are rushing up crack reinforcements from the east in a desperate effort to save the city,” reported the Associated Press correspondent outside Aachen on Friday.

. “The battle in the city began at 9.30 a.m. to-day (Friday) when the Americans advanced across the railway tracks on the south-eastern edge of the town and began working through the streets house by house. Meanwhile, the thunder of battle rolled over the burning and smoking city, which is being punished* by screaming dive-bombers and crashing artillery. "Aachen is taking a terrible beating. One officer said that the Germans were not resisting as stubbornly as was expected. They .were surrendering at every chance.” Reuter’s correspondent with the American Ist Army said: "German armour plunging down ‘Hell’s Highway’—the narrow gap between the American forces encircling Aacheiv—on Friday morning showed sufficient strength to indicate that a major armoured battle was imminent. Thunderbolts Vere out early , in the day strafing the woods through which the German armour was heading for Aachen.” Bombardment Continues

The rain of. shells and bombs on Aachen continues unceasingly. Up to 4 p.m, on Friday United States Lightnings and Thunderbolts had flown 120 sorties, attacking artillery positions and enemy strongpoints. Fragmentation bombs were dropped again in the wooded areas where Germans are dug in and are shelling the American forces. , Leaflets were also dropped. “Three thousand German civilians who had been without food for four days emerged from deep shelters in Aachen on Saturday afternoon’ and trudged wearily to the Allied lines," says Reuter’s correspondent. “They formed a.desolate procession of weeping women, unshaven old men, and frightened children, staggering under the weight_of packs containing their possessions.” The refugees ran the gauntlet,of mortar fire and shelling between blazing buildings. Many clutched copies of the American ultimatum, apparently believing it to be equivalent to a safe conduct pass. "American civil affairs officers have set aside 20 acres behind the Allied lines as a receptfon area for the refugees. Food has been ordered for 5000 civilians."

The Official German News Agency says: "Many shells have hit Aachen Cathedral. The throne on which 37 German Emperors were crowned is embedded in sandbags. The ancient town hall has been completely destroyed." .

•GERMANS IN WEST OF FRANCE

' 60,000 SAID TO BE HOLDING OUT (Bee. 10 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 14. “Sixty thousand Germans are still holding out along the coast of western France, 500 miles from the main front, according to an announcement by the French Forces of the Interior,’’ says the British United Press correspondent in Paris. “They are being supplied by air and operational staffs are believed to have been flown in to plan new moves. “There'are 20,000 Germans north of the river Loire, mainly around St. Nazaire, and 10.000 south of the river. There ere 18,000 round La Rochelle and La Pallice, and 12,000 in theßoyan neighbourhood, whose presence prevents the Allies from using Bordeaux, which is held by the. French,”

HEAVY FIGHTING IN ITALY

AMERICAN, TROOPS ADVANCE FURTHER GAINS BY BTH ARMY ♦ (Bee. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14. A communique from Allied Headquarters says that heavy fighting continues -on' the s(h Army, front. The Americans, against very strong resistance, have 'cleared Gesso (10 miles south-west of Imbla), and captured a feature overlooking this town. Further west other American troops have seized Monte Bombina. North of the Rimini-Bologna road, in spite of waterlogged ground, the Bth Army has ■ pushed back the enemy rearguard and is in contact with the main German positions on the Scolo Higossa-canal. “British troops advancing down the northern slopes of the Apennines have taken Monte Del Tersoro, 11 miles south-west of Faenza,” reports a Rome correspondent. “Near the west coast the Brazilians have advanced up the Sercho valley.” Heavy bombers from the Mediterranean on Friday bombed the Blechhammer oil refineries. The communique says that very strong forces of escorted heavy bombers attacked a synthetic oil refinery in Germany and marshalling yards in northern Italy, Austria, and Hungary. Medium bombers again attacked supply dumps, troop concentrations, and communication targets in the Bologna area, while fighters and fighter bombers flew close support missions on the Italian front, attacking gun positions, bivouacs, transport supply , centres, bridges, and shipping in the Adriatic and Jugoslavia. Two enemy aeroplanes were destroyed. Thirty-six heavy bombers and 12 other aircraft are missing. Some are believed to have landed on friendly fields. “More than 1200 tons of bombs were unloaded on Thursday, when between 750 and 1000 Flying Fortresses and Liberators blasted enemy installations on the outskirts of Bologna. ’ says a correspondent in Italy. “This was a record number of heaVy bombers to be sent against a single target by the 15th Allied Air Force. “While the bombing was in progress Mustangs carried out successful sweeps over the Budapest and Vienna areas. Eighteen enemy aircrzft were shot down and a large nurtibef destroyed or damaged on the pround in Hungary. Railway rolling stock and barges were also attacked between Budapest and Vienna, Three heavy bombers and four fighters are missing. Aircraft vvere exceedingly active in the battle area.