ADVANCING TOWARD LOWER MAAS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24401, 30 October 1944, Page 5

ADVANCING TOWARD LOWER MAAS

Allied Forces Close In On Breda BERGEN OP ZOOM AND TILBURG CAPTURED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) [(Rec. 11 pm.) LONDON, October 29. British, Canadian, and Polish forces are closing in on the Dutch town of Breda, about 10 miles south of the Maas estuary. Breda is the most important communications centre in southern Holland still held by the Germans, now that Tilburg, Hertogenbosch, and Bergen op Zoom (on the Schelde estuary) are all in Allied hands. Correspondents report that the Allies are near the southern outskirts of Breda, and less than two miles away to the southeast. There are signs of stiffening enemy resistance as the Allies push north towards the lower Maas, but they were last reported to be only five miles from the river. The bridgehead on the island of South Beveland has again been extended. On the south side of the Schelde estuary the German pocket has been still further reduced. The Canadian forces which captured Bergen op Zoom have crossed a canal north of the town. On the east side of the Allied salient, the Germans are still counter-attacking in the area west of Venloo. To-day’s communique from Supreme Headquarters says that these attacks have been repelled,. There is little news from other parts of the Western Front. American patrols have been out in the Aachen area.

“The Allied pursuit of the Germans falling back on the Maas continued on Saturday night, with the Canadians pushing on 1000 yards north of Bergen cp Zoom, British forces approaching the outskirts of Rosendaal, and Poles (thrusting within two and- a half miles k»f Breda,” says an Associated Press (correspondent. “The Canadians advancing westward Into South Beveland are now within (three miles of the British sea-borne troops, who have - extended their bridgehead two miles westward. “Bitter fighting is still - going on In (the Schglde pocket, but the Canadians, pushing the Germans back to the coast, nave captured positions only two miles east of Zuidzande. “The Poles, who are driving towards Breda, have also linked up with British armoured units near Rijen (about (midway between Breda and Tilburg). Breda is also being approached from the south by the Canadian units.” A German High Command report says that the British are making an alhout drive for the river crossings south of Dordrecht, particularly the Muerdijk bridge. A correspondent says that the Germans of the 15th Army are withdrawing everywhere, and that it is likely that they are falling back to the long bridge of the Maas at Muerdijk (15 miles south-east of Rotterdam)' or to the ferries over the Maas near its mouth at Willemstad. Another message says the Germans are going back fast. There is no doubt that they are finished south of the Maas. A dispatch from & correspondent with the British 2nd Army tends to substantiate these reports that the Germans are withdrawing on a large scale in south-west Holland. This correspondent says: “Within 24 hours three very Important towns south of the river Maas have fallen into the hands of the British 2nd Army or the Canadian Army, and forces of bpth ■armies were on' Saturday converging on the two remaining towns of Breda and Rosendaal. Strongpoint System Broken “The final clearance of Hertogenbosch, Tilburg, and Bergen op Zoom has effectively broken the back of General von Zangen’s strongpoint system south of the Maas, and with their half-effective communication routes to Breda and Rosendaal severed by the swift advance of the Allied flying columns, the German formations left in this north-weqt salient must withdraw to a firmer and shorter line further north. If the Germans are unable to halt the present converging drives their next defence line cannot be below the line of the Maas. “The German four-pronged diversionary attack on the east of the Allied jcorridor, after recapturing Meijel (10 jniles south-west of venloo) and achieving a small bridgehead over the SDeurne Canal north of the town, had »y Saturday afternoon been halted, although fierce fighting continued in the These two gains apart, (German infantry and tanks in sizefable formations were unable on Satiirday to dislodge our troops from their positions.. “Hertogenbosch was on Saturday Afternoon completely clear of the enemy to the last sniper, and Scottish troops were able by this evening to declare Tilburg free of Germans. Our troops are now ighting along a small tiver west of Hertogenbosch. “While these towns were being cleared British armour and infantry were busy clearing out pockets bypassed between the two places. Advance on Breda “Flying column attacks which on Saturday morning made a swift drive orth-west and south of Tilburg, had by the afternoon advanced eight to fame miles along the Breda road, and fay the evening they were in sight of the outskirts of Breda. Canadian troops are pressing along the road Immediately south of Breda. “The Canadian forces who stormed fceir way into Bergen op Zoom now nave a firm hold on the town. • "The British beachhead on the €outh Beveland coast had by Saturday levening been strengthened, and the build-up across the BeveJand Canal, in the drive westward Wong the isthmus, continues.” .“West of Hertogenbosch enemy resistance is stiffening,” says another correspondent, “and according to a lepokesman at Lieutenant-General fiJtmpsey’s headquarters it looks as 'though the enemy is trying to carry out his familiar task of holding open the door with his left flank while his troops on the right withdraw to the Jiortn. Troops pushing west from Hertogenbosch found the enemy had developed the Afwaterings Canal —a horseshoe-shaped waterway from the river Maas —as a defence line on which to pivot while he endeavoured to swing northward the remainder of his forces from the south-west. He is holding on to Loonopzand (six miles horth of Tilburg). British troops have, however, reached a point some 2000 yards east of Loonoozand, but it has been tough going. Our infantry and armour have run up against another screen of 88mm. guns. The farthest point of the advance in this direction has brought our patrols one mile South-east of Dongen (nine miles north-west of Tilburg). ‘lt was a flying column of Allied troops with tanks "which succeeded in . auttmg the Breda-Tilburg road,” says ® correspondent with the 21st Army Group. ‘The Canadians and the British, in Jhe joint operations against' South geveland, have now taken 800 prisoners. The capture of 500 more prisoners m the Breskens pocket on Friday brought the Canadian Army's total in this area to 5000.”