ENEMY GAINS DISCLOSED

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24446, 21 December 1944, Page 5

ENEMY GAINS DISCLOSED

“Black-out Partly Lifted”

SOME U.S. UNITS CUT OFF

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON. Dec. 20. The Associated Press correspon-

dent at Supreme Allied Headquarters says: “The security black-out on the German offensive was partially lifted to-day to disclose that enemy tank and in--fantry columns had broken across the Belgian and Luxemburg fron-y tiers in four places and driven' from five to 20 miles into the American lines.’* "Supreme Headquarters to-day revealed that the German offensive has forced major'.penetrations in the American line,* 1 says Reuter’s correspondent. “One penetration is as deep as . 20 miles, and some American units are cut off; “In Belgium the Germans have reached Stavelot (five miles southwest of Maimed*) and Reemint,

which is about 10 miles south-easi of Malmedy and less than two miles east of St Vith.

“In Luxemburg the Germans have reached Consdorf, which is five miles from the frontier town of Echternach. “The security black-out was lifted to coyer the period until midday on Monday, and it discloses a picture of German tanks and infantry swarming from the Reich over Belgium and Luxemburg. “The Americans’ quick reaction at some points has managed to halt the westward surge, but at others the Germands continue to push on. “An official order to the Wehrmacht captured in the battle area says that the German forces will use American equipment, weapons, and vehicles, and also American insignia, especially the five-pointed Liberation Star on the vehicles.” GERMAN HOPES WARNING BY NAZI NEWSPAPER (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19 “Let us not allow our hopes to soar too high,” says the Nazi Party’s principal newspaper, the “Voelkischer Beobachter.” It warns Germans against expecting too much from the drives into Belgium and Luxemburg. “Previous experience has shown that a situation like the present one may take a revolutionary turn.” says the Nazi newspaper. “We have been warned before not to expect too much from a single attack. Our goal is certainly a long and arduous way ahead.”

AIM OF GERMAN OFFENSIVE

“TRYING TO LENGTHEN WAR”

(Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. “Von Rundstedt is not trying to smash his way back to Paris. He is trying to lengthen the war,” says the military writer of the “Daily Express’’ (Morley Richards); “Von Rundstedt hopes to gain two or three months so that the German robot attacks can be stepped up and possibly other weapons introduced. He has acted like the good general he is. . . “Just as the Red Army commander, Timoshenko, delayed the German offensive in 1942 in Russia by several weeks with a limited attack against Kharkov, so von Rundstedt is trying to prevent the Allies from making their grand assault before March at the earliest.

“Before the Germans officially blanketed news of their counter-offen-sive, Berlin commentators said that von Rundstedt had four panzer divisions and up to nine infantry divisions at his disposal. It is most improbable that he is using anything like that force at present. It would be completely committed only if startling success came in the early stages of the offensive. His panzer strength is the reconstituted 6th Tank Army, which was smashed in Normandy. All told, it might number 500 to 600 tanks.’’

CHANGED SCENE IN BELGIUM

LONDON, Dec. 19

“With reports that the German push into Belgium has been slowed down there has been some easing of alarm among the population," says the correspondent of the Britfsh United Press with the Ist Anpy in’ Belgium. “There is now not a single flag displayed in eastern Belgium. Nobody waves to passing Allied vehicles going to the front. Everybody is too worried. “Those who are lucky enough to obtain transport are packing their belongings and fleeing before the returning Germans, whose shells are crashing into small towns, sending geysers of black smoke billowing skyward and rattling every window that still has glass.” The British commander in Brussels (Major-General G. W. Erskine), replying to the Belgian resistance movement's offer to re-mobilise, said: “I see no reason at present to modify the policy aimed at putting the Belgian national, forces on a proper footing as rapidly as possible. The wish of all resistance movement members to fight the Germans and aid the Allies has never been doubted.”

RESCUES BY PLANES IN FULL FLIGHT

METHOD OF PICKING UP STRANDED AIRMEN

(Rec. 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. The United States War Department has announced that successful experiments have established the practicability of aircraft in full flight picking up a human being from the ground by a rope, thus opening up a revolutionary means of rescuing stranded airmen. The technique is an adaptation of the system of picking up mail and gliders. • Wearing a special harness with a loop attached to it, the man to be picked up huddles on the ground with the loop held erect between two poles. The aeroplane is equipped with a reel of 185 feel of rope and a hook, which makes contact with the loop. The first experiments were conducted with weighted dummies and sheep. The first human subject was a paratrooper, Lieutenant Alexis Doster, who said the only sensation was the smooth whirr of air round you, and then of the ground disappearing beneath. Three other human pick-ups were made at speeds of 130 miles an hour, but speeds of 160 miles an hour, or higher, are believed to be feasible.

MR FRASER’S VISIT TO SAMOA

(Rec. 1.30 a.m.)

APIA, Dec. 20,

The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) and party arrived in Samoa at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Mr Fraser was met at Faleolo airport by the Administrator (Mr A. C. Turnbull) and Mrs Turnbull On the way to Apia the party visited a cocoanut factory. They arrived at Mulinuu, Apia, at 6 p.m. for a reception by Samoan representatives, when the kava root ceremony was given in their honour. A speech of welcpme on behalf of the Samoans was made.