AACHEN CUT OFF

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 7

AACHEN CUT OFF

Germans Mass For Great Battle AMERICAN GAINS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 17, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 16. After repulsing three counter-attacks from German tanks in the vicinity of Verlautenheido, American infantry today closed the escape gap from Aachen, states a British United I’rcss correspondent in a dispatch tonight from the American First Army Headquarters,

The junction of the northern and southern prongs round Aachen was made at 4 p.m., south of Wurselen, which is firmly in American hands after heavy street fighting. The Germans have again been supplying the Aachen garrison by parachute, aud the garrison today unsuccessfully attempted to smash out to the cast. , , The Germans’ three counter-attacks today make a total of five in the past 24 hours. The enemy have not yet used the large armoured concentrations that were observed earlier in the Aachen area, ana a major clash is still expected. . The counter-attacks today, aimed at relieving the Aachen garrison, were carried out in strength varying from a company to a reinforced battalion. Inc Americans inflicted heavy losses on the Germans and destroyed 10 of their tanks. Reuter’s correspondent says the Germans in the area of the Aachen gap have now lost 60 tanks in the past three days. Earlier the same correspondent stated that one of the biggest battles ot the war was looming east ot Aachen in country which is a mixture of woods and industrial slag heaps. The fighting was becoming fiercer each day, with both sides building up their strength. About one-third of Aachen has been cleared of the enemy, reports another correspondent. Men, women, and children continue to struggle from the burning, blasted city. . The prisoners taken since the attack began on October 2 total 9066, equivalent to one German division, lhe number of dead is even higher.

END NOT IN SIGHT

Schelde Estuary Battles (Received October 17, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 16. Though the Germans in the Schelde pocket lost their eastern line when the Canadian forces linked up this morning, there is no reason to think that the pocket will collapse quickly, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Canadian _ Fust Army. The Germans are still hanging on grimly to every yard and flinging in constant counter-attacks south of Bresk<The three bridgeheads on the eastern sector of the Breskens pocket linked up a mile and a half north-west of Bicrvliet, aud a further advance of 2000 yards has thrust westward into the pocket, .4he British and Canadians have thus conquered a section of the pocket four miles wide aud nine miles deep. . The Canadians were progressing slowly along the coast, fighting scores of little actions for control of dykes surrounding small fields. The Germans converted each dyke into a battle line, studded with mortar and machinegun nests. Iheie is luird fighting ahead before the Germans arc crushed aud the approaches to Antwerp are opened to Allied shWlunS* The Canadians north of the Schelde are now firmly bolding oensdrecht, which they regained this town has changed hands Jour times during the last week. Fighting is continuing for control of the causcwaj s main road and railway a mile north ot Woensdrecht. The Germans there are reported to be gathering strength, and the Canadians are watching like hawks tor any determined attack. Important Stakes. It is evident to our troops fighting in the Breskens pocket and those in tno causeway area that the Germans intend to make the going as hard as they can as long as they can, says another correspondent. The stakes for the fighting a round this area are the invaluable port ot Antwerp. The opening of tins port to the Allies would have an influence on the battle for the Reich itselt. . Commenting on the . progress in tne Breskens pocket, a senior staff officer ,on Field-Marshal Montgomery s headquarters said: “The battle is still far. fiom easy for the enemy shows no signs ot pulling out or of disorganization.’

Retreat to Maas. In eastern Holland British infantrjmeii today fought their way into the outskirts of Veuray amid signs ot the Gelmans pulling out of the salient west ot the Maas River, states Reuter s correspondent with the British Second AunjVenray is about five miles west ot tne river.

The opposition hereabout is described as generally weaker. There lias been a general advance throughout the sector, in spite of heavy rain and thick mud.

American troops operating five miles south-west of Veuray are meeting tlnclc minefields and heavy mortar fire. The Germans are believed to be using barges for their withdrawal across the Maas River, and also a big bridge at Venlo. The British found that the Germans had evacuated the village of Kk’indorp, which was formerly a cavalry training centre north-west of Venray. It is estimated unofficially that the Germans still have 10,600 troops west of Maas between Boxmcer and Roermond. General Dempsey’s front is quiet on the other sectors.

FORT DRIANT EFFORT

Americans Withdraw (Received October 17, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 16. It is now disclosed that three days ago the Americans withdrew, from their small foothold inside Fort Driant, one of the main bastions guarding Metz, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the American Third Army. The withdrawal was the climax to 10 days of fighting at close quarters, in which the Americans penetrated only 100 yards into the underground passages beneath the fort. The Americans blew up enemy installations belore withdrawing. An American spokesman staled that the casualties were numerically light, and Ihe engineers gained much valuable information on the construction of the Metz

fortresses. The fort might be taken by a frontal assault, but it would not be worth the casualties. It is under direct fire from the neighbouring fortifications. The Americans bad not used more than a single battalion at a time, aud they lost onlv six tanks while in action. The Associated Press- correspondent says the Americans tackled tbevfort in order to find out whether the Melz fortresses should be attacked frontally or bypassed. An Allied communique states that the advance eastward in the Vosges foothills gained momentum yesterday. Gains were made against strong resistance along a wide front. Several towns were freed. North-west of Baccarat troops captured Lonville and Fontenoy, and further south cleared Fremifontains. The advance north-east of Le Thillot made for the progress over rugged terrain, reaching within two miles of La Bresse.

RAIN AND MUD

LONDON, October 16.

The western front is experiencing some of the worst weather since (be campaign began. There is a cold, steady rain, and the mud is knee-deep. The fighting on (he Dutch fronts today was carried on without air support.