FIRST ROUND WON AT AACHEN

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 21, 19 October 1944, Page 5

FIRST ROUND WON AT AACHEN

American Fronts RELATIVE LULL IN BATTLES (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 18, 7 p.m.) - LONDON, October 17.. Summing up the position on the American First Army’s front, a staff officer said : “We have won the first round, but we have not yet knocked him out.” Inside Aachen American 155 mm. guns mounted on Sherman tanks continue to blast a way forward. Three rounds of their 1001 b. shells are generally sufficient to knock out any pillbox. German prisoners still believe that Aachen will be relieved, and their attitude emphasizes the grimness of the fighting that preceded the closing of the American ring round the city. ■ . . Berlin radio quoted the German high command as saying that the Americans north-east of Aaehen all last night continued to bring up fresh reinforcements in the valleys near Bardenberg till they had assembled three divisions, which attacked on a front of six miles. An American force, moving in conjunction with the infantry which closed the Aachen gap. pushed south-westward today from Bardenberg toward Aachen, says Reuter’s correspondent with the American First Army. The towns of Richterich and Kohlscheid were captured today. However, .with the Germans confronted with the problem of devising means of overcoming their own Siegfried Line defences, there was a comparative lull on the First Army front. Round Aachen it is estimated that the Germans have lost a quarter of their personnel and probably the highest proportion of their armour. The Americans last week took 1500 prisoners round Crucifix Hill. The Germans are sending tanks to the Aachen front straight from the factories, without testing them, and also guns fresh from the arsenals. German Ultimatum. “Only a war of words disturbed the calm of the Third Army front today as tlie Germans west of Metz called on the Americans with loud-speakers to surrender or be annihilated;” says a correspondent with the American Third Army. “A three- hour ultimatum expired and nothing happened. The silence has remained unbroken amid a steady downpour of rain.” A Third Army spokesman revealed that the German garrison in Metz continues to receive supplies and reinforcements by railway. Allied planes have Several times cut the line, but the Germans so far have prevented a complete severance. The Germans are digging new defensive positions between the Third Army front and the Reich border, using conscripted Yugoslavs, Russians and Poles. French and American troops have met many enemy counter-attacks in the Vosges foothills, but made slight gains. North-east of Le jThillot further progress was made east of the Mosclottc River. The fighting has been heavy at several points on this sector.