VAST NEW BLOW IN WEST

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 5

VAST NEW BLOW IN WEST

Allied Preparation RUNSTEDT GIVES WARNING (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 19, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. The German news agency, quoting the German supreme headquarters on the western front, said: “The intense activity behind the British and American lines undoubtedly constitutes most tremendous preparations for ah offensive surpassing anything previously during the campaign.” Discussing the stalemate on the western front, one of Field-Marshal .Montgomery’s staff officers is quoted by Reuter’s correspondent at Twenty-first Army Group headquarters as saying that future Allied progress depended first on administration. involving food and supply prob* lems. and, in the second place, on the weather. The Allies were overcoming the administration difficulties, he said, but the weather, which recently had seriously affected the Allied air forces’ efforts to paralyse the German railways, would exert an important influence in the coming months. At present the Allies were merely jabbing at the enemy at Aachen and Nijmegen. but these operations were a necessary preliminary for a future breakthrough.

ADVANCE BEYOND RUINED VENRAY

Few Enemy Troops Left In Aachen • (Received October 19, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. Troops of the British Second Army in eastern Holland today captured two villages two miles south of Venray against weakening opposition, says Reuter’s correspondent. The attack which 'began north of Overloon five days ago has already liberated 45 square miles. The Germans are still shelling Venray, which was once a town of 10,000 inhabitants and is now in ruins. Both sides suffered relatively heavy casualties in the fighting for Venray. Unorganized but bitter fighting is still going on in the northern part of the town.

The tempo of the Allied offensive on the eastern side of tho corridor to 'annihilate the remaining Germans west of the Maas River quickened today with the linking up of British tank formations driving south from Venray and Americans advancing eastward toward the river, says another correspondent. The junction, which occurred after the establishment of a strong bridgehead over the Deurne Canal, was effected with comparatively light fighting over marshy, thinly-held ground. British artillery aud fighter-bombers have continued to bomb enemy gun positions and troop concentrations along the line of the main road to Deurne and just beyond Venray itself, and have cut the important railway from Venray to Germany in many places. Near ‘the Netherlands coast, troops of the Canadian First Army were last reported less than a mile and a half from Breskens, the main enemy base in the Schelde pocket. The Germans are contesting every yard of ground, but it is significadt that Allied aircraft have today reported demolitions in the Breskeus area, where the enemy has begun to blow up installations and ammunition dumps. Allied planes, taking off every 10 minutes during the day, have been blasting transport installations and strongpoints, and Spitfires blew up what was reported to be a German headquarters near Breskens. The demolitions in the Breskens area and a considerable movement, of enemy motor transport may be a sign of the beginning of the end for the Germans in the Schelde pocket, says the correspondent of the Associated- Press of Great Britain with the Canadian Army. The position in the causeway leading to South Beveland is unchanged, but there are indications that the Germans are massing north of the area. Troops of the American First Army have beaten off new counter-attacks near Aachen, and have pressed deeper into the north-eastern corner of the. city. A correspondent with the Americans says it is estimated that only 1500 of the original Aachen garrison are still holding out. Scores of prisoners are coming in each day. About 3500 civilians have been evacuated through the Allied lines since the attacks on Aachen began. Reuter’s correspondent with the American Third Army says the Americans have Advanced nearly one mile along the west bank of the Moselle and are now within four miles of Metz, which is the nearest point to the city they have yet reached in force.

TROOP CENTRE HIT

LONDON, October 18. Two important centres just beyond the Aachen front were hammered today by British and American' planes. Escorted Lancasters made their first big attack on railway targets at’Bonn, on the left bank of the Rhine, while Fortresses and Liberators went for marshalling yards at Cologne, 15 miles to the north. Other American bombers attacked Cassel. More than 550 American heavy bombers, escorted by more than 600 fighters, took part. , , , Bonn is believed' at the moment to be full of troops. It lies on the main lateral line of communications running north and south close behind the front. No fighters xvere seen in the Lancaster attack. One fighter and one bomber are missing.

BIG GERMAN GUN IN ACTION

LONDON, October 18. A censorship ban has been lifted on news' that a big German railway gun, described as the great-grandchild of “Big Bertha” of the last war, is operating between Metz and Nancy, lobbing 7001 b. shells over a wide area. A correspondent with the American Third Army says the gun fires at a range of 30 miles, but is inaccurate. It is useful for harassing fire against big targets.