NEW APPROACH TO RHINE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 138, 8 March 1945, Page 7

NEW APPROACH TO RHINE

Armoured Thrust On Southern Front THIRD ARMY DRIVE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received March 7, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. The partial blackout on the American Third Army has been lifted to disclose that General Patton’s tanks have made a dash to within 20 miles of the Rhine. This army is operating on the southern front approximately south-west of the German Rhine city of Coblenz. The new thrust forward followed crossings of the Kyll River, east of Luxemburg. Eight towns have already been overrun and a German corps commander and his staff captured. Prisoners already total 1 300. The armoured forces drove forward 1 8 miles on the first day, and at least nine yesterday. Some road blocks were not manned. Resistance was really stiff at only one major point. American infantry are swiftly following up the tank forces.

The Third Army was reported yesterday to be engaged in heavy fighting. The Americans had reached the Kyll River on a 30-mile front and, in spite of numerous counter-attacks, their bridgehead over the river was 10 miles long. Earlier reports sajd that the Third Army forces were 25 miles north-east of Bitburg and 28 miles from the Rhine.

They have taken some thousands of prisoners and liberated a great number of British aud French prisoners whom the Germans abandoned in their disordered retreat.

LACK OF PUBLICITY

Part Played By United Kingdom Troops (Received March 7, 9 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. Eighty per cent, of the troops of the First Canadian Army engaged in the battle for the Rhine come from the United Kingdom, says the “Daily Telegraph.” It mentions this fact not to discredit the Canadians, but because it alleges that the part played by British troops is “suffering something not far short of a com- \ plete black-out.” The paper says admiration is due in full measure for the exploits of the Americans and the Canadians, but no official cognizance is being taken of the part played by British troops. “By contrast- with the, studied obscurantism of our authorities, the Americans frequently state the number,of a division engaged in a particular operation without conferring any apparent benefit on the enemy. Can no means be found of giving the British troops the credit due to them and at the time that it is earned?” adds the paper.

FEW LARGE TOWNS NOT BLITZED

Plight Of Germany LONDON, March 6. Very few large industrial towns now remain comparatively undevastated in eastern and central Germany to offer bases for the organization of a defence against the .Russians or administrative control of the central area. The United States Eighth Air Force announced that during the 15 days ended yesterday 44.000 tons of bombs were dropped on ISS targets in Germany. This is almost thrice the tonnage dropped in the first year of operations of the Eighth Air Force. It included 160,000 high explosive bombs and 3,500,000 incendiaries. 11 ore than 28,500 sorties were flown during the 15 days and if they had all been flown from one aerodrome one plane would have taken off for Germany every 13 seconds throughout the periods of the daylight hours. R.A.F. heavy bombers from Britain made a concentrated attack on a German oil plant in the Munster area today. This daylight blow came after a night in which Bomber Command sent out more than 1100 aircraft. The main targets were Chemnitz. and an oil plant at Bohlen, near Leipzig.

The Air Ministry states that R.A.F. bombers, last night bombed Berlin for the 15th successive visit, ami also Attacked Gelsenkirchen and Mannheim. Night fighters and intruders supporting the bombers attacked airfields.

NEW ZEALANDERS BOMB GELDERN

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service). LONDON. March 5.

New Zealanders operating Mitchell bombers today attacked road junctions and supply depots at Geldern in the Rhineland. This area has been bombed by New Zealanders on five previous occasions, and today’s raid has practically destroyed all the vital communications. One pilot. Flying Officer .1. Wilde, Te Aroha. said : "We saw the effect of our hornbs through a gap in the clotilds. Roads were cratered and buildings were left blazing. I could also see a number of vehicles burning.'’