FANNING OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 83, 5 October 1944, Page 7

FANNING OUT

Americans Behind

SLOW ADVANCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

ml ajn * LONDON, October 4. The Americans thrust further into the German defences today and are working behind the old Siegfried Line north-east of Aachen, says a correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the American First Army. The Germans tried to halt them with light counter-attacks in two sectors, but the American offensive towards the Rhine has continued to gain ground. The first counter-attack was smashed in an hour's savage fighting in the cold dawn. A hundred and fifty Germans attacked forward positions at 5 a.m., and an hour later the broken remnants streamed back to the shelter of their guns. The other small counter-attack, near Stolberg, was mocked by the Americans in wooded country.

The British United Press correspondent reports that tanks joined the infantry battalions in the Übach area today. The Siegfried Line north of Aachen has now been penetrated to a depth of two and a quarter miles along a front of three miles between the small German towns of Finkenrath, seven miles north of Aachen, and Frelenberg, just south of Geilenkirchen.

Tanks have been exploiting the break-through all day under heavy German artillery fire, particularly around Übach, where about a dozen German tanks have been knocked out an the past few hours. Fifty American Thunderbolts today heavily bombed four gun-positions north-east of Aachen which were impeding the progress of the First Army Troops.

American infantry have fanned out north and south of Übach, and after beating off all counter-attacks are now advancing slowly, \says . the British United Press correspondent with the American First Army. The heaviest German artillery shelled the American positions all night. The Exchange Telegraph agency's correspondent says that the Americans east of Übach are out of the Siegfried Line defences but still within 'the area containing many fortified positions. They beat off three counter-at-tacks before noon. Germans carrying demolition apparatus made a thrust towards the Wurm River, apparently with the intention of attacking the bridges, but American artillery broke vup the attempt. The Germans further south used armour, but American bazookas, artillery, •■ and dive-bombing ' Thunderbolts took heavy toll of the tanks. The; Americans are steadily winkling out the opposition and holding their-gains, despite the fact that the Germans are using. every type of soldier that can be mustered in fanatical defence of the homeland in terrain wi.ich gives them an advantage. ■Prisffciers report heavy casualties. One c£Bcer said that counter-attacking against American artillery was suicide, so he just.gave himself up, but his example is not generally followed.

from place to place, constantly raiding the German lines. An American colonel who has been in touch with the force said that the men are as smart and soldierly as any troops he has-seen.