THE SCHELDT POCKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1944, Page 5

THE SCHELDT POCKET

SIGNS OF ENEMY WITHDRAWAL

flee. 10.10 a.m. LONDON, October 16

The three Allied bridgeheads on the eastern sector of the Breskens pocket have linked up in the area 'of Nieuwland Schemolen, a mile and a half north-west of Biervliet, from which a further advance of 2000 yards has thrust westwards into the pocket, says the Exchange Telegraph agency with the British forces. The British and Canadians have thus conquered a section of the pocket four miles wide and nine miles deep. This morning the Canadians captured Woensdrecht after an attack of three, hours. Reuters correspondent says that after the capture of Woensdrecht, a pivot "town on the south Beveland causeway, the Canadians are now 700 yards. beyond. Fighting continues for the control of the main road and railway in the causeway one mile north of Woensdrecht. There are indications that the Germans in the Scheldt pocket, who are suffering heavy losses, are withdrawing to a shorter line on a wide arc below Breskens. They are reported to be running out of ammunition for their assault guns. The battle south of Overloon is developing favourably, despite continuing rain which has turned the marshes into lakes, says the British United Press correspondent with the British Second Army. The enemy's resistance is reported to be weakening. The same correspondent reports that British patrols crossed the Neder Rhine in the Renktun area during the night, about 10 miles west of Arnhem, without meeting opposition. , These are the first Allied patrols to cross the river since the First Airborne Army was brought back across the river three weeks ago.