LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 September 1944, Page 5

LATE MESSAGES

U.S.A. TROOPS TAKE HASSELT

LONDON, September 10. Reuter’s correspondent with the American Ist Army says that General Hodge’s troops captured Hasselt, 16 miles from the nearest point of Holland, and 25 miles from the German frontier. The United States Ist Army is now standing on the southern bank of the Albert Canal. These Americans are closely co-operating with the British farther north. The Germans blew up the bridges just before the Americans reached the Canal. American armour has cut the retreat roads north and south of Hasselt and has left the Germans only one way to the canal. The Germans, after a fleeting rearguard action, began shelling the section of Hasselt nearest the canal. Hasselt is a vital road hub. BOMBARDING LE HAVRE. LONDON, Sept. 10. Londoners to-day heard the garrison at Le Havre, 140 miles away; receive one of the biggest aerial* and artillery bombardments of the war, says the Press Associatioon. Wave after wave of R.A.F. heavies went ovei- in the morning and again in the afternoon and the evening'. ' The British Army simultaneously bombarded Le Havre. Doors and windows in the south of London shook with the vibration.

It is stated at SHAEF that Halifaxes and Lancasters to-day dropped 5000 tons of bombs on Le Havre. It is also stated at SHAEF that the British 2nd Army on Thursday, Friday and Saturday took 12,000 prisoners.