OVER GERMAN BORDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1944, Page 5

OVER GERMAN BORDER

■AMERICAN TROOPS ADVANCE

ENTRY INTO LUXEMBURG CITY

CANADIANS AT LE HAVRE

RUGBY, September 11. Resistance is increasing in the 12th Army Group sector, and. no further progress has been reported, states a correspondent at SHAEr. There is still heavy lighting in the Nancy area, which remains under enemy control. With the Battle of Europe nearing the final phase, Allied military chiefs and local commanders are already studying maps covering Hitler’s Reich in preparation for the Battle of Germany, which must begin soon. All along the western approaches to the Siegfried Line the United States Ist and 3rd Armies are pressing nearer to the frontiers of Germany, .so near in some places that a major advance must take the American troops into Germany itself. Between Liege and Luxembourg General Hodges’ Ist Army columns are meeting with the expected stiffening resistance and also encountering minefields in greater profusion. Increased mine laying in the front approaches to the central bastion of the Western Wall .at Aachen may indicate a general German withdrawal. Other defences opposing the central American drive to the heart of the Siegfried Line consist of enemy strongpoints which apparently increase in density as General Hodges’ force approaches the outer lines of the Western Wall defence system. An advance beyond Aachen would bring the American columns out of the thickly wooded country in which they are now operating to open country west of the Rhine and Cologne. The region is excellent for the movement of armour and possesses a good network of road communications.

In the south the United States 3rd Army is

STILL FIGHTING HARD

to establish a firm front on the eastern bank of the Moselle. Opposition to their progress becomes more stubborn and fierce with every hundred yards gained. The Germans have recently thrown in some tanks. From Nancy to the German border the terrain ahead of General Patton’s forces offers few natural obstacles but running parallel with the Siegfried Line to the south of Saarbrucken are heavily wooded areas. Different obstacles will face the British 2nd Army and other units of the United States Ist Army in their further progress in the northern sectors. Our troops pushing north from Antwerp are now leaving territory which provided cover for bringing up supplies and concentration of troops. They are now penetrating ground which is in general on the down grade towards- Holland. As they progress into Holland they will have to cross various systems of east to west canals, which are a feature of the Low Countries. This will mean transportation of heavy equipment and bridging material.

SHELLS ON GERMAN SOIL

LONDON, September 11

Forces of the American Ist Army, after thrusting through the Ardennes hills, have liberated the city of Luxembourg. They have thus reached another point within 10 miles of the German frontier and the approaches to the Siegfried Line. Heavy lighting is reported at a town near Luxembourg. Eighty miles further north other forces of the Ist Army have captured Verviers, 15 miles from the German border, on the railway from Liege to Aachen.

Allied shells are falling.on German soil in the Aachen sector. “American ‘Long Toms’ on Sunday night, poured 155-millimetre shells into Germany from the American lines less than 11 miles from the German border.” says Reuter’s correspondent. “American reconnaissance aeroplanes of an armoured division have already landed on German soil. The Germans retreating to the border are mining roads and placing trees across highways. American aeroplanes and artillery near the German border on Sunday afternoon pounded a 10 miles’ long column of tanks and trucks trying to escape into Germany. A huge cloud of smoke is now rising from the column. American tanks and infantry are waiting to pounce, on the remains of the German force.”

Fierce lighting continues in northeastern Belgium on the Albert Canal, where the British 2nd Army is expanding its bridgehead against determined opposition. In the Moselle gap American 3rd Army forces have broken into German defence positions in the Nancy area. “Canadian patrols have entered Zeebrugge against slight opposition,” writes a correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. “Calais, Boulogne, and Dunkirk are now well isolated. There is still fighting in Ghent. Allied forces .have captured Marche (30 miles south-east of Namur) and Hasselt on the Albert Canal, about 20 miles from the border of Dutch Limburg. The American Ist Army has taken 168,047 prisoners, up to and including yesterday.” MORE U.S.A. GAINS. LONDON, September 11. A report from SHAEF states: Apart from the obvious significance of Luxembourg being the third European capital to be liberated by Allied forces, a much more disturbing fact from the Germans’ viewpoint is the development of a threat, not only from Luxembourg, but on a wide front from the Ardennes. Luxembourg is only 10 miles from the German frontier and other columns of General Hodge’s Ist United States Army have threatened to cross the Luxembourg frontier in a number of places. Heavy fighting is occurring at Mersch, 10 miles north of Luxembourg. There the Germans are increasing their resistance. Generally, however, in the area of the Ardennes the Allied forces continue to make gains. The Allies are contacting the Germans throughout. 320 miles of front from Bruges to Nancy. crossing’the BORDER (Recd. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 11. The troops of General Hodges’ First United States Army are reported to be about five miles inside Germany, says SHAEF. The entry into Germany was preceded by an artillery bombardment. Earlier, the “Evening Standard’s” correspondent reported: Forward elements of General Hodges’ First United States Army are now at the German border. Many of our troops yesterday afternoon were looking across the headquarters on the Vesdre River. They saw a high wooded ridge just ahead—that ridge is German territory. What lies ahead of our troops once they are well into German territory—whether the Germans will fight desperately or collapse quickly —is anybody’s guess. Prisoners, who are being rounded up again in large

numbers, give most conflicting preaiCtiOnS' ' LATER.

General Hodges’ troops entered German from Luxemburg after overcoming a fair amount of resistance, says SHAEF. It is not yet known whether they have made contact with the Siegfried Line, which is set in depth around Trier, near where they entered Germany, but patrols are undoubtedly probing its strength. GERMAN ADMISSIONS.

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 11. The German News Agency stated that owing to .enormous pressure German troops had withdrawn to the eastern bank of the Alzette River, and the western part of Luxemburg city had been left to the enemy. The News Agency also said the British south of Liege had penetrated the former Belgian frontier fortification system. The Belgian fortihcation system, built on similar lines to the Maginot Line, was based on Liege and ran from Namur along the line of the Meuse through and east of Liege, and north-west of the city along the Albert Canal. Air support helped to liberate Luxemburg when Thunderbolts, responding to a request . from the American column, knocked out 11 Tiger tanks which were blocking the road two miles from the capital.

BRITISH ENTER HOLLAND.

“BIGGEST’ AND BEST” DAY

(Rec. 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 11. British patrols have crossed the Dutch frontier in the neighbourhood of Degroote. The German News Agency, admitting fighting m Holland, says the fighting is going on between Maestricht and the Central Ardennes. . , , , Referring to the British breakthrough across the Escaut Canal, a senior staff officer of the •British 2nd Army said it looked as it the enemy “crust” was thin. Describing the struggle preceding the British entry into Holland, Reuter’s correspondent with General Dempsey’s troops says the past 24 hours have been the British troops’ “biggest and best.” One British officer said the 2nd Army’s armour and infantry “got stuck into the Germans and fairly slaughtered them. More Germans were killed and enemy equipment destroyed to-day than during the column’s whole 200mile advance to Brussels. It was not a day of sweeping advances, but of hard fighting for a road junction, for a cluster of houses, and finally for a vital bridge over the Escaut. Dempsey’s men eventually rushed the bridge and British tanks were operating on the far side of the canal before the Germans had time to react.

The British attacked the crossroads with everything available and won the junction and moved on through 200 dead. They sent 500 German prisoners trailing back to file cages. The bridge across the canal was still strongly defended last night. We needed the bridge and the only way to get it was by storm. A famous armoured unit speeded up their engines and crashed into the German lines, and the bridge was ours before midnight. The British killed 800 of one German battalion. An officer ITom Surrey de.clared it was THE HARDEST FIGHT since “we slashed through the thousands of Germans who are now trying to organise behind us. We still have to mop them up.” The correspondent adds that the Germans tried hard to infiltrate our positions and blow up British-held bridges between Beeringen and Gheel, where British infantry yesterday took 750 prisoners. The British troops who swept across the Meuse-Escaut Canal, took the last water barrier guarding the Dutch frontier, says the Associated Press correspondent at headquarters. An officer' estimated that the British killed 1200 Germans between the Albert and Meuse-Escaut Canals. An Exchange Telegraph Agency correspondent says the advance began late yesterday afternoon by tanks with infantry riding them and armoured cars covering the flanks. The crossroads where the battle occurred are six miles north of Hechtel. The enemy launched tanks and self-propelled guns against our forces as they pushed clown the road, while our infantry got into the Germans at close quarters. Our tanks took on the enemy armour. The shooting was at very close range, and armour-piercing shells and high-explosives whistled over the crossroads. The Germans who lost five 88 m.m. guns, one self-propelled gun, and two tanks, eventually were driven back. We then rushed the bridge over the canal before it could be blown up. Enemy counter-at-tacks failed to retake the bridge and our armour crossed over and captured the village of Degrotte.

PREMATURE REPORTS

LONDON, Sept. 10

Prince Bernhard expressed concern over what he termed “the most upsetting” premature reports that Allied troops had already entered Holland. He said: “It is the. greatest shame, indeed, that the reports were put out. They caused much trouble. I hear from reliable sources that people have been shot in Holland for hanging out flags when they heard the reports.” He added that he himself on the strength of the first report of the British sighting Holland rushed from England to France, expecting to go straight into Holland. Prince Bernhard, according to the Associated Press crossed the Albert Canal to-day and visited Dutch troops fighting alongside the British within 12 miles of Holland.

GERMAN COMMANDER’S ORDER

LONDON, Sept. 11.

Field-Marshal Model, who has taken over command of German forces in the west has issued an order to the troops, emphasising the gravity of “this day and hour,” according to a German document found posted at police stations throughout Louvain. The order admonished the troops, told them to cease looting, and to concentrate on fighting. It added: “Every hand grenade, rifle, and gallon of petrol are needed to arm the new line for the reception of our troops. These adjuncts are more important than suitcases or useless plunder. Let our soldiers get up, and move about actively, and do not rely on luck.” THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS LONDON, Sept. 11. An indication of the German collapse in the Belgian area is the fact that the Army has taken 12,139 prisoners in the last three days and now has them in three “cages.” In one cage there are 1,600 Germans, composed of 46 different formations.

LE HAVRE AND BREST/ LONDON?September 11. A SHAEF communique states: An attack against the garrison and fortified positions of Le Havre was continued on Sunday morning,' afternoon and evening by heavy bombers. Visibility was excellent. The bombing was highly concentrated. . House to house fighting isi progressing in the outskirts of Brest. The German commander at Lochnst surrendered, but isolated enemy groups continue to resist in this area. Resistance also continues on the Crozon Peninsula, forming part of the southern shore by Brest. SCOTT’S SUCCESS. (Rec. 10.0 a.m.) , LONDON, September 11. A house in a valley, pin-pointed only by the most skilful navigation, was one of several gun positions attacked at Le Havre by rocket-firing Typhoons of the R.A.F. Second Tacv tical Air Force, yesterday. The army asked the R.A.F. to silence two 88 millimetre guns in a house which was screened by trees protected by the slope of a hill. It was an extremely difficult target to locate, but a Nev Zealander, Group Captain Desmond Scott D.S.O. D.F.C., led. a formation of Typhoons, with unerring accui acy, pin-pointing the target, othei pilots with cannon attack. Each pilot Then went in and made tl £ee attacks with rockets and cannon. There were several direct hits on the house. AERIAL support RUGBY?September 11. Nine waves of United States Ma auders and Havocs flew i rom .P bases on Monday afternoon, in sup pXI General Patton’s Third Army making heavy attacks on big emplacements on the Moselle a Nazi headquarters and signal centre at Metz. The attack lasted an hour, and was carried out in good weather. Results ranged from good to excellent, and six heavy gun emplacements are reported definitely neutralised in German defensive positions along the Moselle. Some loi mations encountered intense A.A. lire, and one Havoc is missing. NON-STOP BLITZ (Rec. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 11. With improved weather over the battle area, the air war has been stepped up. Big fleets of Allied planes are keeping up an almost non-stop blitz against the enemy targets wherever the battle rages over the coastal ports in Belgium, Holland and into Germany itself. Reuter’s correspondent with the Tactical Air Force in Belgium states that as the battle for Germany draws nearer the position of the struggling enemy communications of every description is deteriorating rapidly. Strong forces of Lancasters and Halifaxes of the R.A.F. Bomber Command continued their unprecedented bombardment of Le Havre, to-day, going out early this morning to attack the German garrison’s fortified positions. Yesterday’s attack by over 1,000 British heavy bombers was carried out without loss. The Germans’ anti-aircraft defences were obviously overwhelmed. Tempests of the Air Defence of Great Britain attacked airfields, road transport and trains in Holland, today. Their appearance in tactical support of the land forces is significant, as it indicates that the air units previously Lied up in the battle against the flying bombs are now released for attack instead of defence.

NO SIGN OF LUFTWAFFE

LONDON, September 11.

“Allied fighter pilots have been racing back and forth across the German frontier for.the last week without meeting a sign of the vaunted Luftwaffe reserves which were reported to have been held back for the defence of the homeland,” says the Associated Press correspondent at the United States 9th Air Force Headquarters in France. “As far as the Allied air forces are concerned the final battle for Germany started days ago, when lighter-bombers began penetrating the Reich in droves, softening up the enemy ahead of the Allied ground forces. In these operations they met virtually no opposition in the air and less anti-aircraft fire than in Normandy. “About 1000 French-based American lighter-bombers, only two of which are missing, roamed at will over the German frontier during the weekend, shooting up trains, motor transport, troops, and convoys. Targets hit included 19 west-bound trains hauling supplies to the Siegfried Line.”

LONDON, September 11.

The German News Agency commentator, Karl Zeppelin, said the Luftwaffe would soon be equipped with new types of aircraft based on radical technical developments, promising to revolutionise flying technique and enabling Germany to wrest the air superiority from the enemy.

THE RUHR AGAIN

LONDON, Sept. 11

Lancasters and Halifaxes in daylight, this evening, attacked three synthetic oil plants in the Ruhr. Visibility was excellent, and reports indicate the plants were heavily hit. FIGHTING IN E. FRANCE.

LONDON, September 10. French troops from General Patch’s Riviera invasion armies pushing northwards to increase the weight of the Allied drive against Germany are now 15 miles from the Belfort Gap, savs Reuter’s correspondent. The Berlin radio stated that fiveAllied divisions are poised for an assault on the Gap. Reuter’s correspondent adds that the French left flank is nine miles from Dijon and the other French forces are advancing parallel. The Americans who are heading for the Belfort Gap, are skirting the Swiss border and are engaging in heavy fighting in the Blamont area. They are about 15 miles due south of the Belfort Gap across which the Allied barrier is swinging as the German resistance In the Doubs Valley the German resistance is stiffening before the increasing threat of the junction of General Patch’s and General Patton’s forces.

OFFICIAL REPORT

LONDON, September 11

Monday’s Allied communique states: Seventh Army forces have further narrowed the enemy escape corridor in Eastern France by scoring important northward advances over a front of approximately 100 miles. French forward elements have driven forward' to the outskirts ‘of Dijon against weakening resistance, and further west have reached the vicinity of Saulieu. Americans have made a wide advance northward of the Doubs River to roughly the parallel line of the Otnon River, liberating a substantial additional area. French forces south of Belfort, between the Doubs River and the Swiss border are meeting stubborn opposition. DIJON CAPTURED (Rec. 10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 11. ■ French troops captured Dijon after 24 hours’ battle against stiff opposition. It is announced at Allied Mediterranean headquarters that the Americans have reached the outskirts of Vesoul.