CANADIANS AT BRESKENS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1944, Page 5

CANADIANS AT BRESKENS

ANTWERP BATTLE CLOSING

GAINS ON OTHER FRONTS

LONDON, October 23.

British 2nd Army Forces are now reported to be three miles and a-half from the important Dutch communications centre of Hertogenbosch (25 miles south-west of Nijmegen). The 2nd Army has launched another attack, the third in less than 24 hours, this time on the west flank of the Nijmegen salient, and is advancing on Hertogenbosch on a 12-mile front. The latest attack, according to a British Broadcasting Corporation correspondent, is going well, particularly on the right flank, where the troops • had advanced two miles and a half when the dispatch was sent. British troops are now advancing on Hertogenbosch from three sides, and more than 500 prisoners have already been taken. The Geimans seem to be short of artillery. It is the force advancing from the east which is three miles and ahalf from the town. The most northerly attack was reported last night to have gained about a mile. North of Antwerp, British and Canadian troops are now five miles from the town of Rosendaal. Canadian troops further west have captured the port of Breskens, on the Scheldt Estuary, and another smaller port about a mile to the west. The Canadians have silenced the enemy guns along this bank of the estuary, but guns on the other side still prevent Allied* shipping from reaching Antwerp. These guns are, however, threatened from the rear by British forces who control the causeway linking the island with the mainland. A correspondent says that the fall of Hertogenbosch may not come at once, as the town is almost an island, ringed about with rivers and canals. “Lieutenant-General Dempsey’s thrust south-east down the OssHertogenbosch Road had progressed two miles by to-night, with advanced patrols more than a mile further on,” reported Reuter’s correspondent with the British 2nd Army yesterday. “Progress north-west along the roac* from Vechel has been slower, but satisfactory. The German garrison at Middlerode, five miles south-east of Hertogenbosch, is now outflanked from both sides, and it also faces a frontal attack. The Germans are surrendering readily. Two hundred and sixty have so far been taken prisoner in the northern drive, and 100 in the southern one, but the terrain, which is intersected by waterlogged ditches, wil probably slow down the British advance.”

ANTWERP NOT YET OPEN

“The Canadians to-day captured Breskens, the chief port in the Schelde pocket, and entered Fort Frederik Henrik from which the German coastal batteries dominated the gateway to Antwerp,” said Reuter’s correspondent with the Canadian Ist Army. “They found the port heavily mined. The Canadians have thus almost completed the first stage of the operation designed to render Antwerp useable as a port, but German guns on Walcheren and South Beveland still deny a pasage to shipping. The Germans in the Scheldt pocket are now hemmed in in the north-western corner, where they are strongly resisting behind good natural defences. The Canadians north-east of Antwerp to-day (Sunday) captured Eschen (on the frontier), and British troops on their right flank beat off several German armoured counter-attacks.

“The British and Canadian push to the Belgian-Dutch border is already influencing the battle for the control of the South Beveland causeway. German counter-attacks against Woensdrecht have diminished and a number of crack German troops in the Bergen op Zoom area are believed to have moved eastward in an effort to halt the Allied thrust to Rosendaal. The fighting is expected to become heavy as the British and Canadians approach the main German line across South-western Holland, where the Germans are well equipped.”

A Czech brigade is now operating with the Canadian Ist Army.

ANTWERP BATTLE CLOSING. (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 23 The prospects that the battle for Antwerp is drawing to a close are increasing, says the Exchange Telegraph Agency’s correspondent with the British 2nd Army. British and Canadians yesterday cleared large stretches of territory from which the Germans could operate and threaten the port. The Allies are pressing on in a general advance on a 10-miles front from the west corridor in the general direction of Hertogenbosch, which the Germans are using as a communication centre to feed their formations opposing the Allies endeavouring to clear the Antwerp perimeter. Second Army troops advanced half a mile to a mile on most portions of this front against relatively light resistance. Reuter’s correspondent says that General Dempsey, early to-day, hurled in another infantry attack from the south-west towards Hertogenbosch, which advanced to within three miles of the town. The hardpressed German garrison in the Scheldt pocket is falling back towards Knocke and Zeebrugge, which may prove its last-ditch line. The British United Press correspondent says that the Canadians are rapidly wiping out the Scheldt pocket and captured Braaiburg. Clearing of the pocket is gaining momentum. There arc indications that only one German gun remains on Walcheren Island capable of annoying shipping in the Scheldt Estuary.

ENEMY’S DEFENCE BROKEN

RUGBY, October 23. I A correspondent with the British j Second Army says the column which | is three miles from Hertogenbosch |and advancing along the Oss-Herto-genbosch railway broke through the enemy’s defences in the region of Nuland to Bruggen. Othei' formations coming up from the south are approaching the enemy’s main defence zone east of Hertogenbosch. Schijndel, a communications centre in this area, is now almost surrounded. Opposition during the day became more stubborn with the Nazis attempting to hold our westerly push, but they are short of artillery and have been using anti-tank bazookas to try to check the onrush of the British "infantry. In the Vosges the Allies made progress around Bruyeres and captured a group of villages 9 to 10 miles west and south-west of St. Die. “MAKINGS SOMETHING GOOD” (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 23. Genera! Dempsey’s spearheads, after advancing five miles to-day in their attack along the western flank of our Dutch salient, were to-night thundering at the threshold of Hertogenbosch, states Reuter’s correspondent with the British Second Army. One of General Dempsey’s staff said that any prolonged defence of Hertogenbosch will be very difficult. The present operations has the makings of something good. General Dempsey’s new thrust is ■ meeting plenty of mines, but the Germans are not resisting as strongly as earlier. British infantry, supported

closely by tanks, have reached a point two miles from the modern steel and concrete buildings which were formely a lunatic asylum, two miles east of Hertogenbosch. The Germans have flooded an area near the south-west-corner of Hertogenbosch.

SCOTT’S TYPHOONS

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 23. Canadian troops, pushing forward in the Breskens pocket on October 21, were given the closest possible support by Typhoons of the Wing commanded by Group-Captain D. J. Scott, says the Air Ministry News Service. Sections of four carrying eight rockets per aircraft left the airfield at intervals and, directed by observers on the ground, asailed enemy guns, strongpoints and transport. Messages of thanks were sent by the troops to the pilots by radio telegraphone on the battlefield.

NANCY AREA.

LONDON, October 23.

American 3rd Army troops yesterday advanced two miles •on a front of six miles east of Nancy. They are still moving forward. “American infantry, advancing on a six-mile front north of the Foret de Parroy, to-day (Sunday) cleared Coincourt and threw the Germans back two miles in the direction of Dieuze,” says Reuter’s correspondent with the American 3rd Army. “The initial resistance was fairly strong, but later it slackened. A considerable number of Germans were taken prisoner. “The bombing of the Dieuze Dam resulted in the submerging of an area 10 miles long and upwards of one mile and a half wide. Four other towns, as well as Dieuze, are flooded or submerged.” The American Ist Army’s bag of prisoners probably now exceeds 200,000 since D Day, following the capture of Aachen. WINTER CAMPAIGN. NO SIGN OF COLLAPSE. (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) - LONDON, Oct. 23. There is no longer doubt that, barring a sudden German collapse, which is considered most unlikely, the war in the West will drag on through the Winter, and a decision cannot be expected before the Summer of 1945. This is the opinion of the Associated Press special correspondent, Trevor Ross, who has just returned from a visit to the western war theatre.

He adds that everywhere one goes in the forward areas there is preparation for a Winter campaign. There will undoubtedly be hard fighting before the first snow falls, because there are various tactical objectives which the Allies intend to reach in order to tidy up the front in readiness for the grand- final offensive next year. The optimism which spread among the civilian population of Britain and elsewhere shortly after D Day that the war would end within weeks is no longer justified, if indeed there was ever ground therefor.

Military observers on the spot believe Germany, to-day, has gained something of the spirit which helped Britain through the grim days of 1940. This spirit is being revealed in the fierceness of the German soldiers fighting along the whole front. There is still not the slightest indication of a collapse within Germany, which is known to be equipped with food and munitions sufficient to enable resistance for months. There is a strong crust facing the Allies, and the Allied commanders believe that by the Spring Germany will be able to dispose reserves which will usefully bolster up the German frontline strength. Final victory cannot be doubted, but Germany is playing desperately for time. Many are looking to the Eastern Front, but there, again, it is believed the German forces will be able to see the Winter through. Germany’s greatest weakness is

LACK OF OIL AND PETROL,

of which there is undoubted evidence, but there is meantime sufficient for essential Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe purposes.. Actually, the crust facing the Allies in the West is much stronger than in Normandy. It is, moreover, admittedly impossible to isolate the present battlefield to the extent possible in Normandy. The Allies, therefore, are intent upon weakening the German front, and this will be the immediate major objective. The Allies control the air, but here again it is admitted that by the Spring Germany may be able to produce a considerably more powerful Luftwaffe, with the new jet plane as a useful core. Ross says he saw many New Zealand and Australian airmen on the forward airfields, and they were taking a magnificent part in beating down the Luftwaffe and destroying the Germans’ war potential. In this vital year they are playing an almost key role, because it is acknowledged that without the Empire training scheme, which has now come to full fruition, it would be almost impossible to man the vast horde of planes on which the Allies are relying so greatly. Much has been written about the German garrisons’ “useless suicidal defence” of the vital ports in France, Belgium and Holland, but Allied military experts don’t regard these rearguard actions so superficially. They were part of a well-designed plan to slow up the Allies’ advance by impairing our communications. They have succeeded in doing this, but have merely delayed the final decision.

COMMENTATORS’ VIEWS

TWO-FRONT BATTLE COMING

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

(Recd. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 23. The Allies in the west continue to mass their resources for a decisive blow. The past week has been one of consolidation and continuation of the great bombing offensive, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” military correspondent, Lieutenant-General H. G. Martin. He adds: Despite recent successes, the Allies are obviously not yet ready to renew their general offensive. “When they have opened the port of Antwerp, then things may really begin to happen. Meanwhile, by their ceaseless probing they are keeping the enemy busy everywhere.” He continues: “For the -moment it is to Lapland and Lithuania, to East Prussia, Hungary, Jugoslavia and Greece that we must look for major developments. Although our information about the Red Army’s offensive against East Prussia still comes only from German sources, there can be little doubt that on the Niemen front, this is now entering its seventh day. In Hungary and Jugo-' slavia, the position of the German armies continues to get worse. The Wehrmacht having lost the wholehearted- co-operation of over thirty, Hungarian divisions finds itself left with somtehing under fifty divisions of its own, with which to carry out the most difficult of withdrawals over a front which extends from the Carpathians to Crete. Twentv German divisions still south of Belgrade are now completely isolated from the Peich, with no source of supplies other than local deposit. It is safe to predict that though some elements of these twenty divisions will filter through most inhospitable mountains they, with their heavy equipment, are lost as divisions.

“The Spectator’s” “Strategicus” rereferring to the coming western offensive, says: “The approach and manoeuvre periods are not yet at an end. Some hint of the general direction it

may take is given by the tremendous air attack. Like the air campaign which preceded the invasion of Normandy, it is sufficiently broad to conceal almost as much as it reveals, but as a general indication it cannot be ignored.” He expresses the opinion that the development of the offensive will not depend upon the use of Antwerp, where the enemy is still holding us to a long drawn-out struggle. Cyril Falls, in “Illustrated London News” declaring a decisive military defeat of Germany at the earliest possible moment can be brought about only with the aid of a victorious Russian campaign on the East Prussian and Polish fronts, expresses • the opinion it is probable that Mr. Churchill told Mr. Stalin the Allies in the west were determined to make one further great effort to break down the German defences on the border before the end of October, and has suggested it should be launched in concert with one on the Russian front.

The ‘Sunday Express’s” correspondent, J. L. Garvin, says: The major fact of the Allies’ position in the west is that they are piling up immense strength for a grand assault in conjunction with Russia. “This time, the object is to storm on every side the frontier defences of the Reich and crash through into the heart of Germany.” The imminence of this prospect in the enemy’s own eyes has brought about a conclusive crisis in the Nazi system. Diehard appeals and sweeping edicts have surpassed in fantastic frenzy, all darlier decrees and incitements.

ROMMEL’S DEATH

LONDON, October 20

Eighth Tactical Air Force pilots under Wing Commander Johnnie Baldwin, D. 5.0., and double D.F.C. killed. Rommel, says the “Daily Express.” Official investigation coupled with • a. check of pilots’ logbooks established it was they who on July 17 shot up a staff car corresponding with the description of Rommel’s, in the area where the Germans admit he was’ killed. LEAVE FOR BRITISH TROOPS RUGBY, October 23. For the first time since D Day troops of the British Army in Europe are now being granted regular leave. Forty-eight hours’ leave in Belgium will be granted every six months. BLITZ RUBBLE USED RUGBY, October 23. Vast quantities of “blitz hard core” —rubble from bombed sites in London and other cities—were used in the Allies’ invasion preparations and in the construction of a floating harbour for the Normandy beaches. An entire labour force worked a sevenday week and every kind of mechanical plant was brought into operation. Large quantities were obtained from Portsmouth and Birmingham, involving running special daily trains.