OFFENSIVES IN HOLLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1944, Page 5

OFFENSIVES IN HOLLAND

CLEARING SCHELDT AREA IMPORTANTADVANCE LONDON, October 27. The Dutch town of Hortogenbosch has been completely cleared of the enemy by troops of the British 2nd Army, and our forces are now fighting in the outskirts of Tilburg. United Kingdom and Canadian troops are pressing forward on a wide front, and at many points have cut the roads and railways linking the two towns. Other units, west of Breda, are within. two miles of Rosendaal, and the Germans in this area are being forced back all along the line. Further west, in the Scheldt Islands, the Germans are fighting strongly to prevent the Allies making.use of the port of Antwerp. In the Scheldt pocket 2nd Army troops have captured the last town of any size. '[’he German News Agency stated that combined Allied naval and land forces are attempting .a landing on the southern coast of Walcheren Island. A German High Command communique issued some time later makes no reference to this landing, but reports that the Allies have made local landings on the southern part of South Beveland against which counter-measures* are being taken. LATER.

British anil Canadian troops who made a sea-borne landing on South Beveland, the island in the Scheldt Estuary ’protecting Antwerp, have established a beachhead of seven square miles. The landing was made before dawn yesterday, and landing craft packed with troops, light artillery, and mortars took the island garrison completely by surprise. Four hours after the first troops had gone ashore the British forces had pushed one mile inland and captured 200 prisoners. Enemy resistance stiffened later and bitter fighting developed. A report from Supreme Allied Headquarters says that Field-Marshal Montgomery to-day is intensifying his drive to clear the islands north of the Scheldt Estuary. The Canadians in the last 24 hours have advanced another 5000 yards along the neck of the Beveland Peninsula and now are seven miles and a-half inside ’ Beveland.

OFFICIAL SUMMARY

LONDON, October 27

To-day’s communique from Allied Supreme Headquarters says: Most of Hertogenbosch is in Allied hands. Progress has been general in the whole sector from there to the sea. Enemy defences between Hertogenbosch and Tilburg have been deeply penetrated. After hard fighting our troops are Under 4000 yards from Rozendaal, and the enemy has been forced to withdraw all along a line from there to Tilburg. Our units are in eastern and southern outskirts of Tilburg. Further gains have been made in the neck of Beveland Peninsula.

“In the Leopold Canal area, our troops are fighting in Oostburg. We have bypassed Groede on the north and on the south, “Our units in the area north of Aachen have made minor gains against stubborn resistance. Patrol activity continues south of Monschau.

“In the Moselle Valley we have encountered sporadic enemy artillery fire. To the north-east of Luneville we cleared Gei man forces from the Foret de Moncourt, and high ground north of the forest. Several enemy counter-attacks have been repulsed in the Luneville sector. North-west of Epinal we made gains against strong resistance. Further slight progress’ was made in the Vosges sector and all counter-attacks were repulsed.

GERMAN THRUSTS HELD. (Rec. 10.20) LONDON, Oct. 27. British forces have established a seven square miles beachhead in South Beveiand. Hertogenbosch is lib-' erated. British armour, alter a six miles drive this afternoon, reached Loonopzand and cut one of the main escape roads for the Germans in Tilburg, but Loonopzand is not yet in our hands. The British 2nd Army’s bridgehead across the Vucht-Tilburg road was pushed 2000 yards farther west. Patrols penetrated the villages of Schoorstraat and IVlilenstraat, which are respectively north-west and south-west of Tilburg. Reuter’s correspondent at General Denpsey's headquarters says: The Germans this morning opened a fourpronged counter-thrust against the east flank of the Allies' salient in Holw. and the Germans are attacking on n ten miles front west of Venio? but thus-far have not penetrated our lines. The 2nd Army’s spokesman said: “The situation is under control

Dealing with the landing on South Beveiand. Reuter’s correspondent with assault troops says the invasion fleet crammed with troops, light artillery, mortars and Bren Carriers, eariy yesterday weaved through the mistv darkness across three miles of the Scheldt Estuary. The Germans fired some shells against one section of the landing 'force, but none of the first wave suffered casualties. The first British troops reaching the beach Uh-,bed through the coast defences and sprang upon the bewildered enemy m the darkness. There was a short sharp light before the troops stormed the German positions and cleaned them out. Now they have a firm foothold. The opposition was Stronger’.Tlier the Germans recovered from the initial surprise. The German News Agency said that the Allies landing at Walcheren and Beveiand, used novel amphibious tanks..