MORE TOWNS FALL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21580, 6 December 1944, Page 3

MORE TOWNS FALL

ALSATIAN FRONT ALLIED PROGRESS HUGE PRISONER TALLY (10 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Four more towns fell into Allied hands to-day as American troops scored further gains at several points in the northernmost sector of the Alsatian front, states the Associated Press’ correspondent with the Seventh United States Army. They are Diemeringen and Volksberg, live and 10 miles respectively east of Saarunion, and Oberbronn and Gumbrechtshoffen, 12 and 10 miles respectively north-west of Hagenau. The Seventh Army troops’ advance towards a link with the French south of Strasburg is being slowed down by minefields, floods and demolitions. The Allied grip on the left bank of the Saar now extends 16 miles downstream from Saarlouis and about 30 miles of the German frontier has been closed in this area. A correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters reports that a small enemy group north of Saarlouis has been eliminated, and we hold half Ihe town.

The Allies have advanced a mile and a hall' from Saarunion lo enter the Plain of Diemrinmen. Further south Ribeaville, eight miles north oC Colmar, was captured. The 21fft Army Group, consisting of British Second Army and the Canadian First Army, have taken 223,127 prisoners since “D-day.”