LIMITED GAINS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21583, 9 December 1944, Page 5

LIMITED GAINS

WESTERN FRONT FIGHT FOR SAAR HEAVY NAZI* COUNTERS THUR VALLEY CLEARANCE. 00 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 8. To-day's communique from supreme Allied Headquarters says: “South-east of Hurtgen wc made small gains east, south, and southwest of Bergstein. Our units north of the town made little progress against stiff resistance. “Tn the Metz area, we have captured Fort Fiappeviile and Fort St. Quentin. “Allied forces in the Saar Valley, east of the Saar River, have penetrated the Fachten Forest. We have taken Hostenbach, five miles southeast of Snnrlouis, and reached Furstenhausen and Gorssrosseln, seven and nine miles respectively south:st of Saarlouis. “House-to-house fighting is _ continuing in Saareguemines. Our forces have taken Ettingen, eight miles south-west of Saareguemines, and _ther units have entered Enchenberg, 14 miles east-south-east of the city. We have occupied several nearby villages against stiffened resistance. “Heavy fighting took place at Merzweiler, and part of the town was lost to a counter-attack. Wc have made a slight advance north of Colmar, in the Alsace Plain, despite vigorous enemy resistance and counter-attacks. “We are clearing the Thur River Valley in the southern high Vosges, and our forces have reached Thann, where fighting is continuing.” Strong German counter-attacks, .after a heavy artillery preparation, drove American troops from the north-eastern half of Merzweiler, five and a half miles ■ north-west of Naguenau, which is the Seventh Army’s first setback of the Alsatian campaign, says the Associated Press’ correspondent. The German News Agency said: “The tide of invasion has laid waste the Saarland, with its great industries and densely populated townships. Although most of the houses were earlier destroyed by enemy bombing, the smelting - furnaces,' mines and factories were humming to the last moment.”