THIRD ARMY EIGHT MILES IN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21602, 3 January 1945, Page 3

THIRD ARMY EIGHT MILES IN

HEAVY NAZI ATTACK ON SEVENTH ARMY SIGNS OF ENEMY TANK WITHDRAWAL (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright..; (11 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 2. Ice, frost and snow have come to the aid of Field'Marshal Rundstedt’s forces defending the flanks of the Ardennes salient, says Renter’s correspondent on the Western Front. Allied progress, while still being maintained in some sectors, was beingheld up at others by treacherous roads and lack of shelter in addition to the enemy’s stubborn resistance. The American Third Army’s northward thrust had gained a further two miles up to yesterday morning, making a total advance of eight miles since the commencement of the attack. Third Army forces recaptured Moircy and other towns between two and six miles east of Bastogne. The Germans attacking General Patch’s Seventh Army on a 50-mile front from Bitche to the Rhine, gained some ground in the wooded region south of Bannstein, five miles south-east of Bitche. The Germans in the Bitche area gained one and a-half miles and cut the lateral Bitche-Bannstein xoad. . They have probably captured Bannstein. The German push is being continued. Their units are active between Bitche and the Rhine. There are strong indications that Rundstedt is withdrawing his armour from the tip of the Ardennes salient towards the centre. The Allies have lost contact with the German armoured division which was previously defending the tip of the salient. All the movements now indicate that the Germans are rapidly readjusting their positions, possibly for a renewed assault. GERMANS JABBING ON NORTH SIDE Reuter’s correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters says that the Americans, east of Moircy, advanced a mile to take Hubertmont, six miles west of Bastogne and also Chenogne which fell to the Americans after they crushed heavy counter-attacks The Germans are punching and jabbing all along the southern side of the salient to keep the Americans from maintaining the initiative and to prevent a concerted northward push. The American drive northward from Bastogne is suffering delays owing to German counter-attacks in the neighbourhood of Longchamps, three miles north-west of Bastogne and on the BelgiumLuxemburg border between Harlingen and Villers le Bonneau. The Germans did not use tanks in support of 200 infantrymen in a counter-attack two miles south-east of Grandmenil on the nort - em flank of the German salient. The Allies repulsed the counter-attack after two hours’ fighting. A second and smaller German thrust in the same area was also beaten back. The Germans last night ferried two guns across the Maas River eastward of Geertruidenburg to shell Allied positions. Enemy patrols crossed at the same time.. Our gunners engaged the enemy who withdrew the guns and patrols. The Luftwaffe was active again to-day, strafing and hombing the front lines, especially along the Roer River, north of the salient. _ . . , The Luxemburg radio stated that the Americans had penetrated into Wiltz.