GERMAN PROBING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21604, 5 January 1945, Page 3

GERMAN PROBING

SAAR BASIN ZONE AMERICANS RETIRE NAZI BARRAGE IN SOUTH (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 4. Considerable German forces in the Saar Valley continue to harass the Americans by probing, states Reuter's correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters. The Americans have withdrawn from a small section of Bitche, which they held, to avoid being cut off by the Germans’ southward penetration. The enemy penetrations south-east of Sarreguemines in the vicinity of Grosrederchingen have been stopped, at least temporarily. The position of the German bridgehead over the Blies River is unchanged. The Germans here suffered very heavy casualties, some formations losing up to 50 per cent. They, however, were apparently well backed by reinforcements, by artillery and by armour. A violent artillery duel is in progress early to-day north of Basle, where the Germans have brought their heaviest guns into action against Mulhouse, states the Associated Press correspondent at Basle. The battle has extended from the Swiss frontier towards Mulhouse and has increased in intensity. German troops at midnight last night attempted to cross the Rhine into France not far from the Swiss frontier, but were thrown back by fierce fire from the French guns at Huningen, from which the Germans retreated a month ago. “Our forces in the Saar Valley cleared an area two and a-hal.f miles north-west of Volklingen,” states _ a' communique from Supreme Allied Headquarters. “Strong resistance met our efforts to force back the enemy to the Saar River in the Ludweiler area. East of Sarreguemines, a small force of .the enemy, after several attempts, crossed the Blies River just south of Habkirchen, but our artillery prevented him from making further gains. The enemy penetrated to Grosrederchingen. In the wooded area south-east and south of Bitche, enemy pressure lessened somewhat. Three small-scale attacks were repulsed. Philippsburg was shelied by the enemy after his attack against the town failed,

“In the Alsace plain, north of Colmar, our .troops repulsed an enemy attack and gained some ground in a counter-attack. Enemy attempts to infiltrate in the Lake Noil- region of the Vosges were turned back.”