NAZIS SURPRISED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21605, 6 January 1945, Page 3

NAZIS SURPRISED

ARMOURED DASH FRONT POSTS SMASHED SNOW PREVENTS AIR AID LONDON, Jan. 4. Tanks and infantry swept over the snow-covered hills in freezing weainer at 8.30 a.m. yesterday to launch General Hodge’s surprise counteroffensive, says the British United Press’ correspondent with the First Army. No spectacular artillery or air barrage preceded the attack, which took the Germans off balance. The first wave of Allied tanks ancl men smashed the forward defences, but the Germans soon rallied, moving back slowly until their lines were stabilised. The Americans encountered for the first time Germans wearing white winter camouflage, but despite this and the minefields, the Allied battle casualties in the early stages were extremely light. The advance proceeded over rugged country which one staff officer described as "the roughest tank battlefield in Europe outside Switzerland.” The battle started in the bleakest and bitterest weather of winter. The skies were heavy and low, preventing direct support from dive-bombers. A staff officer estimated that if the drive hit high gear within five days and closed the enemy escape route thousands ot Germans might be trapped, but lie added that the Germans were past masters in escaping irom pockets.

The Daily Mail's correspondent with the First Army says that first Panzer and infantrymen taken prisoner were a shivering, oddly-garbed lot. They reminded one oi the pictures of the uermans on the Russian front m winter—with sacking around their feet, carpels and rugs over stiouluers and shawls around their heads—anything to keep out the cold. The American commanding general said the night before the attack was the worst he had even lived through. As lie led his tanks, they slithereci around bends, and crashed into otiiei tanks, trees, lamp-posts and even houses.