AMERICAN ARMIES

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1944, Page 5

AMERICAN ARMIES

SLOWED UP ON THE MOSELLE

GERMAN RESISTANCE FURTHER STIFFENING.

LONDON, Sept. 19 A “Times” correspondent on the Moselle River front states: German resistance has stiffened on the front from Aachen southward to Metz. The Germans are fighting with the tenacity of desperate men. They are making a last all-out bid to avert a erim fate which they now see as an early possibility. We are seeing at nresent a reaction to alarm and desnondencv caused by American penetration of the much vaunted Siegfried Line and the Atlantic Wail. These brilliant and gallantly contrived American penetrations have discomforted the enemy considerably, and it is safe to assume that the news of the penetrations has been disastrous for morale inside of Germany Hence the present determination of the Nazis to check the American advance. They are using everything from their scanty 4 resources, and they are standing firm, regardless of casualties. However, the Germans axe standing firm only up to a point. When artillery and tanks and flame throwers have hammered the enemy’s cross-firing pillboxes on +he Siegfried Line for a certain time, ana when Allied infantry finally get on top of the pillboxes, advising surrender, the Germans usually take their advice. It would be difficult to over-emphasise the ferocity of the nresent fighting and the bravery and determination of 'the Americans against the stubborn defence of the Germans. The Germans now are using much and heavy artillery from commanding heights, and there is also plenty of mortaring. The Americans are up against a stubborn defence. The Americans, to complete their' missions, have required the utmost gallantry and resolution. The Germans have repeated then’ coun-ter-attacks, which are getting them nowhere. The attacks have stressed the necessity for vigilance. A British United Press correspondent with the United States Third I Army on the Moselle front, said:— “Himmler in the last few days has nersonallv inspected and harangued German troops on the Moselle front. He told them that reinforcements are coming up if they can hold on for a few more days.” Scattered groups of Germans north-east of Nancy are offering a very stiff resistance. They slowed down, but have not halted the American tanks and infantry. The Germans hereabouts are believed to be operating well under one hundred tanks. An Associated Press correspont at Nancy says: There are armoured battles and one infantry battle raging to the north and east of Nancy. The Germans are recklessly using men and tanks and are trying to halt the Americans. Many German units in northern France virtually are without transport. They are left with no choice but to stand and fight, or be over-run by General Patton’s armoured forces.. The fighting has increased in ferocity in direct proportion to each mile of the advance towards Germany. Among the Americans who are edging forward, yard by yard, there is no talk of the war being over in two or three weeks. Heavy opposition is still being encountered around Metz, where a heavy German counter-attack below the city was repulsed. A German counter-attack with bayonets south-east of Nancy failed to shake the Americans. Many of the enemy were slaughtered. The attackers, it is believed, consisted of S.S. fanatics. The battle was very short. The Germans, described as either drunk, doped or crazy, charged through the woods in the style of fighting in the last war. The Americans mowed them down with machine-guns and rifles. It is believed that S.S. youths took the situation into their own hands without organised leadership.

ANOTHER PENETRATION.. ■' OF GERMAN FRONTIER. (Rec. 8.40). LONDON, Sept. 20. It is reported that United, States First Army forces have made another penetration into Germany, just beyond Sittard (north-west of Aachen). They captured Sittard yesterday. GERMAN CIVILIANS. LEAVING RHINE AREAS. LONDON', Sept. 19, United States infantry, with a spearhead of French armour, crossed the Moselle above Epinal and pushes to Charmes. Other United States armour and infantry pushed beyond M'azerulles, 10 miles north-east of Nancy. Some American tanks are 18 miles east of Nancy. Furthernorth, in Aachen, it is estimated that fewer' than 20,000 people remain. The town is surroundered. Captured German documents dated September 9 reveal that the Germans have ordered the evacuation of 2,000,000 inhabitants of the Co-logne-Aachen area, orders having been issued to villages which the Americans later over-ran. An evacuation of Cologne has started. Medium bombers encouraged the evacuation by plastering villages on the line of enemy resistance. An evacuation order signed by the Gauleiter of Cologne said that refusal to obey was punishable by death. The orderinstructed evacuees to carry only 33Ibs of personal property, but livestock must be removed. Men between 16 and 60 are ordered to remain for digging trenches and building defences. GERMANS RETIRE FROM BREST. . LONDON, Sept. 19. General 'Ramcke, with the remnants of his followers, left the smouldering ruins of Brest _ under cover of night and made their way to the Peninsula of Crozon, south of Brest. The German News Agency said:— Ramcke decided to leave because he did not wish to turn the cellars filled with German wounded into a battlefield. Lines sealing the Crozon Peninsula had been pierced. Americans penetrated the western and southern parts of the peninsula, while the German forces rallied in the northern tip. Violent fighting is in progress on the steep, rocky slopes and deep gorges along the coast, where thick undergrowth is affording the Germans good cover. AIR INVASION OF BERLIN? LONDON, Sept. 20. A War Department spokesman, commenting on the success of airborne operations in Holland, said:— ’’lnvasion of jßerlin may come from. the sky.” ' Lieut.-General Giles, Deputy in [command of the U.S. Army airforces, said: “If an airborne army I lands in Berlin it will stay there until ground forces join it.” ! War Department officials also indicated airborne armies are expected to . play a large part in the Pacific, particularly in China.