MAJOR PENETRATIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 20, 21 December 1944, Page 5

MAJOR PENETRATIONS

GERMANS' EARLY SURGE

SECURITY BAN PARTLY RAISED. 'N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright. 1 (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Supreme Headquarters today revealed that the German offensive has forced major penetrations in the American line, says Reuter's correspondent.' One penetration is as deep as 20 miles and some American units are cut off.

The Germans have reached Stavelot and Consdorf, five miles south-west of Echternach and the same distance from the frontier, also Reemint, less than two miles east of St. Vith. The security black-out has been lifted to cover the period until midday on Monday and discloses a picture of German tanks and infantry swarming from the Reich over Belgium and Luxembourg. The Americans' quick reaction at some points managed to halt the westward surge but other Germans continued to push on. An official order to the Wehrmacht, captured in the battle area, says the German forces will use American equipment, weapons and vehicles, also insignia, especially ' the five-pointed liberation star on the vehicles. "Von Rundstedt is not trying to smash his way back to Paris. He is trying to lengthen the war," says tho Daily Express military writer. "Von Rundstedt hopes to gain two or three months so that the German robot attacks can be stepped up, and possibly other weapons introduced. He is acting like the good general he is. Just as the Red Army commander, Marshal Timoshenko, delayed the German offensive in 1942, by several weeks with a limited attack ' against Kharkov, so von Rundstedt is trying to prevent the Allies from making their grand assault before March at the" earliest. "Before the Germans officially blanketed the news of their counteroffensive, Berlin commentators said von Rundstedt had four panzer divisions and up to nine infantry divisions at his disposal. It is most improbable that he is using anything like that force at present. It would be completely committed only if startling success came in the early stages of the offensive. ■ His panzer strength is the reconstituted Sixth Tank Army which was smashed in Normandy. All told, it might number 500 to 600 tanks."

AMERICANS' BIGGEST BATTLE. "Powerful German columns pushed further into Belgium yesterday in the greatest battle in American history," states the New York Times correspondent with the United States First Army.

"There is complete realisation here that the German attack is regarded as nothing less than the enemy's last bid for victory and a very competent one. The operation is considered as final proof that the German army is no longer under Hitler's intuition or the Nazi Party's inspiration but is now being run by its own generals. ''Von Rundstedt is on top with von Model directing the specific operations. These formidable adversaries have thrown in the cream of the Germans' still formidable army, including crack panzer and infantry divisions saved for the enemy's last throw of the dice. Undoubtedly the Germans hope for victory but at the worst they have moved a considerable portion of the battle off their own soil to the towns and villages of our friends. As the Germans are increasing the weight of the att«iek our commanders are also conducting counter-measures. It is no exaggeration to call the present situation on the First Army front serious yet our leaders are confident that the German offensive will he stemmed in time. Then how much will Germany have left?"