FIGHT FOR MALMEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 23 December 1944, Page 5

FIGHT FOR MALMEDY

RECAPTURE OF STAVELOT

MORE PARACHUTISTS USED (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22. "Several small enemy attacks have been repulsed by Allied forces in tlie vicinity of Monschau," says the latest Sliaef communique. "Wo have regained a few small towns in that area. On the north flank • of the German thrust' we have stemmed the enemy advance and have" retaken Stavelot, south-west of Malmedy. Fighting is in progress for Malmedy itself. Armoured elements have reached Habiemont, eight miles west of Stavelot. Enemy parachutists were dropped a few miles south-west of Habiemont.

"Our forces have slowed down the enemy pineer movement directed against St. Vith which is still in our hands. The enemy drive west of Vianden penetrated to a point just east of Wiltz and a force operating about six miles further north has reached the, vicinity of Clervaux. Fighting continues.in Echternach and other towns in the immediate vicinity.

"The enemy thrust io Consdorf south-west of Echternach has made further progress to the west. "In the Saar Valley our forces have cleared DilHngen. Two counter-attacks north-west and north of Wissemburg, one supported by tanks, have been beaten off. Repeated local clashes took place further east nearer the Rhine. "More slight gains were made in the Vosges. We are now two miles north of Akenoir, near Munster."

NEARER TO' MEUSE. If the Germans still hold bridgeheads across the River Qurthe which they claimed in their communique today their leading troops are probably less than 30 miles from Namur and Dinant on the Meuse towards which they, have been advancing, says an Official Wireless message. In nearly a week, therefore, German tanks have covered some 40 miles in this their main thrust. On the southern flank the situation is still obscure, but. the Germans do not make any big claims. Allied reports refer to continued foggy weather as facilitating the German movements and preventing air action against them, but there are now indications that Allied r.einforcenients are beginning to come into action. The only news from the Western Front this' afternoon is- that a bridge at Grave, south of Nijmegen, is being subjected to enemy long-range shellfire. . ■ • "Von Rundstedt's push is like a hvdra," says the British United Press correspondent at 21st Army Group Headquarters. "As soon as one thrust is stopped or slowed down the enemy appears somewhere else in the thick tangled Ardennes. The German objective at present appears to he the Meuse which would be an ideal winter line providing a huffer against the invasion ot Germany." It is understood that no paratroops have been dropped in the immediate vicinity of Paris, but normal precautions have been taken by the local authorities to counteract anything qf this kind.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

CHANGES'IN LAST YEAR

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 22. Field-Marshal Montgomery in a personal Christmas message to the 21st Army Group says: "The forces of the British Empire in Western Europe will spend Christmas. 1944, in the field, but what a change has come over the scene since last Christmas. The supreme battle of Normandy carried with it the liberation of France and Belgium. • "Last Christmas we in England were expectant and full of hope. This Christmas we' are fighting in Germany. The conquest of Germany remains. "He would have been a brave man who on D-Day would have said that in. three months we would he in Brussels and Antwerp, having liberated nearly the whole of France and Belgium, and in six months would be fighting in Germany, having driven the enemy hack across his own frontiers. But this is what has happened, and we must not fail to give praise and honour where it is due. 'This is the Lord's doing and it. is marvellous in our eyes'. "What we desire is on earth peace, goodwill towards men, so that today we sing a Christmas hymn full of hope and steadfast in the belief that we shall have our hearts' desire. Therefore, with faith in God and with enthusiasm for our cause and for the day of battle, let us continue the contest with,stout hearts and determination to conquer. "At this time I send each one of you my best wishes and Christmas greetings. Wherever you may be fighting, in the front line, working on lines of communication or in the ports, I wish all of you good luck and a happy 1945. We are all one great team, together you and I have achieved much and together we will see things through to the end. Good luck to you all."— Official Wireless.