SWITCHED TO SOUTH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 23 December 1944, Page 6

SWITCHED TO SOUTH

3.45 P.M. EDITION

MAIN G.ERMAN DRIVE. CONSIDERABLE ENEMY PROGRES (N.Z. Press Association.— Copyright.) Rec. 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22. Von Rundstedt's main drive now appears to have been switched southward toward the Bastogne area where considerable enemy progress is believed to have been made, says the British United Press correspondent at 21st Army Group Headquarters. The northern arm of the double-barrelled German drive is almost at a standstill, but the Germans are apparently now getting their second wind. Authoritative reports indicate that 5t Is premature to say that von RunuRtedt's plan has failed, hut it <s clear that the Allies are gaining time and every day sees the , Allied countermeasures more effective. . The R.A.F., with clearing skies. again flew to the aid of the Americans carrying out over 100 sorties in which they blasted German gun positions and strafed troops. T.he Lultwaffe did not appear. The Americans arc sipwly breaking the hack of the German offensive by exacting appalling losses says the Associated Press correspondent in a despatch from the Malmedy sector, tie ado's that incomplete reports record the' destruction of 200 German tanks. Nineteen were knocked out in an area less than a mile square. American losses have not been slight, but they are nothing compaud with the Germans' Prisoners are few because b.Ss. troops are not surrendering and the Americans are also fighting to the last. Pome of the most savage fighting .is taking plfltt on snow-covered mountain tropes where the original vrcc , of 5 \ H) German paratroops has been largely wined out. Americans lound survivors, e-irrenmr from frozen feet and exhaustion .twin" to rearh their own lines. AMERICAN DEMOLITIONS. For the first time since D-Day Americans are blowing Up bridges, destroying supplies, setting fire to petrol mimps, and throwing u non-combat troops, says the British United Press correspondent at Shaef. 'these noncombat troops fought like veterans, particularly at Stavelot, where they lie'id the town for a day and a-lialt against King Tiger tanks. Shaef authorities believe the emergence of agents whom tiie Germans leit behind is a better explanation tor the sabotage and espionage now going on than the dropping of parachutists because the weather has been too bad lor flying.

Reuters correspondent at Shaef says the remainder oi the Western l-ront is experiencing one of the quietest spells. The only activity reported tonight was German long-range sneilmg oAhe Grave bridge south ol iMjniegeu. The German -News Agency commentator (Sertorius) says British reintorceliieiitß noin J.' ieiu-Jlursnai Montgomery's groupings were tnrown m against tne northern flank ol vui. Kunusteut s ort«nsne General Patten's lorces southward have so far estauhshed omy tjoit positions bui may launch an attuCii soon. Another German News Agency commentator (Gunther Weber) declared: "Patton has lost tne Saar batt'le, winch has entered a new phase during the past 12 hours. Third Army loices are withdrawing to the western bank oi the teaar and blowing up tlieir pontoon bridges." , The Berlin radio stated that the German garrison at St. Nassaire has pushed bacli the Ahied siege lines five innes on a 10-niile iront. OPPORTUNIST ADVANCE. Reuter's military correspondent says the German advance.is Looming more opportunist and less according to plan. Ims ill' itself does not make it less dangerous but does indicate that on the three sectors or the initial breakthrough the Allied positions were not overrun to any serious extent. The most uangerotid thrust is still the one striking .towards Liege and the Meuse bevouu Malmedy. .Next to Liege, St. \ ith is the most important Aihed position. St. Vith, about the centre of tne German advance, like a breakwater has compelled von Rundstcdt to divide his lorces. if the A.lies succeed in driving the Germans back at this point they will seriously hamper vuu Rundsteat's ability to switch his troops as he has done so far. if von Kundstedt gains the town (Berlin claims he has) he will have a valuable lateral road north and houth lroni iuulmedy almost to Luxembourg aiong whiclr to manoeuvre such forces as are not yet committed to battle.

'today's German communique states: "lu Southern Belgiun. we have smashed eiiemv attempts to bung our attacks to 'a standstill. St. Vith fell to a concentric attack. German s|iearheads continue to advance westwards and ha\e established' several bridgeheads over the Ourthe. Heavy fighting has developed in the Stavelot area against enemy tank lorces brought up from the Aachen area which attempted a thrust jgainst the German northern tiank. 'The German attack is also making good progress ill Central Luxembourg. The .German successes in Belgium" have compelled the enemy command to withdraw formations from tec-tors where tie was previously attacking. I lie enemy in the Saar was obliged tne bridgeheads at Dillingen and Euzdori to release further tormations,"