NEW ALLIED DRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 31, 5 January 1945, Page 5

NEW ALLIED DRIVE

tUTTING INTO SALIENT THREE ATTACKS BY AMERICANS LONDON, Jan. 4. In terrible weather and against stiffening opposition the American First Army yesterday launched an attack along a 12-mile front against the northern flank of the Germans' Ardennes salient. The attack began in thick fog, and the whiteclad Americans took the Germans by surprise, . gaining penetrations of up to three and a-half miles at some points. The forward move was between Grandmenil and Hotton. Although tanks were knocked out early, General Hodges's forces have not yet made contact with the main enemy strength. The German commander seems to have concentrated his armour in the Bastogne area and has thrown in more forces there, bringing the enemy strength on the sector to five infantry and five armoured divisions. For him, the loss of Houffalize means the loss of the only good road from the west of his salient., Meanwhile 'General Ration's drive towards Houffalize continues although now very slowly, but a _ third Allied attack has developed from the Rochefort area into the western tip of the salient. On the vSaar sector the Germans have increased their penetration between Sarreguemines" and Bitche /to seven miles. In the Lower Vosges south of Bitche the first impetus v of the enemy attack has been neutralised, but it is believed that the Germans are still advancing slowly at the tip of their penetration.