PROBING BY ENEMY

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

PROBING BY ENEMY

PRESSURE IN SAAR VALLEY. PART OF BITCHE EVACUATED. (N.Z. Press Association.— Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 4. Considerable German forces in the Saar Valley continue to harass the Americans by probing, states Reuter's correspondent at Supreme Hea'dquarters. The Americans have withdrawn from a small section at Bitche which they held to avoid being cut off by the Germans' southward penetration.

' Enemy penetrations south-east of Sarreguemines in the vicinity, of Grosrederchingen have been stopped, at least temporarily.

The position of the German bridgehead over the Blies River is unchanged. The Germans have suffered very heavy casualties, some formations losing up to 50 per cent. They are, however, apparently well backed by reinforcements and by artillery and armour.

A violent artillery duel was progressing "early today north of Basle where the Germans brought their heaviest guns into action against Mulhouse, states the Associated Press correspondent at Basle. The battle extended from the Swiss frontier towards Mulhouse and has increased in intensitv. German troops at midnight last night attempted to cross the Rhine into France not far from the Swiss frontier, but were thrown back by fierce fire from French guns at Huningen, from which the Germans retreated a month ago. Reuter's military correspondent, summing up the situation, says von Rundstedt is probing along the whole front from Holland to Alsace. The Allies in turn are becoming more aggressive on an increasingly wide sector. There are growing indications that something like one big battle is developing in which all the fronts will be interconnected.

The First Army's assault in the north has placed von Rundstedt in a defensive position for the first time since he took the offensive on December 16, says the New York Times Paris correspondent (Mr Drew Middleton). General Hodges's attack is believed to be on a considerable scale.