Increased Enemy Resistance On Several Sectors

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 220, 16 September 1944, Page 5

Increased Enemy Resistance On Several Sectors

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Saturday, 1.15 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 15. Allied troops in Northeastern Belgium have reached the line of the Leopold Canal north of Meldegem, says to-day’s Shaef communique. Mopping up continues in the area south of our bridgehead over the Escaut Canal. The Allies further south have taken several small towns inside Germany and are meeting with increasing resistance from prepared enemy positions. Enemy resistance is strong south of Aachen. East of St. Vith we pierced an outer section of the Siegfried defences on a six-mile front. Other units encountered extensive road blocks and pillboxes, but progress was maintained. Strong enemy counterattacks in the Moselle Valley against our bridgeheads were contained. Further advances were made in the area south of Nancy, where the Germans are putting up a stubborn defence with heavy mortars, smallarms, machineguns and sporadic artillery fire. The enemy garrison at Brest rejected demands for surrender and the fighting continues. Fighter-bombers yesterday attacked enemy guns in this area. Scattered enemy fire was encountered on the Crozon Peninsula, south of Brest, where medium-bombers and lightbombers attacked strongpoints.