Important Gains on Western Front

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 46, 23 February 1945, Page 5

Important Gains on Western Front

Strong Resistance on Montgomery’s Front (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Beceived Friday, 12.50 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 22. Third Army troops cleared Saarburg and crossed the river south of the town, says Beuter’s correspondent. The Canadians pushing through softening resistance entered Moyiand and are fighting inside the town. Other elements have driven within 2000 yards of Balkar. The British United Press correspondent with the Anglo-Canadians reports that German resistance near the Maas Biver remains firm. The enemy is subjecting tbe Scots to heavy artillery fire and several counterattacks. Typhoon fighter-bombers yesterday swept down and wrecked Blijenbeek Castle, a heavily fortified strongponit covering a tributary of the Maas along which the Germans had constructed a defence line which is holding up the advance. The Scots forced a bridgehead across the tributary but later were compelled to withdraw after heavy mortar fire. Doing a full day’s work in half a day’s good flying weather the Second Tactical Air Force flew a total of over 1100 sorties. The day’s total hag was 51 railway cuts, 77 locomotives, 143 railway trucks and 156 motor transports destroyed or damaged. There was little Luftwaffe opposition. Beconnaissance elements of the Third Army entered Saarburg to-day, states Eeuter’s correspondent with the Third Army, and the Americans, after advances of three miles, hold an eightmile stretch of the Saar Elver below Saarburg. They to-day captured 16 German towns and villages, cleared another and entered four others, including Daxburg, along a 50-mile front. Eeuter’s correspondent with the Seventh Army says General Patch’s troops are fighting a hitter house-to-house battle for Forbach, parts of which are on fire as a result of heavy German artillery and mortar fire. Using a new secret tank which is more than a match for the German Tiger, General Patton has suddenly turned the Third Army front into a war of movement, says the Daily Express correspondent at Shaef. The tank has heavier armament than the Tiger and also has a mechanically operated turret, while the Germans’ is manually operated.