Germans Fall To Hold British On

Northern Advocate, 14 September 1944, Page 3

Germans Fall To Hold British On

I (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 13. i The Germans have withdrawn from the general line of the Albert Canal east of Antwerp after failing to hold the British thrust across the canal, says the British United Press correspondent in Belgium.' German battle groups, composed of remnants of dozens of divisions, reinforced by mixed troops, opposed the British troops. The British feat in forcing the canal at the end ot their long dash across Belgium is praiseworthy. A staff officer said: “German battle groups on the canal are reinforced by a number of young fanatics. They are soon killed, but fight fanatically and bravely. There has been bitter fighting in the past few days and the enemy has suffered heavy casualties. We also have had a' number of casualties. The fanatics do not know how to fight, but they are more than a nuisance." The Curtain Drops Again

Reuter's correspondent with the British 2nd Army says a blanket of silence again has been cast over operations of the 2nd Arm.y. There has not yet been any link up between British forces in the two bridgeheads across the Albert Canal, but a junction between the British and Americans seems imminent. The British have not any base in Holland which they can exploit, but long columns of traffic have been speeding along the roads in the past three days. German pick and shovel scfuads are reported to be very active across the Dutch frontier. Channel Coast Clear

The Channel Coast from Zeebrugge to Nieuport now has been completely mopped up, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Canadian Ist Army. One strongpoint, which had been holding out, yielded 300 prisoners. The total of Germans taken prisoner at Lc Havre now has risen to 8000, which is believed to be the entire garrison. Prisoners are husky and well-fed. They are fresher and cleaner than any captured since D Day. They evidently went into deeper shelters during the bombing and shelling and finally surrendered without showing fight. The garrison did not include S.S. troops.

Break-Through At Eindhoven

According to reports from Berlin the Allies have broken through the German lines about Eindhoven and are advancing, says the Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press. Reports that Field-Marshal Model is throwing in a wing of hastily summoned reserves in a bid to hold the advance which threatens to nullify the entire German line on the Albert Canal and bring the battle for Holland to a decisive state. Canadians More Via Bruges

Canadian formations passed through Bruges on September 12 without opposition and, pressing on eastward reached a point three miles from Eecloo. Other units are nearing Maldevem.

Large bodies of Germans are still resisting in Limbourg which the Americans by-passed in their drive to Eupen and eastward into Germany, says Supreme Headquarters. Today's communique from Supreme Headquarters states that mopping-up continues on the Belgian coast between Fulness and Zeebrugge. North of Liege we have taken Fort Ebene Macl. Forces are advancing easl and south-east of Liege. After meeting strong resistance from German infantry anti-tank guns and mines in the Limbourg area, we have captured Eupen and Maimedy. Units have crossed tire German frontier east of Eupen. Our troops in the Ardennes, who liberated Bastogne, have advanced in the vicinity of Clervaux, in northern Luxemburg. In the Moselle Valley we enlarged our bridgeheads across the river against heavy resistance. German Casualties Heavy

Mon? German counter-attacks against Second Army troops have been thrown back and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy, writes a correspondent. Latest attacks were made in the neighbourhood of Gheel by battle groups supported by a few- tanks, against the bridgehead over the Albert Canal. They made no progress and our troops held them comfortably; The Germans are still trying to evacuate troops from their bridgehead on the south bank of the Scheldt. Our air forces destroyed 10 barges and damaged 20 yesterday.

We also are attacking trains on Iho Dutch-German border and one leaded with armoured vehicles was blown to atoms by rockets from 'Typhoons after Spitfires had stopped it.