Von Rundstedt Trying To Force Stalemate Along Swollen Rivers

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1944, Page 5

Von Rundstedt Trying To Force Stalemate Along Swollen Rivers

(Received 1 p.m.)

LONDON, December 1

THROWING IN STRONG REINFORCEMENTS AND * COUNTER-ATTACKING IN ALMOST EVERY SECTOR, VON RUNDSTEDT IS TRYING TO FORCE A STALEMATE ALONG THE LINE OF THE FLOOD-SWOLLEN RIVERS, SAYS THE BRITISH UNITED PRESS.

The Maas, Roer and Saar are all flowing to the brim and the Germans are taking advantage of the floods by trying to stop the Allied forces crossing the rivers.

The counter-attacks thus far launched appear to be drawn from the tactical reserve, but new strength is being massed behind the German lines, including armoured reserves which could be thrown in if the river line did not hold.

Opposition from the Germans on the Saar front is becoming decidedly stronger now that the Allies have reached the river at several points.

American armour has established a nine-mile front along the Saar River, says Reuter’s correspondent with the United States 3rd Army. Resistance to General Patton’s advance toward the Saar industrial zone is increasingly bitter. “The Times” correspondent on the Saar front says there is a heavy concentration of enemy artillery on the east bank of the river. Pill-boxes abound and run right down to the river’s,edge. •The Saar River, which normally averages 150 feet in width, is now at least 300 feet, and at some points 1300 feet.

Meet Strong Resistance

The Germans are resisting most strongly west of the Roer River and General Simpson’s forces have made very little progress today, says Reuter’s correspondent with the United States 9th Army. The Americans north'and south of Linnich are meeting determined opposition The British United Press correspondent with the Ist Army says infantry advanced 400 yards today to within 1000 yards of Gey, which is four miles west of Duren. The Americans are fighting their wav room-by-room through two great blocks of flats on the edge of the Rhine to drive the Germans from their last foothold in the Strasbourg area, says the British United Press correspondent at Strasbourg. The Germans are laying down heavy shellfire around the bridges over the canal which separates Strasbourg from the main stream of the Rhine. Saar River Front

A front of one mile has been established along the Saar River which has been reached in three places in Merzig area, says Reuter's correspondent with the United States 3rd Army. The Germans blew up a bridge leading into the town as American tanks reached the opposite bank. The 9th Army has occupied Flosdovf and Roerdorf. giving it a seven, mile front on the west bank of the Roer. The Americans have reached the Saar at a fourth point in Merzig area, says Reuter’s correspondent with the 3rd Army. According to ihe Swiss radio. French Army forces this morning entered Huningen, three miles north of Basle, without resistance, the Germans having withdrawn their troops last night.

The German News Agency stated that the enemy in Alsace and Lorraine had launched a frontal assault against Ihe Vosges. The Germans are making a slow fighting withdrawal eastwards into the Rhine Valley. Most of the fighting is now occurring on the eastern fringes of the Vosges.

Reutov’s correspondent with the United States 9th Army says that Linern and Welz, two mles south and west of Linnich, have been cleared. West of Roer River

The 9th Army is building up strength west of the Roer River.

Patrols report that the Germans are working hard on the other side preparing defences for an attack across the river.

German resistance at Plosdorf was aimed at gaining time for strengthening the defences. Flosdorf itself was defended by bunkers, pill-boxes and dug-in tanks. Patrols crossing the Inde River found the enemy defending the line of the Julich-Weisweiler railway a few hundred yards east of the river. There are a few Germans west of the P.oer River between Linnich and Julich, but there probably are considerable forces in the triangle between the P.oer and Inde Ft. vers.

A correspondent of the British United Press at 21st Army Group headquarters, says that Hitler Youth troops, who declared they would die for the Fuehrer, fled from Wanssum. Only 30 to 40 prisoners were taken when Broekhuizen vilage and castle were captured. The British and Americans are strengthening their grip on the west bank of the Roer River, but activity is mainly confined to artillery fire from both sides. Headquarters’ Communique Today's communique from Allied Headquarters says: “Allied forces continuing to clear the Maas pocket, have occupied strong points in two castles near Wanssum and Broekhuizen. The enemy is cleared from the village of Broekhuizen. “Our forces in the Linnich area have reached Roer River, north of Koslar. We arc lighting in Brock. I.inuern and Flosdorf. “Farther south we cleared Lammors<lorf after hard lighting, and entered the sector of Indcn. two miles north-east of Weisweiler. , „ , "Heavy fighting continued m Merocio. We captured Fori Privat, in the Metz defence ring, and took 500 prisoners. Further gains were made in the Saar Valley. “We occupied high ground west of Morzig .and are lighting in the Duron area, north-west of Saarlautern.'’ • In clearing out the St. Void area, v.<; occupied Karlingen and south-east ol Snargcmund, and entered Adamsweilev. “Our ground forces made limited advances east and west of the lower Vosges Mountains, north of the Saverne gap, and near the Rhino in the vicinity ol llagenau Enemy guns across the Rhine henvilv shell Strasbourg. "Our units cn the Northern Alsace plain reached Gerstheim and Siotzhcim. meeting little opposition. The advance in southern High Vosges continues on a wide front, and our joices are within one mile of Urbts and St. Amerin. We inflicted heavy losses in, repulsing a counter attack at Burbach. The German News Agency stated that (10 Sherman tanks and five infantry battalions of General Patton's 3rd Army this morning launched an attack south ol Saarunion and breached the German line at Rimsdorf. two miles east of Saarunion.