American Division Forces Way Into Duren

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1944, Page 5

American Division Forces Way Into Duren

(8.0. W.)

RUGBY, Dec. 1

Ninth Air Force Marauders supporting the American 3rd' Army in their offensive, today attacked the Siegfried Line defences in the Saarlauten area, dropping 250 tons of bombs, writes a correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. This has greatly helped 3rd Army troops who advanced today along a good stretch of their northern front. They closed up to the Saar over a distance of about eight miles from a point north of Merzig to a point north of Saarlauten. Several towns have been reached, including Hilbigen and Fiften, all clustered to the west of Merzig. A road bridge over the Saar River near Merzig was blown up by the Germans early this morning. The 90th Division which took part in these advances has entered Duren.

Ninety-fifth Division troops linked up with the 90th and are fighting at Itzbach.

In the Aachen area Ist Army troops, meeting mostly mechanical opposition, made ' only slight advances today. While encountering almost every known kind of defensive weapon, they are plodding through quagmires. Heavy fighting is still taking place in Inden. Ninth Army operations today were primarily in the northern part of the sector where they cleared Welz, a mile south-west of Linnich. The battle is continuing in Beeck.

Along the Roer it has been observed that the enemy is strengthening his defences along the eastern banks. The Ist Army attacked towards .Brandenburg from three sides at 7 o’clock this morning, states a correspondent. Advances have brought the three prongs to less than a mile from the town. At breakfast time an attack also was made three and a half miles south-west of Duren on the Hurgen road. These .troops are within 1000 yards of Duren.