FORCING GAP

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25001, 18 September 1944, Page 5

FORCING GAP

ENGINEERS' WORK TANKS FOLLOW INFANTBY'S BIG PAET MASSIVE FOETS TAKEN ;<Becd.. 630 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 17 The British United Press correspondent with the First Army says American infantry breached the main Siegfried Line at 2 p.m. on Friday east of Aachen. Infantry and engineers with T.N.T. cleared the final obstacles and the tanks then rolled through the defences. German artillery began to fire as the American troops poured "through the gap. There was also some anti-tank-fire from Germans in pillboxes considerably behind the main line, but these were quickly reduced. Another correspondent says United States forces smashed a gap eight miles deep in the Siegfried Line. The Germans put up a desperate fight, using all types of armour, including anti-tank guns. The American troops smashed through the defences with their new secret weapons. It is not known how long Aachen can hold out, but the Americans are already shelling the city. Silhouetted On Flames "A headlong infantry attack on a wide front east of Aachen found the ' Siegfried Line weakly defended in places," says Reuter'scorrespondent. "In some sectors apparent defensive positions turned out to be fakes. The Americans were well supported by tanks, but it was essentially a victory for the infantry." This correspondent describes the 'American combat teams silhouetted against tho flames blasting the forts, leaping on the roofs and calling on the Germans to come out. One American leaped on a pillbox and battered the ventilator with a rifle butt, shouting, "Come out you " Tho reply was a broken "kamerad" and the Germans obediently came .out. The Daily Express correspondent, in a despatch written inside one of the Siegfried Line forts which was stormed by the Americans, says three of four forts in one area are in American hands. The Germans hold the fourth. Sixty Germans with their hands on their heads came out of the three captured forts. The fort in which the correspondent was writing was camouflaged and built into a hillside protected by loft of concrete and 10ft of earth. Capture o! Towns After liberating Maastricht, First •, Army forces crossed the southern tip of Holland and entered Germany, says the British United Press correspondent at First Army headquarters. Aachen is now surrounded on all sides. Fighting continues on the outskirts and the fall of the city is expected soon. Americans are advancing well into Holland, where the German resistance is sporadic after tho crossings of the Albert Canal and Me use River. A statement from Supreme Headquarters says: The Americans hold liigh ground south-west and north of - Aachen, with reconnaissance units operating in the northern outskirts of the town. Other units have pushed east beyond the town and captured Stolberg, <tn the road to Cologne, also Busbach, a mile south of Stolberg. Other units, advancing south from Aachen, have captured Lanunersdorf, feu miles east of Eupen and two miles south-east of Roetgen. Enemy resistance in the border area near Eupen continues strong, with many well-established'road blocks and minefields. The Germans are using heavy weapons, mortars, artillery and antitank guns against the Americans advancing in tho Prum area. %ORCES REACH MODANE weed. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 17 Allied forces in France have entered Modane, near the western entrance of the tunnel linking France and Italy. The Germans, are withdrawing to the wont Cenis pass. ' AMERICAN AIR LOSSES AM. 5.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 10 The United States Air Force in f.l'fope lost 2870 planes and 10,284 men ■ s llle a and missing between June 6 and September 9, according to n statement "y Lieiitenant-General Giles, deputyzander 0 f the United States Air