BELFORT REACHED

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

BELFORT REACHED

AMERICAN FORCES PANZER BRIGADE SMASHED (Eeccl. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10 The American Third and Seventh Armies are reported to have reached Belfort, according to Router's correspondent, who says the German 112 th Panzer Brigade was almost completely knocked out as a fighting force by General Patton's forces near Epinal and is no longer able to function. The town of Epinal has been captured. ANOTHER BRIDGEHEAD BORDER OF HOLLAND LONDON, Sept. 17 Along the border between Belgium and Holland, British Second Army troops, using assault barges, dinghies and anything that would float, have established another bridgehead across the Escault Canal in the face of heavy enemy fire. The enemy are counterattacking on all the three existing bridgeheads in an attempt to hold out our troops until their forces in the coastal pocket can be brought back into safety. The Canadians have captured Eecloo and are closing up on the Dutch frontier, says a statement from Supreme Headquarters. Forward elements have reached Lambeke, three miles north of Eecloo. Canadian patrols went back over the Leopold Canal near the Dutch frontier on Friday night, crossing at six different points, says the Associated Press correspondent. The positions along the canal were greatly improved by the achievement of these daring patrols. Polish troops have crossed the Dutch border in the Htilst area. BELGIAN COMES HOME MOTHER-IN-LAW'S COOLNESS (Special Correspondent) (Rccd. 5.35 p.m.) NORTH FRANCE, Sept. 10 In an 11. A.F. wing commanded by Group-Captain D. «J. Scott, of Hokitika. there are several Belgians, some of whom have been able to revisit their families after an absence of years. One Belgian reached his home at 2 a.m. When ho knocked at the door, his mother-in-law looked out of a window and gave him the proverbial in-law "welcome" or: "Oh, it's you again." But his wife heard him and came flying downstairs, hardly able to believe her eyes. There are many such reunions going on. VON RUNDSTEDT AGAIN (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10 Field-Marshal von Kundstedt, who was relieved of the post of German Com-mander-in-Chief in France after the St. Lo break-tbrough, is reported to be again commanding the German Army in the West. PRISONERS INCREASING LONDON, Sept. 10 The British Second Army has taken 76,000 prisoners since D Day. More are still coming in. The bag of prisoners at Le Havre nas reached 9600.