ASSAULT IN DARK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25021, 11 October 1944, Page 5

ASSAULT IN DARK

SHELLS FROM ISLAND FLOODS MENACING ENEMY LONDON. Oct. f) Describing the Scheldt landings, the Associated Press correspondent says the first assault craft came out of the mouth of the Ghent-Ter-neuzen Canal about midnight. Although well within range of the German guns on Walcheren and South Beveland Islands, they drew no gunfire. The first forces, which landed at 2 a.m.. encountered some mortar and scattered artillery fire, but by daylight one of the two initial assault groups already had its Bren carriers and tank guns ashore and another reinforcement unit was on the way under cover of a smoke screen which had been laid in the middle of the estuary.

By 8 a.m. Canadian medium and heavy field guns from positions below Terneuzen were already blasting away against objectives which had been singled out by the landing force. In spite of opposition, said a report tonight, the operation is progressing satisfactorily. It was several hours old before the Germans manning the batteries on Walcheren Island realised what was afoot. Shells from the guns on the island—many of which are entirely surrounded by water, which is pouring in through gaps in the sea wall—are now falling on the Allied landing beaches. The Air Ministry says reconnaissance on Walcheren Island shows that floods from the north have now cut the island almost in half. Water has flowed in from West Kapelle eastward to beyond Middelburg, a distance of about eight miles. It has already flooded eight batteries, while seven others are in an area where the ditches are flooded and the ground probably waterlogged. There are 12 breaches in the dykes near Flushing and seas are pouring in continuously at high tide. A Canadian correspondent says the German defence positions around Flushing are inundated and the organised defences of the island are completely destroyed. It is believed that the 11,000 German troops on the island are now cut off. Four thousand are on the long spit connecting the island with the mainland. The Dutch civilians on the island are refusing to work for the enemy and the Germans have had to declare marI tial law. I