TANKS CUT RAILWAY TO SAAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25049, 13 November 1944, Page 5

TANKS CUT RAILWAY TO SAAR

GERMAN COMMUNICATIONS SUFFER (Received November 12, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 12 The fourth day of General Patton's offensive in Lorraine yesterday-sharply increased the threat of encirclement to the German garrison around Metz. Tanks of the Third American Army cut the chief link between Metz and Germany, the main railway running back to the Saar and the Rhine. The Germans still have minor railway links and several roads running east from the fortress, but the loss of the main railway is a big blow to them. The Americans captured Lemud, eight miles south-east of Metz, and Han-sur-Nied, four miles south-east of Lemud. Tanks reached the Nied Francaise River and are approaching it from two other points against light opposition. The Fifth Infantry Division on Saturday night was within five miles of Metz on the south side, says Reuters correspondent. Six infantry and two armoured-divisions are operating in the Metz offensive. The Associated Press correspondent says the invading forces are two-thirds of the way around Metz. Ten miles separate the two flanking forces. The Exchange Telegraph correspondent at Supreme Headquarters says fighter-bombers yesterday made more than 700 individual attacks on the Third Army front in support of ground troops. Twenty German tanks were destroyed.