METZ ASSAULT BY AMERICANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25053, 17 November 1944, Page 5

METZ ASSAULT BY AMERICANS

FRENCH APPROACHING BELFORT GAP By Teleuraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 16, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 16 • The lrtest reports of the principal activities on various sectors of the Western Front are as follow: .; South-eastern Holland.—The British attack against the German pocket west of the Maas River went yesterday according to plan. A blanket of cold fog hung over the flat dreary battlefield go that our men had to push forward through mud without air gupport. Opposition, however, was again slight. British troops have liberated a place only four miles from Roermond, important road centre on the far side of the River Maas. Another advance has brought British troops into a small town almost two miles from the Maas. A sharp frost last night helped to harden the sodden ground* and this morning our men are continuing their advance |n bitter cold but under a bright sun. Metz Area in Lorraine.——General Patton's tanks and infantry late night were blasting the Germans from positions on a vital ridge nortH of Pouilly, two miles From Metz and the last formidable barrier between the American Third Army s spearhead units and 1 the city itself, reports Reuter's correspondent outside Metz. All the garrison's escape roads are now under American fire. Reuter's correspondent at Supreme Headquarters reports that American .columns early this morning were thrusting north-east toward Saarbrucken, with spearheads about 20 miles from the city. Vosges Mountains.—The French First Army yesterday advanced four to five miles on a 2 5-mile front covering both banks *of the Doubs River at the approaches to the Belfort Gap, says Reuter's correspondent with the Sixth Army Group. A heavy artillery barrage preceded the assault, which has already enveloped ten villages, including the key village of Arcy, 1 1 miles from Belfort. Several hundred prisoners have been taken. From the Maas River to the Jura Mountains there are now few sectors on the Western Front where the trail of gunpowder i» not spluttering toward Germany s heart, says the Times correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. Whether or not this •is the beginning of a decisive battle, it is evident that the Allied supply problems that halted the headlong pursuit from Normandy have n ow been largely overcome.