NAZI HORDES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25083, 22 December 1944, Page 5

NAZI HORDES

forward sweep SWAYING BATTLE AMERICAN'S HOLD OUT EOTING GEBMAN UNITS (Becd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Doc.. 'JO Von Kuridstedt is attacking with 13 to 15 divisions, five or six of which are panzer divisions, representing between 150,000 and 225,000 men, according to despatches from Supreme Headquarters. The British United Press correspondent with the First Army says the Americans are now facing the finest German troops in the West. German armoured columns are ranging far and wide, says a message filed yesterday, but American tanks and tank-destrovers are hardening the shoulders of our defence above and below the enemy's broad breakthrough area. We still hold some key towns in the area " through which the Germans passed. Renter's correspondent says that although Monsehau has been recaptured, certain American units are isolated in Monsehau Forest, but they are still fighting. The Americans today took prisoner more than 2000 Germans. Americans Not Retreating The First Army is not in retreat, adds the correspondent. Where breakthroughs hare occurred they have none over to the defensive, but the Americans are not falling back anywhere. The deepest German penetration, of about "20 miles, in the Stavelot area has been contained by well-organised American forces which are using bazookas against German Royal Tiger tanks. German troops are still being thrown into the battle, but the general line is being held with the exception of armoured columns which broke through and were last reported to be running behind the lines against light American forces. A First Army staff officer said: "There is no question that if properly handled the war can be won right here. The German offensive is very bold. Von Rundstedt has evidently borrowed divisions from elsewhere, and consequently tbey have achieved breaks in our front line, but no great hole has been opened and our front line troops are still holding out, although some have been badly hit." Tactics ol Confusion Reuter's correspondent says there are Bo roadblocks in this part of the country, and because of this von Rundstedt's tanks are able to appear here, there and everywhere. Tins leads to siidden small actions at most unexpected places. German "Wildcat" armoured columns which are running loose over a wide area toj inconsiderable depth from the German border are evidently intended to create confusion and cut off American units in preparation for a heavier assault. The Germans have not yet thrown in the Full weight of their ? r +? * an k fr> rccs ' but the bulk of the enemy troops has now moved into the line. The "Wildcat" columns aro punchahead in a supreme effort to cut in behind our supply dumps ahd thus pro™e the German Army with hadlyBeeded supplies, says another correspondent. However, a First Army spokesman stated that so far they have picked up very little, laying bombs have been oaring over the First Army sector in number reminiscent of the hardest a > 3 at 'd nights in London in July. An American broadcaster on the First „ n a '7 front said: "The? German attacks ini l n ! morning with undimflufl .^ rPn Kth. The situation is still W ui 1 both s 'des throwing in more . arG making great efforts to _ i ' the situation. The Germans are f I ac *ynncing as swiftly as in the first stitr their drive. Thev are meeting linnf rosista nee. The roads behind our WV aro f P a °k p d W 'if:h troops and guns fading for the battle area." _s OPENING OF ASSAULT direction of thrusts T , LONDON. Dec. V<> j tho S er ," )!l " column which opened fnrr>o netlI ' V s . winter-offensive struck in of u m 7 r i i t horder from the vicinity Jhl m n ? feld - ln '' es cast-south-east of ciatp/ii' n '"' t '"'" s Piit- >ays the Asso}L„, refi - s ffrrespfindcnt at Supreme p..A c j" a ''ters. ()11e unit veered northeirrht •! vjr '*">sy of Bntgenbaeb. - S - east of Malniedy, The 0 "nit jabbed to Stavelot. #tr<i;!' S i. s ® eo " f '. drive was a pincers thrust can, and cut off some Ameri- ' ut "P to noon on Monday these defc "ce'pockets!' ! ' oldinK innlOfi .^ e, ' ma " armoured group atthfi "i 1 ie direction of St. Vith from frnTrft'i. 1 Jln d another group drove a , x, t-np soutli-east and reached as far IVith a> P e ol|r miles south-east of St. CONCERN IN PARIS people apprehensive a ' 10 , 30 P- m -> LONDON. Dec. 21 of j. C L or< !l n f! to the Paris correspondent Germo v Herald-Tribune the P nr : ; ari ■ r piintor-offensive has filled j o f f ls ,V I 'h apprehension. They have *nd [•rf ' - le 'ightning war of 1940 fr nrrifi ■ (>ons ''' or Gie Germans superlihle rS f hn m nothing is imposW'J' People are asking ypa'ti .y wljipther the Germans can ofit L* e ,! 1 to Paris. The news black- ' * , aturallvi has increased uneasiness.