GROUND GAINED

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

GROUND GAINED

I NEIGHBOURING FRONTS j ALLIED INITIATIVE j COUXTUK-MOVKS REPULSED (Reed. 7.30 p.in.) LONDON, Dec. 21 In spite of the big German onslaught: in the Ardennes, the Americans still dominate the action on neighbouring fronts. North of the new German salient American troops attacked yesterday and gained ground west of the River Jioer. Renter's correspondent at 21st Army Group Headquarters says the enemy yesterday increased his artillery and mortar fire, and also sent patrols against our linos in the areas of Geileukirclien and Maeseyek, on the northern sector of the Aachen front. An Army spokesman said that the enemy's intention presumably was to keep us quiet. In the Saar sector Third Army troops yesterday cleared the last bridge at Saarlouis and are now attacking the Germans left in tho factory area of Dillingen. The Americans have repulsed two German counter-attacks in the woods north-east of Sarreguemines today, says Renter's correspondent with the American Third Army. The counter-attacks are continuing. Air reconnaissance has shown considerable enemy movement behind the front opposite the Third Army. German marshalling yards are choked with material and* the roads are crowded with armour and supply lorries. Troops of the Seventh Army farther to the south have penetrated deeper into the Siegfried Line positions. TIGHTENING UP POLICY CANADIAN WAR EFFORT (Heed. 10.30 p.m.) NEW YORK. Dec. 21 The war situation has caused a tightening of Canadian policy regarding discharges from the Royal Canadian Air Force, reports the New York Times correspondent in Ottawa. Fighter pilots and others who had been notified that they would not be wanted and would be enrolled in the reserve are being maintained on the active list. A general tightening up is evident throughout the services, and war plants which had been informed that_ they might have to shut, down in 1945 have been notified that full production must be maintained. RED CROSS ACTIVITIES GENEVA CLEARING CENTRE (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21 More than 40,000,000 letters and postcards have passed through its Geneva services, says an International Red Cross report, according to the Geneva correspondent of the Times. These services also despatched about 28,000,000 relief parcels to prisoner of war camps. The Swiss people in 1914 subscribed nearly £'"1,950,000 for the work of the International Red Cross. FLYING BOMB "ACE" NOW PRISONER OF WAR (Reed. (5.10 p.m.) LONDON, Dee. 21 Wing - Commander Rowland Beaumont, who has shot down 2,i tiding bombs, is a prisoner of war. I lie three squadrons in the wing commanded by Wing-Commander Beaumont have destroyed about 000 flying bombs. ADMIRAL CRUTCHLEY SECOND AMERICAN AWARD (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. '2l Rear-. Vdmiral V. A. C. Crutchley, VC. D.5.0., has been awarded tho Legion of .Merit, in the degree of chief commander, bv the United States Navy for his part in welding the American and Australian forces for their campaign in the New Guinea area. RearAdmiral Crutchley last month was awarded the Distinguished Service \led a I by the I'nited States Army. He formerly commanded H..M.S. Diomede on the New Zealand station. Admiral Harold Stark, commander of the United States naval forces in Kurope, presented the award, which is the liifdiest degree of the Legion of Merit conferred by the United States armed forces. , . The citation said that the task force under his forceful leadership provided effective support for amphibious assaults against Japanese strongholds vital for tho reconquest of North New Guinea, TOLL OF OFFICERS GERMAN WAR LOSSES (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dee. 21 The Exchange Telegraph correspondent on the First Army front says the Americans have captured documents showing that the Germans, to the beginning of 1944, but exclusive of the Battle of Stalingrad, lost 110,000 officers killed, wounded and missing. The total included 97 generals and 108 colonels. Panzer grenadier units suffered most heavily. The documents, which were prepared for the German adjutant-general, say it is estimated that 18,000 officers are needed. P. AND 0. SHIP LOSSES WELL-KNOWN VESSELS LONDON, Doc. 20 Mr A. C. Long, deputy-chairman of the P. and O. Shipping Company, in a speech at the annual meeting, announced that five of its vessels—the Strathallan. Viceroy of India, Narkunda, Cathay and Et trick—were sunk by enemv action in connection with the Allied landings in North Africa and in the Mediterranean campaign.