ALLIED RESERVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 7

ALLIED RESERVES

REPORTED IN ACTION DEFENCE HAS EFFECT GERMANS SLOWED DOWN (Rccd. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22 The New York Sim's London correspondent quotes a German report that General Eisenhower lias thrown in large tactical reserves against the German assault. The correspondent adds that this is the great Christmas news we have been awaiting. General Eisenhower has taken advantage of his superiormechanisation to transport troops to where they will do the most damage and has forced the enemy holding a strongly defensive line to leave it and come into the open. The American First Army front, which was reported to be so thinly held, was an invitation to von Rundstedt, who accepted the" challenge because he needed a Christmas present for Hitler. There is no possibility of the Germans being in Paris for Christmas. That was just a bait for Nazi soldiers. Encouraging Signs The New York Times correspondent. Drew Middleton, says there are encouraging signs that the First Army is •- covering from the shock of surprise but the situation is still grave. "I believe," he says, "that it will be impossible to halt the offensive for another five or six days, although the American infantry are rallying gallantly on the flanks of the enemy drive. There is as yet little chance of smashing the nose of the salient which has driven deeply into Luxemburg and Belgium." In a message from the First Army headquarters last evening, a correspondent says the German drive was not yet by any means neutralised but the American defence was having some effect. It cannot be said that von Rundstedt has been held, he says, but he has been slowed down. A broad assessment of von Rundstedt's offensive gives a picture of spoiling tactics which, for all the damage thev may inflict on the Allied supply system, may well end in disaster for the enemy, says the Times correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. Air Blows Will Come The fog will not last for ever and when it lifts —quite apart from the field commanders' plans to fight the battle the onslaught of our tactical air squadrons should be as decisive as during the not. dissimilar days of anxiety in Normandy when the enemy tried to thrust through to Avranches. Thick fog has been hanging over the battlefield. If Allied planes could get to work in full strength the effect on the enemy's drive would be greater but so far fog and mist have handicapped Allied aircraft. The American First Army was denied aircraft support in any strength again yesterday, and a message from Supreme Headquarters says thatfighting was raging this morning with undiminished fury in a blanket of low cloud and rain. SEESAW BATTLES SEVENTH ARMY FRONT AMERICANS LOSE GROUND (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22 American Seventh Army troops have knocked out more Siegfried positions in their drive north from Alsace. A correspondent says that every German village occupied by our troops at °' ice comes under a hail of German shells. Reuter's correspondent with tlie Sixth Army Group says that m seesaw battles which are raging along the Seventh Army front, the Germans after heavy street fighting forced the Americans' from Bundenthal, eight miles north-west of Wissemburg. Jhe Germans have also in filtrated back Ber f/ ft mile and a-lialf north-east ol Lauterburg. which the Americans captured earlier in their advance into Uermanv near the Rhine. Tlio Associated Press correspondent with the Third Army reports that the Americans in the Saar River aiea have driven the last of the Germans from Dillingen. „ . , , Farther south, in the Colmar pocket, the Germans also fought back wto Sigolsheim, four miles north-east of Colmar. _____ MALMEDY AND LIEGE NO ALLIED INFORMATION LONDON, Dec. 21 Reuter's military correspondent says that today's communique from Supreme Headquarters maintains strict silence about the most important sector of the German counter-offensive—the area between Malmedy and Liege. Ihe Germans here claimed to have penetrated to within 12 miles of Liege (an advance of 14 miles beyond the last official plac'"oiie encouraging feature is that the Allies have strengthened their hold 011 the Monschau area. This little town is the hinge on which the German attack is swinging northward. If the lurpt Army can liokl Monschau and retain its grip on the situation lieie, such Allied counter-measures as are generally proceeding in the area between Aachen and Liege will stand a much greater chance of succeeding. The Supreme Headquarters communique is also silent about the German thrust through the north of Luxemburg, which the Germans say has reached the French frontier east ol Bastogne. NAVAI, APPOINTMENT (Reed. 6.30 p m.) LONDON, Dec. 22 After 33 years' service, 17 of which were in the ranks, Commander R. H. Johnson, D.S.C., of Weymouth, has made history in the Royal Navy. He has been promoted to the acting rank of captain, being the first man to reach that rank 011 the active list after serving the full period as a warrant officer. He is 'l9 years of age. Ho commanded the minelavor Plover for four years in the present war, and he has now been appointed to command a large repair ship. He was decorated in Juae, 1940*