EASTERN FRANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25668, 17 October 1944, Page 5

EASTERN FRANCE

FIERCE BATTLE FOR LE THILLOT LONDON. Oct. 15. A correspondent with the French forces in Eastern France says besides the capture of Cornimont, 12 miles east of Remiremont, General Tassigny’s troops have made substantial gains on the left bank of the Moselotte. French infantry; also occupied the forest of Gehand in heavy fighting, and two small villages. The Germans tried infiltration methods, but were beaten back. In the Epinal-Luneville sector enemy artillery is active. American troops repulsed a counter-attack in the vicinity of Bruyeres. Of the fighting for Le Thillot. the correspondent says: “From the top of • Haut-de-Roc, where I stayed for a whilp. I had a perfect view of the terrific battle. The Germans wanted to make Le Thillot into another Cassino. It is no secret to reveal that the casualties among the French Moroccan and Algerian troops, who are writing another glorious page in their, history, are heavy, but Le Thillot village is of great importance in the dash for the Alsatian Plain. For every German shell, at least 50 French shells made in America are hurled at the town, where the Germans are still numerous. A French officer said it was the most dreadful artillery fight he ever had been in.” The attack on Aachen is being complicated by the general evacuation of civilians, who are streaming into our Sines, writes a correspondent. Two thousand have been placed in one central camp. Men, women, and children who have been living in cellars and air-raid shelters, even sewers, have been coming over. Many have been without food for some days. The enemy has begun a new type of warfare behind the Allies’ lines on the Luxemburg frontier, says the Daily Mail’s Luxemburg correspondent. Small parties of Germans wearing stolen American uniforms and driving captured jeeps waylay and murder unsuspecting Allied soldiers. They drive on a lonely road and wait for solitary jeeps: then, after hailing the American driver in friendly fashion, they shoot.