ONE BIG BATTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25736, 6 January 1945, Page 5

ONE BIG BATTLE

SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENT

CRITICAL DAYS AHEAD

LONDON, Jan. 4,

'-..The American First Army ..counterattack against, the. northern flank of "the German salient had by upon yesterday gained 2000 to 3000 yards in some places, knocking out many German., tanks, says the British . United J Press correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. General .Patton, following six German counterrattacks, has now lost the initiative in the Bastogne area. . General Patch has withdrawn more than five miles in the Wissemburg Gap, losing Wissemburg and other towns. ...

l An American broadcaster on the First Army front said the First Army attack.is still under way to-day. “It means we have wrested the initiative from Rundstedt,” he. said. General Eisenhower several days ago called on the Allied troops who bore the brunt of Rundstedt’s. offensive to rally and turn the .temporary German successes into one of the enemy’s greatest defeats. It is too early to say that this has been done, but the next few days are going to be critical for both the Germans and the Americans. Reuter’s correspondent on the western front says that Rundstedt apparently has decided to hold fast and fight it out in the Bastogne pocket. Fierce battles are taking place in snowstorms as the A'friericans fight a way towards Houffalize, which is the key to the German positions. . ‘ Reuter’s correspondent with the Third Army reports to-day that the Germans have thrown in additional crack panzer divisions against the Third Army’s lines north of Bastogne, increasing the number, of divisions around the Bastogne salient to 10. The American 101st Airborne Division fought off panzer attacks north of Bastogne and has gone over to the offensive in one sector. All the American lines are holding firm. Infantry made minor gains in the Wiltz area after fighting which is officially described as “ terrifically heavy.” American tanks which are surrounded by Germans are holding out in Wardin. Synchronised Attacks

Reuter’s correspondent on the western front reports that the Allies yesterday opened an attack in the Rochefort area, capturing Bure, three miles south of Rochefort and high ground dominating the valley. This attack against the western tip of the German salient synchronised with the First Army’s attack in the north. Vigorous patrolling continues on both sides of the northern front. There v/as a marked increase in patrolling on the British sector of the Maas.

The United States Ninth Army made local advances in the Lammersdorf area, breaking up a German counterattack.

Reuter’s military correspondent, summing un the situation, says: “ Rundstedt is probing along the whole front from Holland to Alsace. The Allies in turn are becoming more aggressive on an increasingly wide sector. There are growing indications that something like one big battle is developing in which all the fronts will be interconnected.” Tanks and infantry swept over snowcovered hills in freezing weather at 8.30 a.m. yesterday to launch General Hodges’s surprise counter-offensive, says the British United Press correspondent with the First Army. No spectacular artillery or air barrage preceded the attack, which took the Germans off their balance. The first wave of Allied tanks and men smashed the forward defences, but the Germans soon rallied, moving slowly until their lines were stabilised. The Americans encountered for the first time Germans wearing white winter camouflage, but. desoite this and minefields, the Allied battle casualties in the early stages were extremely light. The advance proceeded over rugged country, which one staff officer described as “ the rouehe c t tank battlefield in Europe outside Switzerland.”

Battle in Bleak Weather

The battle started in the bleakest and bitterest weather of winter. The skies were heavy and low, preventing direct support from dive-bombers. The staff office estimated that if the drive hit high gear within five days and closed the enemy escape route, thousands of Germans might be trapped, but, he added, the Germans were past masters in escaping from pockets The German News Agency commentator. Sertorius. describes the First Army’s offensive- as bearing signs of more detailed preparations than General Eisenhower’s somewhat improvised measures hitherto. He added that in addition to the First Army, armoured formations of (he Ninth Army and British tank units from Field-marshal Montgomery’s Army Group were

thrown into the battle between Stavelot and Marche. The German News Agency admits that the First Army gained some ground towards Houffalize after making two penetrations in the main German line. The British United Press correspondent with the Third Army says General Patton lost the initiative from Saint Hubert almost to Wiltz, where the Germans continue strong attacks. A German infantry regiment, supported by 50 tanks, struck against the 101st Airborne Division yesterday. The Americans allowed the tanks to pass through their lines, and then threw them back with fire. Another 50 tanks attacked the Airborne Division to-day. and fighting is still going on, but the situation is reported to be in hand.