SAAR DEFENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 5

SAAR DEFENCES

SWIFT BREAK-UP

SEVENTH ARMY ONSLAUGHT

KAISERSLAUTERN THREATENED

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

,(Rec._ 1 a.ra.). LONDON, Mar. 20. The swift break-up of the German positions in the Saar basin continues, and from Saarbrucken to the Rhine the defences are crumbling: before the onslaught of the American Seventh Army, which has reached the Siegfried Line at a dozen points.

A correspondent states that nine divisions are now fighting in or through the Siegfried defence belt. The most spectacular gains made by General Patton’s armour yesterday were towards Kaiserslautern, a key position in the heart of the Palatinate. Patton’s spearheads are within four miles of the town.

The enemy is making desperate attempts to hold the Third Army’s thrusts to the Rhine below Bingen, but without success. An American column is only nine miles from the city of Mainz, on the west bank of the Rhine. " General Patton’s armour has pushed on to Vendersheim, 12 miles south-west of Mainz,” says the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with the Third Army. “ The Germans are reported to have destroyed all four Rhine bridges in the Mainz area.”

The two-mile stretch of the Rhine between Coblenz and Boppard has now been cleared, meaning that the Third Army controls the west bank of the Rhine from Coblenz to Bingen, says the Exchange Telegraph correspondent at Allied headquarters. General Patton’s armour crossed the Nahe River south-west of Kreuznach.

“General Hodges’ forces are gradually extending the Remagen bridgehead against opposition which has been reinforced in an endeavour to keep us within our present limits,” states a correspondent. “ The bridgehead now measures 15 miles from Unkel to Oberhoppen. Astride the autobahn, Windhangen and Hohn have been cleared and a battle is in progress in Birken. Further south our troops advanced 1000 yards southeast of Honningen towards the Wied River.