BRITISH DRIVE ON HERTOGENBOSCH

Southland Times, Issue 25502, 24 October 1944, Page 5

BRITISH DRIVE ON HERTOGENBOSCH

THREE-PRONGED ASSAULT

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 23. Troops of Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey’s 2nd British Army, continuing their offensive against the important Netherlands communications centre of Hertogenbosch from the Nijmegen salient, are reported to be about three miles and a-half away froih the town. Forces are now pressing in on Hertogenbosch from three sides and are relentlessly pushing the Germans back. More than 500 prisoners have been taken since the offensive Was launched on Sunday. ” The offensive is making good progress, especially on the right flank.

Hertogenbosch, besides being an important communications centre, is a main German stronghold on the line linking their central positions with the Scheldt pocket. The northerly push on the town has made steady progress and the 2nd Army force driving on Hertogenbosch from the east has mad,e even better progress. Stiff German resistance is being encountered by the three advancing British forces. The German garrison at Middlerode, five miles south-east of Hertogenbosch, is now outflanked and faces a frontal assault. Enemy troops are reported to have withdrawn from Opheusden and Dodewaard, 13 miles north-west of Nijmegen. Allied forces have moved forward near both places. Progress continues north of Antwerp, where the Allies are not meeting heavy resistance. United Kingdom and Canadian troops are making good progress in the Scheldt pocket, and one force has captured a port a mile west of Breskens. The American 3rd Army has made an advance of two miles on a five-mile front east of Nancy.