PASSAGE TO ANTWERP

Southland Times, Issue 25513, 6 November 1944, Page 5

PASSAGE TO ANTWERP

STAGE SET FOR FINAL BATTLE

FIGHTING ON ISLAND OF WALCHEREN

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 4. The last and biggest battle for Walcheren is now fairly certain to be. staged above the water area to the east of the island, writes a 21st Army Group correspondent. The decision in this battle will virtually decide the date on which the clearing operation can be commenced along the Scheldt to allow a free passage to Allied shipping to Arttwerp. Canadian commandos, who landed on the south-west coast of Walcheren, have now definitely joined forces with other infantry forces along “Hell’s corridor,” the causeway into Walcheren. An unofficial estimate is that the Nazi forces remaining on Walcheren are between 3000 and 4000 and there is no question that the main weight of the enemy’s defence is against LieutenantGeneral Crerar’s men attacking from the east.

A SHAEF communique says that on Walcheren Island the Allies have cleared Dornburg of the enemy. A regimental commander of the enemy troops in Flushing, which has’ been cleared of the enemy, was captured yesterday.

West of Flushing our troops have joined with the forces advancing along the coast from Westkapelle. Early yesterday morning Allied units from south of Beveland landed on the east side of the island and made good progress. Gun positions and strongpoints near Middelburg were bombed and strafed by fighter bombers. The buildup of supplies on Walcheren is being satisfactorily maintained. During the earlier stages of the landing operation ships of the Royal Navy supported the land forces by the bombardment of gun positions and the landings were successfully completed despite severe opposition from batteries.

North-west of Osterhout the two bridgeheads established earlier have merged. There was heavy opposition in the vicinity of Den Hout. Fighter bombers attacked troop concentrations and military buildings north of Breda and other fighter bombers attacked road and rail transport in Holland and the Ruhr.

North-west and west (15 miles south of Helmond) the enemy has been driven out of the area between the Bar Le Due canal and the Noorder canal.

South-east of Aachen fighter bombers closely supporting the ground forces attacked enemy units and tanks. In the forest south of Voesenack we are clearing pillboxes against stubborn opposition.

Medium, light and fighter bombers attacked communications in the Rhine Valley and westward to the enemy line and in the Moselle Valley. The targets included seven bridges and a railway tunnel.

Additional gains were made in the Baccarat sector, where the village of Reherrey has been freed. East of Rentremont our troops in the Vosges launched an attack which made progress against stiff resistance.

In the Maritime Alps, Soepel and several nearby villages and heights overlooking the Italian frontier, north of Oentone, were taken without resistance. GERMANS RECAPTURE SCHMIDT Counter-attacking with infantry and tanks at 10 o’clock this morning the enemy recaptured the toym of Schmidt, 10 miles south-west of Durg, which was taken on Friday by American infantry, cables a correspondent with the Ist American Army. The attack was launched before the Americans had time fully to consolidate their new gain and they had to fall back to the northwest.

Describing the capture of Schmidt by the Americans, Reuter’s- correspondent with the American Ist Army says that the American advance met strong resistance from dug-in positions, but once the Germans were rooted out of their pillboxes, they gave up easily. The prisoners, of which hundreds were taken, were mostly young and physically unfit. Foggy, overcast weather reduced air support. The German News Agency commentator, Sertorius, said that the American 3rd, 7th and 9th Armies were massing for a grand assault against the Saar. The 9th Army had taken over some of the 7th Army’s front around Belfort. Seventh Army forces had moved farther north. Third Army troops were deeply staggered and closely bunched on both sides of Metz. Lieutenant-General Courtney H. Hodges’s 16-mile salient into Germany is becoming the scene of a mounting battle, says Reuter’s correspondent with the United States Ist Army. The Germans counterattacked three times today. When the Germans recaptured Schmidt, the American infantry called up dive bombers, which shattered the entire village with 5001 b bombs.