U.S. THIRD ARMY PAUSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22992, 8 September 1944, Page 5

U.S. THIRD ARMY PAUSES

Building Up Before Attack Battle For Channel Ports Continues By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright (Received 11.58 p.m.) LONDON, September 7. MAJOR-GENERAL G. S. PATTON’S assault troops are - I '* awaiting the order to attack after a period of build-up, says the correspondent of the United Press with the United States Third Army. This necessary pause has also given the Germans time to try and pull themselves together. “Little Cassino” is our next objective. It consists of German positions in the hills overlooking the town of Ponte MoUsson on the Moselle, midway between Metz 1 and Nancy. “The Germans from ‘Little Cassino’ kept up an almost continuous stream of fire as we hurdled the Moselle,” an officer said. “One minute boats were under way across the river, and all hell broke loose. The Nazis used mortars, 88’s and even anti-aircraft guns. Streaming lead filled the sky, and an artillery barrage raged during the night. Both sides at dawn to-day were still viciously pounding away.” Armentieres, Ghent, Ypres and Courtrai have been liberated in mopping-up operations by Allied troops. The Canadians are still attacking Calais and Boulogne, and other forces have reached within seven miles of Dunkirk, which the Germans are expected to defend stubbornly.

The Paris radio announced that I the Canadians had entered Calais. Reuter’s correspondent with the British Second Army before the Dutch frontier, in a dispatch filed last evening, says: “Our armour is poised. General Sir Miles Dempsey’s Flying Express is ready." General Dempsey, in a message to all ranks said: “The final defeat of the German army depends to a large extent on the speed and efficiency with which petrol and other stores, as the advance proceeds, reach our fighting troops. I call on all ranks for a special effort until victory is complete. Heavy support guns and infantry are moving up all the time. We are dangerous near the German frontier. There is nothing but disorganisation and domestic strife behind the line. The twilight of the five years’ campaign is at hand.” The Canadians thrusting north after by-passing Boulogne, are at Marquise. six miles from Cap Griz Nez, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Canadians. The besiegers are now on three sides of Boulogne, on a perimeter approximately two miles from the city. Canadian patrols are still moving along the coast east and west of Calais, but have not entered the town.

The German garrison at Le Havre is still holding out in spite of the threat of a repetition of the heavy bombing of last night. Polish spearheads are reported to be in Ypres. but this is still to be confirmed. It is known, however, that Polish units from the St. Moer region captured Cassel. The Paris radio to-night stated that the Canadians had penetrated into Calais and were less than a mile from Boulogne. The Germans in the Pas de Calais area are resisting more strongly than they have done since the fight on the Seine, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Canadian Army. They were trying to make their way east to the single escape route across the Schelt. The main purpose seems to be to man the Siegfried Line, with a possible intermediate stand on the Albert Canal. There is only a vague semblance of order in the German withdrawal. Advanced Allied spearheads are slicing through German columns. The

Germans are even dragging coastal guns from their emplacements in the effort to stem the Allied advance. However, the rearguard action has been organised and is expected to continue all the way eastward, with hedgehogs at major points along the coast such as Boulogne, Calais, Dunkirk and Ostend. Over the Meuse The American First Army crossed the Meuse at Namur, Dinant and Givet and is already some distance east of the river, particularly at Namur, but the report that it reached Liege and Aachen is probably untrue, says Supreme Allied Headquarters. Allied fighter-bombers to-day swept the area from the Zuider Zee to Coblenz, attacking communications and other targets. Three million “surrender leaflets” were dropped on Brest, Le Havre, Boulogne, Calais, Dunkirk, and Ostend. The American First Army took 25,000 prisoners, including two more German generals, in the pocket south-west of Mons, between Sunday and yesterday (Tuesday), bringing their totaj since D Day to 154,000. The correspondent of the Associated Press near Metz says that American motorised patrols are operating in the vicinity of Metz. Other Americans reached a point four miles from the city after battering through stubborn resistance.

The Germans took advantage of the lull, while our forces regrouped and brought up supplies. The Germans rushed up reinforcements which the Third Army first encountered at Jouaville, eight miles south-west of Metz. Third Army troops there hit strong enemy positions with 88-millimetre guns, mortars and anti-tank guns. Another American column, speeding east toward the Moselle above and below Metz, is meeting equally strong resistance.

With American Third Army armour poised on the west bank of the Moselle, the infantry crossed the river in the wake of reconnaissance elements, says Reuter’s correspondent with the. Third Army. They swept down from the mountains to cross the river in driving rain, while shells from a powerful German barrage exploded all round them. Tanks with their sides glistening in the wet moved up to the river across fields, many of which were still lined with rows of wheat sheaves.

Reversal of Strategy The German troops, which are now hitting back hard against American Third Army infantry east of the Moselle, were withdrawn a fortnight ago to the Siegfried Line, and then sent back to fight. Now facing what has been described as “the greatest collection of armour ever under one field command,” the reversal of German strategy on the road to the Rhine apparently followed the withdrawal, under local orders, from Metz and Nancy to the Siegfried defences.

The Germans are now putting down artillery; barrages and taking anti-tank action, but it is not thought in London that this delaying action will long hold the Third Army when its armour again strikes. There may not be a battle between General G. S. Patton’s army and the Siegfried Line, but if a gigantic contest takes place there is confidence-in London in the outcome.