Assault On Siegfried Line

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23014, 4 October 1944, Page 5

Assault On Siegfried Line

Huge Gap Tom In Defences American Ist Army Advances Two Miles % By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright , LONDON, October 2. THE American First Army has launched a 1 full-scale attack against the Siegfried Line in the Aachen area. Early reports state that bombing and shelling have torn a huge gap in the German defences, and that Allied troops are pouring through. An Associated Press correspondent at First Army Headquarters, in a message lodged about five hours after the attack began, said that the Americans had gained two miles on a six-mje front, north of Aachen. The Associated Press describes the attack as “one of the greatest air and land assaults of the European campaign.” It says that a mighty attack ended the stalemate of almost two weeks, in which the Americans, after piercing the Siegfried Line in three places, had beaten off numerous strong counter-attacks, while building up supplies for another drive. People in scores of villages in Belgium, France and Holland, also on the German frontier, clustered to watch a vast air armada pass over to dump bombs -on the Sieafried Line. The ground shook for miles around thudding of bombs, supplemented by one of the most concentrated barrages ever fired from massed American guns. The first reports from the front line said that the bombing results had been excellent. Hundreds of medium bombers and fighter-bombers dropped tons of high-explosives from grey, cloudy skies on German pillboxes and gunposts near Aachen, which the Germans are still holding strongly.

A A correspondent of the Columbia (American) Broadcasting System savs t lat an artillery barrage was directed against German anti-aircraft batteries i'l the Aachen area. Then more than 430 tactical bombers struck for 90 minutes against a comparatively small section of the Siegfried Line. As far as he could see. the enemy did not put up any fighters. The American fighterbombers went in after the bombers to crush what resistance remained. Then I the infantry began to pour into the I gap. The American First Army's infantry and tanks drove into the Siegfried Line for two miles on a sector between Aachen and Geilenkirchen, states a Correspondent of the Associated Press. It was officially reported at 5 p.m. to-day that the Americans, following rp the Intensive air bombardment anti artillery barrage, smashed 400 yards beyond the railway between Aachen and Geilenkirchen. First, under heavy fire by small arnis, they forded the Wurms River (a small tributary of the Meuse running north and south hereabouts). A staff officer said that the Americans were still advancing slowly meeting heavy resistance from pillboxes and mortars. Four-Hctir Barrage The Allied artillery barrage preceding the attack lasted four hours ”'he advancing Americans found that . ie avalanche of shells and bombs had 12 SO !£P places left the defenders of the pillboxes dead at their posts 'According to the Brussels radio the Allies fired 30.000 shells in preparation for this attack. The correspondent of Reuter’s says that the American advance of tvzj miles takes them into the Siegfried Line at a point north of Aachen, where the defences narrow into one line. A staff officer said this afternoon. “It is going to be stubborn work breaking through, but I think we will make it.” Units of the First Army are striking in strength at two points, namely, north-east of Sittard and farther north, where they are meeting heavy artillery and .small arms fire two miles east of the River Maas. The American dive-bombing was particularly effective against the troublesome pillboxes. The Germans in some areas are using phosphorus , shells from batteries concealed in thick woods. correspondent of the British united Press says that relatively slow progress of the new attack (which. Supreme AHied Headquarters suggest, is not a major break-through attempt) can be attributed mainly to the Germans’ new tactics. They are backing >.:p infantry with mortars and are deploying infantry around the pillboxes an<L also inside them. The Siegfried Line defences in the vicinity of Aachen are three to four miles in depth The Germans in Aachen to-day brought un an ammunition train, but the driver pulling up east of Aachen, made a mistake of blowing his whistle. Th" tnswer was a hail of Allied shells which demolished the train.

The Americans have captured Chambrey, 15 miles north-east of Nancy, says the correspondent of Reuter’s at Third Army Headquarters. He adds that the Germans on Monday attempted to recapture Sivrey, eight miles north of Nancy, which the Americans captured on Sunday. Fighting is still going on. In a fair-aimed offensive pointed against the Reich, new Allied bids to smash through the German defences I are taking shape at Aachen and the i Belfort Gap, says the German Overseas Radio. The Allies so far have nowhere pierced really deep into Germany. The gap forced by their penetration at Aachen is about 10J miles wide and nine miles deep, while between the Moselle, the Ruhr and the SchneeEifel, they have advanced two and a half miles beyond the German border. General Progress A communique from Supreme Allied Headquarters. says that Allied infantry and tanks have launched an attack in the area north of, Aachen. Our troops crossed the Wurm River, and the attack is meeting strong resistance from pillboxes, enemy artillery and mortar fire. Enemy counter-attacks in the area west of Hurtgen were contained with no ground lost. The attack across the Wurm River was preceded by an intensive air bombardment and artillery barrage. ■ Escorted medium-bombers and fighter- i bombers gave close support by attack- j ing gun positions, troop concentrations ; and communications. Other fighter- | bombers attacked transportation targets i in the Ruhr and Holland. Approximately 1200 escorted heavy-bombers attacked industrial targets in the Cassel and Cologne areas, and the rail yard at Hamm. Twelve bombers and seven fighters are missing from these operations. Our ground forces in the Dutch salient advanced several miles toward Meijel. Other units, in an advance against heavy resistance, freed Overloom (20 miles south of Nijmegen and seven miles from the German frontier). Several enemy tanks and numerous anti-tank guns were destroyed in this area, and we are in touch with strong bodies of the enemy. On the west of the salient we extended our hold on the north bank of the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal west of St. Leonard. Progress was also made north-west of Turnhout. Our troops in South-eastern Luxembourg reached the outskirts of Grevenmacher on the Moselle River. North-east of Nancy we cleared the Foret de Gremecey, and our troops have pushed ahead at a number of places in the Epinal sector, encountering stiff opposition. British tanks on the right flank of the Nijmegen corridor advanced six miles east and captured Meijel, says the correspondent of Reuter’s with the Second Army. The Canadians now hold threequarters of the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal. They have widened the bridgehead over the canal west of St. Leonard to four miles, and have advanced two miles.