GERMANS WEAKER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 249, 18 October 1944, Page 5

GERMANS WEAKER

MAY BE WITHDRAWING FROM MAAS AREA

Recd. 6 p.m. , London, Oct. 16. British infantrymen yesterday fought their way into the outskirts of Venraai amid signs that the Germans are pulling out of the salient west oi the Maas River, states Reuter’s correspondent with the British 2nd. Army. Venraai is about five miles west of the river. Opposition hereabout is decribed as generally weaker. There has been a general advance throughout the sector, despite heavy rain and thicker mud. A British officer, last night commenting on the situation west of the Maas said: “News is good. The enemy is moving back and we are advancing.” British troops on the outskirts of Venraai are encountering reduced German mortar and artillery fire, in addition to weakened opposition from the ground forces. This is also the case of our troops north-east of Venraai. The Americans operating five miles south-west of Venraai are meeting thick minefields and heavy mortar fire. British armour almost due west of Venraai have crossed a difficult canal surrounded by a wood containing a German strongpoint. British infantry north-east of Venraai have capturea the village of Smaki and patrols have pushed into Vierlingsbeek without opposition. The Germans are believed to be using barges lor their withdrawal across the Maas River, and a big bridge at Venlo. The British troops also found that the Germans had evacuated the village of KJeindorp. which was formerly a cavalry training centre, north-west of

Venraai. However, it is unofficially estimated that the Germans still nave 10,000 troops west of the Maas between Boxmeer and Roermond. The Venraai area is now almost 10 miles wide, says a British United Press correspondent. It runs from Virbngsbeek in the north-east to the bridgeneaa. The Americans nave pushed across the canal about five mike south-west of Venraai. This front is not firm for its full length, but Is really a series of spearheads. It is true that the Germans are nulling cut but they are only doing so because the British and Americans are forcing them to withdraw. There is net I’kely to be another race under the conditions prevailing during the advance from ti.e Seine to Holland.