ANOTHER GREAT SKY TRAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22457, 19 September 1944, Page 3

ANOTHER GREAT SKY TRAIN

ADVANCES IN GERMANY AND HOLLAND BOULOGNE HARBOUR AREA REACHED LONDON, Sept. 18. Another great sky train was flown into Holland today to reinforce the troops landed yesterday. This time about 50 German aircraft attempted to interfere. Thirty were shot down and the remainder did not get near enough to cause trouble. The airborne troops landed yesterday have gained their first objectives and taken prisoners. At the same time the British Second Army north of the Escaut Canal smashed through the crust of the German defences and by-passed Eindhoven, which was mentioned by the Germans as one of the points at which the airborne forces were landed. The land forces have joined the airborne troops. * According to the British United Press correspondent fighting is going on on three sides of Eindhoven, which the Germans are defending. A battle is also raging two and a-half miles south of Eindhoven. Armoured forces have captured Aalst, three miles north of Valkenward. The by-passing of Eindhoven means that the forward British troops have advanced at least 15 miles in just over 24 hours. The junction between the American airborne forces and the British advanced elements was made on the outskirts of an industrial town, in which the German snipers are still holding out, but they are being dug out with bayonets and blasted with bazookas, says a Combined Press representative with the American paratroops. The Germans are fighting desperately for a chance to blow up dozens of bridges which are vital to armoured progress in this canal-wrinkled country. The Germans, many of whom are of school age, frequently blow' up a bridge and then leave some of theii own troops on the other side to face surrender or annihilation.

It is reported that more than 2000 gliders, troop-carrying planes and towing planes were used in the landings. Spitfires and Typhoons provided an operational escort. Meanwhile Canadian troops have reached the harbour area in Boulogne. The Germans still hold a few positions in the city. Beyond Aachen the Americans are engaged in bitter fighting with the opposing forces only 50 yards apart. The Germans have not succeeded in linking up any of the pill-boxes captured by the Americans.