CANADIAN ADVANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22460, 22 September 1944, Page 3

CANADIAN ADVANCE

TWO MILES FROM SCHELDT GERMAN FORCES FIGHT HARD (Received Sept. 22, noon) LONDON, Sept. 21 The Germans are fighting hard for the Leopold canal crossing, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Canadian First Army. The Canadians, driv--ing up the North Sea coast, seized Philippine, which is north-west of Axel, east of the canal mouth. At this point they are only two miles from the Scheldt. The Canadians further west so far have been unable to cross the canal. The Germans are fighting hard to prevent crossings. The Canadians further north-west are meeting heavy opposition from the German forces, including paratroopers. The Germans still hold some positions on the west bank of the Scheldt north of Antwerp. The German resistance in the Polish ‘sector has collapsed. The Poles have captured Terneuzen and taken 600 prisoners. A large-scale German counterattack has been thrown back in the Wallendorf area, says a late despatch from the British United Press’ correspondent with the American First Army. As the Germans retired they left a covering detachment, which was wiped out. German activity in other parts of this sector is mainly restricted to patrolling. House to house Fighting

Fierce house-to-house fighting is raging in the east and north sections of Stolberg. The Germans have loosed a heavy bombardment against the American-held part of the town on the afternoon of September 21. Not a single building is undamaged. The Germans have cut passages four feet square between cellars of the houses and shops, through which snipers can move at will to all parts of the town.

A press liaison officer at Hitler’s headquarters, Major Balzer, broadcasting, admitted that Allied columns in the Maastricht salient have forced their way forward a number of miles. He claimed that they are west of Gelsenkirchen, 12£ miles north of Aachen.

The Poles cleared the Hulst-Axel area south of the Scheldt estuary, taking 500 prisoners, and the Canadians further west are within two miles of the Scheldt.

Five miles north-west of Antwerp the fort of St. Marie, at the mouth of tjie harbour, still resists. The Americans are on the offensive around Stolberg and the Hurgen forest, from eight to ten miles southwest of Duren.

The Allies have closed up to the Neurther river, between Luneville and Flin, five miles north-west of Baccarat.