GERMANS’ HEAVY LOSS

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

GERMANS’ HEAVY LOSS

ALLIES PRESSING ON ON ROAD TO ARNHEM (United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Sept. 22, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 21 The Germans are using and losing tanks on the Moselle front, says the Times correspondent with the American Third Army. Fifty-three German tanks were knocked out on September 20 and 29 on September 19. Fierce fighting continues northeast of Nancy. The enemy is resisting stubbornly and there are many tank clashes. American tanks in one sector accounted for 40 tanks in one , afternoon. The artillery knocked out 30 more.

The enemy is launching counterattacks up and down the line with strong tank and artillery concentrations supporting the infantry.

The Americans and Germans continue to share battered Thionville—the Americans on one side of the Moselle and the Germans on the other. Metz remains a stubborn bastion. Fort Lorraine, north of the town, is typical of the fortifications around Metz. Its steel and concrete construction makes it unnecessary for the defenders to show themselves. It is .surrounded by barbed wire 65 feet in depth. There are at least ten 105-millimetre guns and two 150 mm. guns, all mounted in heavily armoured turrets, with full circular traverse. The barracks house 600 men. The fort stands on top of a high hill and serves as a base for smaller forts, with which it is linked by tunnels. On Road to Arnhem British armoured elements are on the road to Arnhem after crossing the Nijmegen bridge, says Reuter’s correspondent. There is confused fighting in the Arnhem area. Most of the area south-east of Nijmegen has been cleared. More and more material, is pouring through the bridgeheads over the Escaut canal. The British have captured Heeze and Hoerendonk, which are east of the main road north of the Escaut canal towards Eindhoven.

The situation westward is still confused. The enemy are in many villages but they are being cleared out, while the main thrust goes on. An air reconnaissance reported that German transport is moving east from Arnhem, says Reuter’s correspondent with the airborne reinforcements. Supplies were again dropped in Holland, especially in the Arnhem area, on the afternoon of September 21 for the fifth day in succession.