NEW ALLIED ATTACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 5 January 1945, Page 5

NEW ALLIED ATTACK

NORTHERN FLANK GERMAN SALIENT Gain of 2000 to 3000 Yards FIERCE BATTLES ON OTHER SECTORS London, Jan. 3. It is stated at Supreme Headquarters that the First Army today launched a new attack against the northern flank of Field Marshal von Rundstedt’s Ardennes salient. , The American First Army counter-attack against the northern flank of the German salient had by noon yesterday gained 2000 to 3000 yards in some places, knocking out many German tanks, says the British United Press correspondent at SHAEF. General Patton following six German counter-attacks has now lost the initiative in the Bastogne area. General Patch has withdrawn more than five miles in the Wissembourg gap, losing Wissembourg and other towns. An American broadcaster on the First Army front said: The First Army attack is still under way to-day. It means that we have wrested the initiative from von Rundstedt. General Eisenhower several days ago called on the Allied troops who bore the brunt of Field Marshal von Rundstedt's offensive to rally and turn the temporary German successes into one of their greatest defeats. It is too early to say this has been done but the next few days are going to be critical for both the Germans and the Americans. Reuter's correspondent on the Western Front says that von Rundstedt apparently has decided to hold fast and to fight it out in the Bastogne pocket. Fierce battles are taking place in snowstorms as the Americans fight their way towards Houffalize, which is the key to the German positions.

Reuter’s correspondent with the Third Army reports to-day that the Germans have thrown in additional crack panzer divisions against the Third Army’s lines north of Bastogne, increasing the number of divisions around the Bastogne salient to ten. The British United Press correspondent at SHAEF says the right wing of the First Army’s counterattack against the north flank of the German salient advanced 3| miles through a snowstorm to the Bois 1 de Tave, five miles north of Laroche, where it repelled two German coun-ter-attacks. The left wing gained 4000 yards and now stands on a line running east and west through Odeigne, six miles south-west of Liernieux. First Army forces gained 3000 yards in the Grandmenil sector. The American 101st Airborne Division fought off panzer attacks north of Bastogne and have gone over to the offensive in one sector. All American lines are holding firm. Infantry made minor gains in the Wiltz area after fighting which is officially described as terrifically heavy. American tanks which are surrounded by Germans are holding out in Wardin. Reuter’s correspondent on the Western Front reports that the Allies yesterday opened an attack in the Rochefort area, capturing Bure, three miles south of Rochefort and high ground dominating the valley. This attack against the western tip of the German salient synchronised with the First Army’s attack in the north. J Vigorous patrolling continued on both sides of the northern Maas front. There was a marked increase] in patrolling on the British sector ati Maas. The United States Ninth Army made local advances in the Lammersdorf area, breaking up a German counter-attack. Reuter’s military correspondent summing up the situation says von Rundstedt is probing along the whole front from Holland to Alsace. The Allies in turn are becoming more aggressive on an increasingly wide sector. There are growing indications that something like one big battle is developing in which all fronts will be inter-connected. RUNDSTEDT IN DEFENSIVE POSITION The First Army’s assault in the north has placed von Rundstedt in a defensive position for the first time since he took the offensive on 16th December, says the “New York Times” Paris correspondent, Drew Middleton. The attack is believed to be on a considerable scale. IN SAAR VALLEY Considerable German forces in the Saar Valley continue to harass Americans by probing, states Reuter’s correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. The Americans have withdrawn from a small section in Bitche which they held to avoid being cut off by the Germans’ southward penetration. Enemy penetrations south-east of Saareguemines in the vicinity of Grosrederch ingen have been stopped, at least temporarily.

shoot. Racketeers in France and Italy sometimes paid army truck drivers *30.000 dollars a month for diverting one truckload of supplies daily. There have been numerous pitched battles on the highways between Italian gangs and soldiers, but after 22 Italians were killed in six weeks the situation was brought under control. General Dillon said he regretted that a substantial number of Americans had succumbed to temptation. Some soldiers, earning 50 dollars, were sending 1000 dollars a week to tht United States, and were thereby trapped.

The position of the German bridgehead over the Blies River is unchanged. The Germans here suffered very heavy casualties, some formations losing up to 50 per cent. They, however, are apparently well backed by reinforcements and by artillery and armour. The British United Press correspondent at Supreme Headquarters reports that Allied gains south of Rochefort wiped out all German penetrations west of the line running south through Rochefort. The Germans at no point are nearer than 15 miles to the Meuse.

A violent artillery duel was in progress early to-day north of Basle, where the Germans brought their heaviest guns into action against Mulhouse, states the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain at Basle. The battle extended from the Swiss frontier towards Mulhouse and has increased in intensity. German troops at midnight last night attempted to cross the Rhine into France not far from the Swiss frontier but were thrown back by fierce fire from French guns at Huningen, from where the Germans retreated a month ago. PROTEST BY CORRESPONDENTS London, Jan. 4. British and American correspondents are strongly protesting to SHAEF because the 8.8. C. was permitted to broadcast the first announcement of the First Army’s new attack in the 1 p.m. news bulletin on January 3, whereas SHAEF did not release the news to correspondents until after midnight, meaning that the attack then had been under way for at least 11 hours. Immediately after the 8.8. C. announcement the correspondents protested, only to be told that they could quote the 8.8. C. but not the SHAEF for news.