The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-05


 ring of forts around 1t.
 Offensive Imminent
 Skirmishes flared up south of Aachen and at the tip of the First Army's deepest spearhead in Ger many nine miles northeast of Rot gen, and Nazi radios blared a con. cert of startling warnings that on all-out Allied offensive against the reich was imminent"
 It, Gen. George s. Patton's Third Army shock troops burrowed their way into the underground tunnels of Fort Driant key to the Metz Notifications, after seizing the northwest, southwest and northeast corners of the sprawling stone fort.
 The Driant citadel was under in- tense fire from three sides as the Americans pressed one of the most dramatic sieges of the war and probed for underground tunnels which they believed might open the way to the core of the Driant defenses.
 United Press Correspondent Jack Frankish reported from It, Gen, Courtney Hodges First Army head quarters at l0:20 e. m. that re. surgence of German gunfire had slowed down the armor and infantry spilling out on the plain before the Rhine at the tip of the Ubach wedge which now has been broad- ered to some three miles.
 The Germans reported that the American infantry and armor had penetrated about 4-I3 miles into the defense belt around Aachen. They also said fresh troops had been thrown into the battlefront. That together with mounting reconnais- sance thrusts indicated that 0 full scale Allied offensive could be ex- pected at any time.
 Frankish said American patrols feeling out the German positions south and southwest of Aachen, where the front had been static since the break through east of stolberg, drew only scattered re- sistance.
 The Germans opened up with mortar and small arms on e U. g. roadblock nine miles inside Ger many, where Hodges had scored his deepest thrust Into the Reich.
 A small scale counter-attaek against another road block two miles southeast of Greenich in the same area was beaten off.
 German small arms, rnortars and artillery maintained Q steady fire on the American troops and armor in the new salient through the Sieg. fried Line north of Aachen, and pounded the village of Aachen which anchored the salient.
 A sharp engagement was fought just east of Stolberg, where the first breach in the Siegfried Line was opened at the outset of the First Army drive into Germany.
 On the southern wing of the First Army front, the Germans stepped up their patrol activity. sending out bands of as many as 100 troops to stab behind the American lines on hit-run missions.
 More than 30 miles north of Aachen, German infantry heavily counter attacked American arfnor in the vicinity of Overloon during the night, but the attack was beaten off.
 Canadians Score
 It. Gen. II. D. c. Crerar's CaH1as dian First Army scored new gains north of Antwerp, capturing the perimeter forts of Cappeien, 8 miles above the big Dutch port, and Star brock, nine miles northwest of the city. |
 The Canadians now threatened the rear of the Dutch Islands of | Walcheren and South Bevelaiid, which the Germans had fortified heavily to guard the northern | entrance of the schelde leading to 
 In the Rhine triangle of eastern Holland, Allied forces gained some in heavy fighting" south Of Arnhern, Q supreme headquarters communique said.
 Headquarters reported that yes. terday's announcement of the caps ture of Fort Driant was premature, and today's communique said the troops fighting within the strong. hold "are meeting stubborn resist ance from the enemy, who iS do. tending from dugsin positions and pillboxes."
 United Press Correspondent Rob- ert o. Richards, in c dispatch from the Driant ares at fl c. m, said the citadel fort was not yet preached, but was under heavy fire from three sides. DoughboyS closing in on Driant held the northwest, soutt- west and northeast corners, and ct the southwest forced their way into an underground fort, Richards fes ported.
 Tlae Germans had turned the zire pt their neighboFing forts on tho American forces etorming priaEt, 1 building lp tho bafTaee which pFes
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