The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-28
Tropped U. s. Men Relieved
Continued from Page D

NNESA-NA-aN-Nf with those Jerries," chimed in Cl. Thomas Mulligan, 23, of Detroit.
 Hell, our outfit knocked out 105 of their vehicles the first two days of action and we would have banged lot more, but our ammu- milton got so short toward the end we quit firing on conveys saving 1t for the Krauts."
 Hartford Lad There
 Those Germans were too young for us,' added Pfc. Raymond De- rosier, 24. of Hartford, Conn. They were just kids. Yesterday me and two other guys captured seven and killed five before they knew we were even near them.
 'Its all in knowing how, mister. You just got to learn this fighting business right"
 "Yes, sir, I figure if they leave them krautS around here much longer, there won't be too many left" said Pvt. Joseph Kelly, 26, of Jersey City, N. J, The DoughnutS' attitude reflected that of their commander. Only "A hours after BaStogne was sur rounded, he received an ultimatum from the German commander.
 The ultimatum, brought into the town by a Nazi major carrying a flag of truce, said:
 'aThe fortunes of war are chang ing and this time the USA forces In and near BaStogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. There is only one possibility to save the USA troops from total annihilation and that is honorable surrender. In order to think it over e two-hour period is granted. II reflected, one German artillery corps and six heavy battalions of ack-acS are ready to annihilate USA troops in and near Bastogne.
 The ultinatum added that if any civilians were killed it would be the fault of the Americans and not in line with the well-known American humanity.
 The American reply was classi- cally brief and to the point.
 ''Nuts!" he said.
 Then 1t was that the Germans turned loose everything they had. It didn't phase the Americans, but the heavy artillery and anti-ar- craft guns shattered virtually every building inside the city.
 Despite their advantage, the Ger mans never were able to get ln- fantry into Bastogne. A vast num- Der of the German army's finest troops fell in desperate efforts to break into the city and later to halt the relief column.
 The final American tank thrust into Bastogne was one of the most daring of the war.
 The tanks, with It. Col. George l. Jacques, 34, of Worcester, Mass, as one of the commanders, pulled up outside tiny Assenois, two miles south of BaStogne. late yesterday, Athen held council of war.
 Despite the stubborn German op- position. the tank commanders de- cided to attempt to bust through to Bastogne itself without further delay.
 They slammed straight down the highway, shooting as they rolled The first tanks caught the enemy unprepared and smashed through unscathed. but the Germans recov- cred quickly and knocked out sev- eral tanks and half-tracks with mines and hazookas. The attack went on, though, ana the road into Bastogne was ours.
 Armor and infantry then turned to the task of clearing out the enemy from woods on either side of the road. Today the road is coV- cred by almost constant mortar ana sniper fire and determined battles are being waged in woods and ravines only a few hundred yards away.
 One captain wounded in the l:g and unable to walk directed his men from the front seat of a jeep.
 C-47s still road overhead drop ping parachutes loaded with SUD- plies and ammunition. Doughboys race into fields and quickly collect the packs, arranging them in neat bundles.
 Though the road was open, prior ity was being given to ambulances removing the wounded. Truck borne supplies could wait.
 A letter found on German prisoner addressed to his wife said This war is beginning to be fun again"
 But most Germans around Bas- togne are not laughing now. They either are dead or realize war is a serious business.
 Bloody Battle
 The battle to relieve Bastogne has been one of the most bloody of the war with the Germans taking terri ble punishment at the hands oi the American armored forces.
 Mai. Charles E. Fife, 31. Los Angeles, said the Germans fought two or three pitched tank battles with his outfit and leach time we blasted them back"
 Once they came at us from three sides with six tanks buzzine astride the highway" he said. "an6 with five others on our either flank we started in shooting and in a few minutes had knocked out II of theil IS machines"
 A tank destroyer Sergeant from Wisconsin probably pulled rec ord when he knocked out sever enemy tanks within three or foul minutes.
 Tt was the damndest thing evel heard of," said lst Lieut.. R. w Mayer, 26. Mt, Vernon, N. Y. "Ht pulled his tank destroyer new type ME-18 with its 76 nm gun on tor of ridge and there were five Ger man tanks moving away from him He knocked them all out and ther knocked out two more. Just as thii happened he radioed I just knocked out my seventh tank.