The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-11-18
3RD ARMY 2 MILES
FROM SAAR'S GATE
Continued from Page One)

Continued from Page One)
lance, and enemy artillery fire
was increa sing. =. 49,.
The US. Seventh Army hammer
ed out gains all along its front
on the Third Army's southern
flank from north of Luneville to
south of Bruyers, overrunning at
least eight towns.
The French First Army, in rapid
strides through cold, mountainous
country at the southern end OF
the front, thrust three miles Aor-
ward to within five miles OF Bel
fort, gateway to the Rhine and
Bavaria, and threatened to out
flank the outpost town OF Mont
beliard on the north.
| ((Associated Press Correspond
ent Robert Wilson said in a dis
patch from the front that Mont
beliaA. had been captured by
French armor and infantry0
The British Second Army in
eastern Holland reached the Mas
facing the German frontier - no
more than five miles away at one
point-and broke across the Zig
canal, where the enemy had dug
in for stand north of the Mas
|
Hundreds of fighterbombers
flashed across the sullen skies,
bombing Duren and Julich, vital
communication centers for the
Germans fighting with their backs
to the Roer river on the First
and Ninth Army fronts. Pilots
said both towns now resemble
battered ST.. Lo in France.
Some OF the fiercest fighting on
the First Army front ragged in
Stolberg, five miles east of
Aachsn, and two-t thirds of the
town now was in American hands.
1t was disclosed that. the First
Army massed 1000 big guns for
yesterdays attack firing 20 tons
minute for full hour.
A front dispatch said that Lit.
rolled to Remeling, two miles
from the Saar frontier, the closest
that has armor had come to the
Reich. I.
On the Third Arrny's southern
flank, the U. S. Seventh Army was
closing in around flaming st. Die,
enemy supply center tor. the, Vos.
ges region. st. Die at. the entrance
Of st. Marie pass, was set afire by
the Germans. Thirty-five miles
east Of St. Die lie Bavaria, and
the Rhine. =.
1t. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges
First Army stormed and seized
the village Of Gressenich, eight
miles east Of Aachen, in two hours
and half.
The Germans had trenches con.
Meeting the houses and holes knock.
ed in walls, but they pulled their
artillerey back on. Duren, seven
miles east, when the doughboys
threatened to surround 1t.
Rearguards who refused to sur
render died in the collapsing build
ings pounded by self propelled
1855.
Several German villages were
overrun but the count of prisoner
was low, with only about $50 tax
en- on one Of the hottest sectors o
the front
More tanks and conveys rumble<
through the hole in the Siegfries
Line-originaly battered by thu
First Arny-to meet the Germans
The U. S. Third Army battlet
into the Suburbs Of Metz. wher'
the Germans were throwing VI
street barricades, but il remained
TO be seen whether Gen. Pattol
would try to storm the barricad'
or encircle it and smash on cas-
for the Saar.
The longest advance toward tn
city. was scored on the north
where the doughboys OF the 95tl
were less than a mile away ate
surrounding Fort Gambetta. The.
also took Lorry-Les-Metz, a mil
northwest Of the city.
The Fifth Infantry Division, at
ter advancing over 100 hard-Wol
yards, was under a mile ava.
on the south at an airfield an
between Magny and Fort Queleu
The Fifth also surrounded tn
Verdun fort group some thre
miles to the southwest. despit
harassing fire.
/ In southwestern Holland, Brl
; fish patrols crossed the Mas at
; point east of the DESTROYED Moero
iik bridge, touching off violent en-
envy artillery eaction.
-V-
crNAT0R SMITH