The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27

ParatrOOpS
 It was the first time Allied para troops have been reported in action since the seizure of Nijmegen and abortive attempt to take Arnhem in central Holland in September. Men, tion of only small groups, how ever, indicated that the troops be bent on reconnaissance and sabotage rather than any large scale attempt to carve out bridge head behind the Siegfried Line. Patton's triple thrust deeper into the Saar Basin carried his armor and infantry within gun range of some of the main forts of the Siegfried Line west of the Rhine on the central sector of the front.
 One column, advancing mile and a half along six-mile front, reached Kerprichhemersdorf, 6 miles northwest of Saarlouis and a mile inside Germany.
 Another column two miles to the north advanced mile to Fur weller, while the third gained a mile to within 8 halfr mile of Or scholz, 16 miles northwest of Saar- louis and four miles inside Ger many.
 10 Forts TOppled
 Patton's forces also toppled 10 forts of the old French Maginot some 15 miles southwest Of Saar- brucken in an advance to within a mile of the fortified town Of St. Avoid on three sides.
 Farther south, It. Gen. AleXan- der M. Patch's Seventh army cleared the crests of the Vosges mountains and poured down toward the AL sace-I,o lorraine Plains along the en- fire length of its front west ol the Rhine. Limited gains also were reported elsewhere along the 4OO-mlle Ailleo offensive front stretching rom southeast Holland to the Swiss bor- der. The situation, Army by Army from north to south, was:
 British 2nd
 British Second Army-reached the north bank of the Mass river two miles north of the Dutch border bastion of Venlo; advanced to the main perimeter defenses mile and a half west of Venlo, including a fortified 25-foot-wide antl-tank ditch: captured Brookhuisenvorst and Blitterswijk, eight and 12 miles north of Venlo.
 American Ninth Army-Fought house to house for Koslar, 12 miles inside Germany and a mile and a half west of Julich on Roer river; beat off German counter-attacks at Bourheim, mile and a half south west of Julich and "A miles west of Cologne.
 GA German dispatch from Mar shal Gerd von Rundstedt's head quarters claimed that the Germans had re-captured both Koslar and Bourheim. The latter was said to have changed hands three times in fierce fighting.
 American First Army-Advanced a mile east of newly captured Weis- weller along four-lane Adolf Hitler super highway toward Ruren, an. other seven miles to the east and 20 miles southwest of Cologne.
 American Third Army-Advanced milet mile and half deeper into Saar Basin; threatened St. Avoid, 25 miles east of Metz, from three sides; pushed to within eight miles southwest and 16 miles south of industrial center and communi- cations junction and Sareguemines.
 American Seventh Army-Plunged down eastern slopes of Vosgoes mountains along entire front; over- ran 12 or more forts south of StraS- bourg in drive toward junction with French First Army on west bank of Rhine.
 French 1st
 French First Army-Captured last of enemy forts in Belfort area; continued north along west bank of Rhine under security news black out.
 Front dispatches said weather conditions were improving all along the front. Clearing skies gave prom ise of further tactical air support. Yesterday 2,400 sortieS were flown. Dropping temperatures also brought hope that the muddy terrain soon ma freeze mad give infantry and armor firmer footing.
 The heaviest fighting and per hapS slowest progress continued on the Rhineland plain before Cologne with the British second and Amer ican Ninth and First Armies still holding the initiative over the des- perately resisting foe.
 The Germans counter-attacked the Ninth Army at both Koslar and Bourheim, but were driven back. Three cotton German Tiger tanks which penetratel Bourheim were destroyed.
 IranAheg Dug