Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-11-12
Jap Convoy Of 10 Ships Is Sunk
Attempting to Reinforce Leyte;
Yanks Closing Ring Around Metz
FIonking Forces
Within 10 Miles
Of Juncture
MAP on Page A-4.)
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, Paris, Nov. H.
American infantry and armor
today drew the arc of steel
threatening to envelop Metz to
fully two-thirds OF the way
around that Nazi-held French
fortress, with less than 10 miles
separating the two f1anking
forces.
The American 3rd Army smashed
ahead 5 miles, crossing rivers, rail
lines and highways. 1t. Gen. George
S. Patton, jr., who celebrated his
seth birthday and Armistice Day
with the most sweeping advances
Of his new winter offensive, has sent
elements of at least eight divisions
into the line since the drive started.
Hinges of two assaults swinging
around Metz from both sides were
driven to within S miles of the
citadel due south and within Al
miles on the opposite side. The
forces on the southern hinge south
east Of notwithstanding ali or part
Of six Observation-Disclosures to smash
ahead, swinging far to the east and
increasing the threat of complete
of Metz.
Planes Knock Out Tanks.
American fighter bombers flew
700 sorties despite varying weather.
At one point they caught more than
Is German tanks moving toward
the American lines and reported
the destruction of 10 and the DAM
aging OF Is.
At the same time, the 4th Ar
mored Division pushed on miles
northeast along a rail route from
captured Haboudange to the area
OF Conthil, only miles from the
Benestrof1 rail junction and miles
northeast of Chateau-S alins.
1t was disclosed that two German
divisions beaten in Normandy had
been reformed and returned to OPP
pose Gen. Patton's drive.
They were the. 18th Panzer Gren-
adler Division, which was chopped
up at Carentan. and the 10th and
l11th Panzer Grenadier, Regiments
Of the 18th Panzer Division, last
reported at Caen.
VanKuards Cross Med River.
Mai. Gen. Robert Grows 9th Ar
mored Division sent tank vanguards
across the Med River through Han
sur-Nied, II miles southeast OF
Metz. Another column reached the
river at Lemud, 9 miles east OF
Metz, after overrunning the nearby
village of Aube-l2 miles beyond
the jump on positions of four days
ago. The Lemud thrust was the
deepest penetration yet.
A few hours before 9Th Division
tanks cut across the Med River
also known rs the Med Franchise
at 4 O'Clock, Gen. Patton received
another handsome birthday present
with the news that the Germans
were making a large-scale with
drawal to the northeast from
Chateau-Salins Forest.
Troops, guns and tanks believed
attached to the 10th and 11lth
regiments, made an unusual day
light withdrawal after three days
OF bitter struggle with 35th Divi-
sion infantrymen.
Their exposed columns moving
through Belange and Acclaim toward
Morange, Is miles to the northeast
Immediately were attacked by 10th
Tactical Air Force planes with UNI
observed results.
ARTILLERY Knocked Out.
Third Army headquarters report
ed 81 pieces of field artillery and anti
aircraft guns were knocked out OF
captured in the Chateau Salins
Forest and on a nearby ridge. Ninth
Air Force fighter bomber pilots
claimed destruction of rs trucks. IS
horse-drawn artillery pieces and II
gun positions.
On the left hinge of the swing
around MetZ from the southeast, the
5th Infantry Division thrust north
to a point S miles south of Metz
North Of the fortress city, the s5th
Division captured Brieux- Chateau
one mile southeast of Maizieres-les-
Metz. A front dispatch said these
forces were only "A miles from
Metz.
Meanwhile, the Goth Division
strengthened its 3-by-6-mile bridge
head over the Moselle River in the
Koenigsmacher area by eliminating
the German salient jukting into ii
at the middle.
Gen. Patton had split the Ger
man defenders south of the fort
ringed city and had tanks maraud-
ing l8 miles from the Saar border
(See WESTERN FRONT. Page Al