Evening star., 1944-12-31
Sd Army Broodens
Front on South to
Nearly so Miles
MAP on Page A-4.)
By the Associated Press.

0y Inc ASSOCldLeQ fIeSSs
PARIS, Sunday, Dec. 81
Three German divisions hav,
been hurled by Field Marsha
Karl Won Rundstedt at both side!
of the Bastogne corridor hele
by 1t. Gen. George S. Patton.
United States Sd Army, a fiele
dispatch reported last night, a.
American troops hammered
heavily all along the shrinking
perimeter of the German bulge
The hard-won corridor supplying
Bastogne was hit by two of Vor
Rundstedt's divisions from the west
and by third from the east while
in Bastogne itself American ar
tillerymen poured whitening she'll
fire into the 16-mile-wide escape
gap of the Germans hour-glass
shaped front and blasted areas
where the Germans have been gath
ering for. new thrusts.
The renewed attacks-breaking a
four-day lull-came as Gen. Pat
tons forces broadened their front
along the south of the German bulge
to nearly so miles, struck west of
Bastogne, sheared supply roads and
threatened to cut off enemy armor
thrust to within % miles of Sedan
at Libramont.
Yanks Rewin Third of Area.
American counterblows had re-
won nearly one-third of the ter
ritory overrun in the Germans sur
prise counteroffensive, badly mar
rowing the maneuvering ground for
Won Rundstedt's three armies.
Progress of the new battle was not
at once disclosed, nor was the time
at which it broke.
Previously, supreme headquarters
had reported under the 36-hour Sc
curity blackout that by Friday
morning one 3rd Army force drove
into Moircy, II miles west of rBas-
togne and but AZ miles southeast OF
st. Hubert, where another Ameri-
can garrison has been making a.
Bastogne-i like stand and
off far larger forces.
Won Rundstedt's westernmost po-
sitions were being assailed by 1t.
Gen. Courtney H. Hodges resurgent
LIST Army. which fought in the streets
of Rochefort, "a miles northwest of
Bastogne, and plastered the Ger
man lines with shells.
Nazis Fight Back Fiercely.
AS the battle rose in fury the
enemy fought back with mortars
and artillery, bent on holding the
town to the last.
Brussels radio, often optimis-
tic, said Rochefort had fallen and
violent tank battle ragged near
the town. This was without Off
cial confirmation.)
Gen. Patton's forces had been
ripping apart the German positions
on both sides of the Bastogne cor
ridor and Won Rundstedt threw in
reinforcements in a strong bid to
stop advances in this salient.
Necessity for action was multiplied
by the American artillery command
ing his east-west routes of supply
or retreat.
In the Is miles between Manhay
on the north flank and Longchamps
three miles north of Bastogne-
there are but two good highways.
There are two railroads, but the
Germans never succeeded in clearing
them.
Patton Builds Up Firepower.
The northern highway runs 3h
miles south of Manhay, where Amer
lean gunners lie in wait.
The southern highway runs a
mile and half north of Long
champs, where Gen. Patton is
steadily building up his firepower.
In between lie numerous secondary
roads, and even these are hazardous,
Associated Press Correspondent
William F. Boni reported that
American batteries commanded all
but about a mile of the sector be-
tween Manhay and Longchamps.
The weather yesterday favored
The enemy, but limited forces of
fighters and fighter bombers struck
communications and supply con-
centraticns and heavy bombers from
Britain hammered at the same sort
Of targets.
Pilots along the 3rd Army front
claimed destruction of 80 tanks in
incomplete reports, along with 135
motor transports, IL locomotives
and 154 railroad cars.
Mr.. Boni was able to report that
the northern front was relatively
quiet today and on some sectors
patrols had to press forward nearly
3 miles before striking even the