The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-10-14
SEVENTH ARMY
TAKES 4 TOWNS
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AA4>
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do said had been, all but hattened
''by an unprecedented steamroller
Of fire"
Doaghboys crossed the railway
tracks on the southeast and enter
ed Aachen proper at $3.50 am,
routing dirty, bearded Germans
from the rubble, while self :
propelled artillery prowled t e
ruins knocking out cores of resis-
lance described IS spotty.
Even as the ancient city of
Charlemagne entered its dying
hours, the whole British Second
army and American First army
front at the western gates Of Ger
many showed signs of imminent
eruption.
Mid : way between Aachen and
Anthem, the British Second army,
paced by American tanks. ham,
mered out gain of more than a
nile beyond the captured Dutch
town Of Overflow on front of
nearly four miles, neared Venray,
three miles southeast Of Overflow,
and were operating six miles from
the Mas river, which faces the
German frontier.
The Allied com1nunique announc-
ed limited gains had been made
II miles east of Aachen from posi-
tons four miles beyond Stolberg,
indicating that the drive on the
Rhine may be about ready to re-
sumo. Slow and steady progress
was made in Hurtgen forest
southeast Of Aachen.
Both Allied and Axis sources re-
ferred to activity in the Geilen-
Kirchen area IL miles north Of
Aachen. A German military COM
mentator said the American troops
had been concentrated there pos
sibly for grand scale assault"
on the, flat lands to the Rhine.
The Canadians along the sea
clearing oat the Schelde estuary
to the port Of Antwerp
gouged out gains in bitter fighting
on the estuary's south banks.
Their comrades to the south, wild
ening the perilously slim bridge
head across the Leopold canal,
fought into the outskirts Of the vii
lage of Eede nearly a mile from
the canal, and cut the main road
to the Dutch city OF Aardenburg,
two miles farther north.
The Germans were reported hIr-
Tying up reinforcements in an eff
tort to rescue an estimated 1000
If their comrades who have been
tut off by the Canadians from es-
cape by land from their i1nperiled
positions on two Dutch stands in
he Schelde.
In northern France, the U. s.
Third army was locked in hand-to-
hand combat with the Germans in
Meizierres-Les-Metz, six m / les
north Of Metz, but there were no
developments elsewhere on t h is
'front.'.
The U. S. Seventh army to the
south seized four villages in driv-
ng to within IL miles of Schlucht
pass, % miles north Of Belfort, and
lad the city Of LIE Thillot, IS miles
North Of Belfort, 'hemmed in from
;hree sides.
There was yet no word that the
Americans who yesterday cleared
A northeastern suburb Of Aachen
lad joined in the attack on the
main section Of the city.
The attack rolled up from the
southeast under cover Of the same
sort of artillery barrage which had
ruined at least IS percent Of the
city. Divebombers wheeled over
he center Of the city, blasting the
garrison trying to maneuver in the
hubble, front dispatch said.
A great smoke pail hung over
he city, but observers on t h
edges still could see the spire Of
Aachen cathedral, where Charlie
nagne lies.
The first American units found
he Germans willing enough to sur
'ender. In their first batch was a
lieutenant who received the Ameri-
IAN ultimatum to surrender earlier
his week.
Some civilians who came out of
he ruins said German officers for
,ade them to leave the city. 1t
vas estimated that no more than
o,00O Of the 1880 population re-
NAMED behind.
Meanwhile, Gen. Hodges artil-
cry, with close support, admins
cred merci1ess beating to strong
who moved in from
he northeast in an attempt to obey
Adolf Hitler's orders to "chase the
terrorist bandits off German soil"
They have moved against us in
oroad daylight" high ranking
officer said, and no man in his
right mind would attempt such a
hing unless some idiot ordered
1im to attack"
The enemy rushed Immediately
into battle on arriving at the front,
o1Yf orfi1Iorv f;oI,{or hoyoh. or5