Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-04

Gen. Bradshaw. Comdr. Collins.
the Rhine on this front. One front
dispatch, asserting that the Ger
mans had executed a successful
withdrawal, said the enemy might
have remnants of six divisions there,
or less than 10000 men.
1t was announced that up to yes
terday the Canadian LIST and the
United States 1st and 9th Armies
had taken nearly $4,000 prisoners
in little more than week
1st Army Smashes Ahead.
| Now that the Germans had been
virtually written off on the north
ern end of the front, 1t. Gen.
Courtney H. Hodges LIST Army was
driving for another kill in the Co.
logne sector
1t was the Sd Arfnored Division
which launched the surprise as
sault with two task forces north
west of Cologne.
In dash around the end of the
powerful defenses before the city,
they captured Geyen and reached
POulheim, both only 4 miles from
the outskirts of Cologne.
The Germans threw in two coun-
terattacks by the 9th and 18th
Armored Divisions, but they were
unable to check the assault.
The frontal attack on the city
likewise was rising in tempo, with
the Americans capturing number
of villages including Grefrath, Az
miles west of Cologne.
Reconnaissance pilots said there
was a general movement of German
troops toward Cologne, indicating
they were Withdrawing from the
perimeter into the Shell-torn city
proper
The Germans reacted strongly to
a new attack 8 miles southwest of
Cologne, where tanks captured Bles-
sem and then forged across the
Erft Canal
Tanks and Infantry Advance.
The enemy defenses before Bonn
seemed to be coming apart. for tanks
and infantry speared more than 5
miles southeast and captured Fries
helm and Lommersum, both less
than II miles from the city.
One of the communication centers
guarding Bonn, zulpich, 18 miles to
the west, was overwhelmed during
the day.
Six miles farther east, Euskirchen
was in peril.
The Americans were from 4 to
5 miles away on the north and
west of this city, whose three rail-
ways and eight highways fed Ger
man troops into the enemys Arden
mes offensive this winter.
Against this rising menace the
Germans were reported pulling out
of the West Wall anchor town of
Schleiden, 16 miles southwest of
EuSkirchen.
Canadians Meet Opposition.
Gen. H. D. G.. Crerar'S Canadian
LIST Army, trying to put the crush
er, on the German armies from
theSf1orth, ran into a furious coun-I
tefattack that drove it back a mile
in the area of the northern anchor
OF Xanten on the Rhine.
The Canadians fell back into the
eastern fringe of the Hochwald, o.
miles from the strategic city, and
dug in to wait for achievements.
They were Smelling the Xanten fer
ry, however.
Farther west, they had every
thing their own way as the fleeing
Germans departed without even
the usual rear guards.
The German stronghold of Bergen
fell without opposition, and 10 and
II miles to the east Kevelaer and
Wlnnekendonk fell swiftly. A hot
battle ragged in Kevelaer only yes
terday before the enemy abruptly
broke off the struggle.
The Canadians now hold 80 miles
OF the west bank of the Rhine.
Patton Yields Solid Front.
1t. Gen. George S. Patton's Sd
Army welded a solid front along the
Moselle route to the Rhine when
the 18th Infantry Division linked
up with the 10th Armored Division
conquerors of Trier near that fallen
fortress.
The 10th armored in a 1-mile
gain reached a junction of the Xvii
and Moselle Rivers, 3 miles north
east of Trier.
Into prison cages in the last "a
hours went 1900 German soldiers.
some weary troops surrendering in
groups as large as 100 men.
The 18th Division swept up eight
towns as it moved up less than 3
miles northwest of Trier. South of
Trier the Oath Division beat off
three counterattacks against it's
Saar River bridgehead.
North of Trier the Sd Army was
battling through the Eifel hills.
Strengthening a line running IS
miles up to the fallen enemy base
OF Pruem. At number of points
tanks and troops seized heights
overlooking the Minis River, next
water hurdle in their moth