Evening star., 1945-04-21
Patton Captures
Asch in Drive in
CzechosIovukiu
By the Associated Press,

FAhlS, April Zl.-Amerlcan 50
Army troops, smashing into
Czechoslovakia, captured Asch
today in a drive toward the
munitions cities of Pilsen and
Prague. At the same time, Mos
COW dispatches declared Soviet
and American patrols we're only
Is miles apart south of Berlin.
The latest word at supreme Allied
headquarters put the two forces
within 40 to 45 miles of a linkup.
Three Allied armies-the French
1st and the American 7th and 3D.
hammered southwark toward the
Nazis' Bavarian-Austrian redoubt,
and fought within 10 miles OF Mu-
Mich and 80 miles Of Lake Constance.
Asch, just inside the old Czech
border, fell to Sd Army units fighting
to cut off the redoubt from Czecho-
slovak war factories. Asch is so
miles from Pilsen. 1t. Gen. George
S. Patton's troops farther south in
GrafenWorh were So miles from Pill
sen and 125 miles from Prague.
Junction Believed Imminent.
Red Army front dispatches said
Russian and American patrols were
as close as rs miles south of Ber-
lin, and junction on the Elbe River
IS miles south of the German cap
ital was believed imminent.
The best information at Allied
headquarters was that 40 to As miles
still separated Russians northeast of
Dresden from American 1st and Sd
Army forces along the Nude River
east Of Leipzig. But it was clear
That the two forces now could meet
almost at will, perhaps within the
next "a to 48 hours. i
Doughboys were Is to 20 miles
from the Elbe opposite the Russian
wedge, and the Soviets were report
ed only Is miles from the Elbe.
A British. correspondent with the
9th Army, declared the muffled
thunder Of Russian guns could be
heard.
Flank Attack Opened.
Two 9th Army Divisions opened
a flank attack this morning west
of Witfenberge,, about midway be-
tween Berlin and Hamburg, and
thrust halfway through the Gar
tower Forest. The 84th Infantry
Division, in an 8-mile gain, cleared
PrezeIle, Is miles west of Witten-
berge, on the Elbe, and the 5th
Armored Division gained up to 3
miles. Diesdorf and Abbendorf were
recaptured, and infiltrated enemy
forces were mopped up.
Gen. Eisenhower quickened his
drives to crack open the areas where
the Germans may make their last
great stands-the northern port belt
and the southern redoubt.
British armor plunged into the
outskirts of Zeven, 20 miles north
east of Bremen, in a drive to en-
circle the river port, and also cut
the main road S miles south of
Zeven.
British troops were a mile from
the suburbs of Hamburg, second
city Of Germany, and now domi-
mated 20 miles of the Elbe SOUTH
east of the city.
= Canadians Intensity.
The Canadian 1st Army intensi-
fed drive on the naval ports of
Emden and Wilhelmshaven against
bitter opposition. Polish tanks cap
tured Aschendorf on the railway
to Emden, and patrolled into Papen-
burg. 20 miles south of Emden.
The Germans deepened flood
waters along their Grebbe line in
Holland guarding the great cities
of Utrecht, Amsterdam, the Hague
and Rotterdam, but Canadians
skirting the flood pushed to within
mile north of Amersfoort, IL
miles east of Utrecht. Other Canal
dian units were within miles of
DelfZijl, port on the Ems estuary
opposite Emden.
Third Army units besides seizing
Asch entered Arzberg in Germany
10 miles to the south, and Feiden-
fels % miles below Asch, pushing
through lightly defended road
blocks. Erbendorf Is miles south of
Asch was cleared. The Sd Army
processed 7,785 prisoners yesterday.
Nuremberg, touted shrine of the
Nazis, was firmly American-ruled|