The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-12

 terrain southeast of Houffalize might provide the Germans with a position for new defensive stand. The area was high ridge along which the Germans could dig in, First Army quarters noted that the hills would be an advantage for the Germans since tanks are still hay ing great difficulty in climbing the Snow-covered, icy slopes.
 The driving snows that grounded the Allied tactical air forces through out the ten-day counter offensive had prevented repetition of the Falaise massacre still were working on the enemy's side today, washing out all direct aerial support and hamperlng Anglo-American artillery observation.
 Tn the Alsace corner of north- eastern Farnce, the Germans threw additional endorsements into their Rhine river bridgeheads on both sioes of Strasbourg and won some local successes. The Allies still ap- peared to have the situation under control, wever, although the French lost Obenheim, l4 miles south of Strasbourg, and American Seventh army forces were driven out Of Herlisheim, Il miles nothwest of the Alsatian capital.
 Up To 3rd Army
 The last fading hope of bringing Rundstedts battered legions to bat tic in the Ardennes where they could be enveloped and destroyed rested with the American Third armored division driving down into the pocket from the north and an unidentified U. s. Third army outfit moving up from the south.
 Vaneuaros of each division were reported within four miles of Houf- falize, turntable of the German pocket, early today and crowding ahead steadily through strong en- emy covering forces,
 The Third armored launched It's attack last night on q two-milc front south of Bihain and Petite Langlir and by daybreak had advanced about three miles to the Cherain area -four miles northeast of Houf- fa,ize. At the same time. It. Gen, George s. Pattons Third army forces were reported fighting up from Bastogne Into the Neville area, four miles southwest Of Houffalize.
 Houffalize itself lies between two wooded ridges running northeast ward to St. With, and both American columns were believed about to break into the narrow German es- cape corridor, If they had not al- ready done so.
 Sizeable German forces were still fighting west of Houffalize, but 1t seemed probable that Rundstedt al- ready had cxtricated a substantial part of the 20 Panzer and Volks grenadier divisions with which he launched his Ardennes offensive oil Dec. l6.
 Berlin commentators already were wdting off the Ardennes. asserting that RundStedts main objective the diversion of Allied strength from other sectors-already had been ac' complished,
 Allied headquarters announced that Allied ground forces destroyed 125 tanks and captured i4 others, i: addition to killing uncounted thou sands of Nazis.
 Nazi resistance melted away al along q front of more than 20 milei extending from St. Hubert on thu southwestern corner of the salien artsind to La R che in the north west as the bulk Of the enemy divi' sions headed back for the German border.
 At most points on the far end O. the pocket the Germans were of' fering only sporadic rear guard re- sistance, relying on extensive mine fields to cover their flight.
 Stronger Nazi forces were stil fighting hard midway along thu northern and southern Hanks, how ever, to prevent the American Firs and Third Armies from breaking into the center Of the pocket ant chopping up the crack panzer divi slons struggling to make good thei escape into the siegfried line.
 Enter St. Hubert
 An Allied headquarters comnlun iauc reported that It. Gen. Georg' s. Pattons Third Army troops of the southern flank entered St. Hu bert, which the Germans said hat been evacuated, and cleared th' enemy from Vesqueviile, two mile to the southeast.
 Farther to the east, Patton forces closed an armored rim around the remnants of three enc my divisions that had been battlint for weeks on the southeastern sid Of the Bastogne salient. -
 The Americans captured the VII late of Doncols, 5 1-2 miles south east of Bastogne, cutting the onl' escape road for the Germans pock eted in a triangular area farthe south around HarIange. At last re ports, the Nazis were ScatterinI through the woods under heav A. erican fire, with Patton's tank and infantrymen closing in from al sides, TarchaiApS and Watrange two miles southwest Of DoncolS, alS were taken by the Americans.
 At the western end Of the pocke' British troops stabbed forward seveI miles in 24 hours from NaSSange [ the outskirts Of Champion, six mile