The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-11
Allied Units IToke Luroche
Continued from Page D

the Anglo American close-in from the north, south and west.
 The four-mile bound forward by Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgom- eryS British forces was made from the area of Nassonge to the St. Hu- bert-La Roche road somewhere in the neighborhood of the Champion junction
 If, as the report indicated, the Germans had withdrawn behind that road, it meant they probably were giving up the entire area in front of the next lateral line which runs through Houffalize.
 AS It. Gen. George s. Patton's Third Army reported enemy move ments to the seat and northeast, it's western flank swung forward over high ground just south of St. Hu- bert, southwestern anchor of the salient from which the Nazis report ed they had pulled out.
 To the east the Third Army cut the Bastogne- St. Hubert road around Tillet some 10 miles west of BaS- togne. On the eastern side of the 35- mile southern front, an American gain Of a mile and a half cleared Harlange and carried within 500 yards of Wiltz.
 American First Army Forces drawn up along the northern wall Of the Ardennes near the German-Bel- gian frontier struck down across the base of the salient southeast ot Malmedy and Stavelot early today, threatening RundStedt's last line Of retreat. First reports said the Amer jeans met no opposition in their ad- vance, but they were moving cau- tiously to avoid a possible Nazi am bush.
 First word of the German retreat. which appeared to mark the closing phase of the battle of the Ardennes, came in a front dispatch from Uni ted Press War Correspondent c. R. Cunningham.
 Cunningham reported that two American Army Corps, the Fifth and the 18th airborne. were cutting down into the base Of the enemy salient in what appeared to be the opening blow of drive to envelop and destroy the eeing Germans.
 Patrols of the 18th airborne corps, he said, pushed deeply" south of Malmedy and east of Stavelot to- day without making contact with the enemy.
 Infantry Advances
 Farther to the west, American First Army tanks and infantrymen swung down through the northern ank of the salient at fast clip after caving in the Germans strongest defenses around La Roche and Sam rec.
 Other units of the Second Armor- ed and the 84th Infantry Division cracked through Samree, three miles to the east, late yesterday after & savage battle that ended with one of Rundstedts toughest panzer outfits in headlong flight Southward.
 The Americans at last reports were pushing rapidly beyond Sam rec toward the center of the pocket overwhelming small German cover ing forces in their path.
 Only a narrowing corridor, per- haps eight miles or less in width, remained open to the Germans in the western end of the salient be- tween the Second Armored division and It. Gen. George s. Patton's Third Army forces crushing up from the south.
 Farther to the east, American tanks and rifiemen were biting deep into the salient on a front of more than five miles extending from Bi- hain. seven miles east of Samree, to Vielsalm.
 Fierce fighting ragged in Vielsalm last night after units of the Amer ican 82nd Airborne division drove down from the west bank of the Salm river and broke into the town. The entire east bank of the river was cleared as far as Salmchateau, l-2 miles south of Vielsalm, and the latter town appeared to have been effectively isolated.
 Infantrymen of the 83rd division also battled enemy rearguards in Bihain after a one-mile advance south of the La Roche-St. With highway yesterday.
 At the western end of the salient. British armored spearheadS pushed than two miles in the past 24 hours ahead for gains running to more and their outriders frequently had difficulty keeping pace with the German retreat.
 At least six villages were occupied in rapid succession as the British swung eastward from the Roche fort area and southeastward from Marche. northwestern corner of the salient.
 Latest accounts put the British well beyond the Homme river, with their drive hampered mainly by log and a heavy snowfall and thick Nazi minefields.
 TOmmieG Take Roy
 Roy, four miles southeast of Marche, was taken by the advanc- ing tommies. along with Masbourg, 1 I-2 miles southeast of Rochefort. and NaSsonge. l-2 miles farther 10 the northeast Bure, Ambly and Harsin were occupied by the Brit ish earlier yesterday.
 On the southern flank Of the Ar. dennes. Patton's Third Army troops, stalled for days by fanatical Ger. man counter-attacks. swung up to. ward the center of the salient on q broad front above BastoRne, wip- lng out several enemy pockets in their path,
 United Press War CorTespondent Robert Richards reported that the Germans appeared to be pulling out Of the Bastogne area to the north and northeast, screening their flight by cheap counter attacks in platoon strength"
 Ten miles west of Bastogne. the Americans cut the only good road leading eastward between that town and st. Hubert. which Berlin said had been evacuated by German troops. advancing as much as Q mile saA AR.kk .A