The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-15
Nozis Wreck Rhine Docks
Continued from Page D

Warbeyen Falls
 The Canadians captured Warbey- an, three miles north of Kleve, and kirove ahead almost two miles into the river hamlet of Hurendelch, di- relty across the Rhine from Em- merich.
 German infantry and armored forces were reported battling des- perately to prevent a crossing backed up by heavy artillery fire from the far side of the Rhine.
 Southeast of Kieve, Spearheads of the famous Black Watch and Gordon Highlanders battled through wall of steel and concrete pillbox- eS on the road to Calcar. driving within three miles or less of that fortress town.
 Other Scots combat teams were hammering south and east of Bed burg on the Kleve-Goch road, Az miles north of Goch and about the same distance west of Calcar.
 English home troops, at the same time, broke out of their Niers river bridgeheads on the southern side of the Reichswald forest and fought their way down to within two miles north and west of Goch against heavy opposition.
 Location of the advanced British units in that sector was not re- vealed, but front reports said one bridgehead was between Gennep and Hommersum, 51s to BE- miles west of Goch, and the second between Hommersum and Kessel, the latter four miles northwest of Goch.
 Homersum was taken by the Tom mic; late yesterday and the entire north bank of the Niers was in British hands along five-mile stretch running from Gennep to within a mile east of Kessel.
 The Germans threw in several sharp counter-attacks against the bridgeheads yesterday, but they were beaten off by ground fire and a storm of bombs and rocket shells from the supporting Allied air forces
 Hundreds of other attacking planes skinned over the heads of the advancing British to smash groups of NaZi troops trying to form up in the rear for new coun- ter-blows.
 Almost 2,200 American and Brit ish planes joined in the battle for the Ruhr by daylight yesterday, pil- ing up a heavy toll of destruction on the already battered German communication system in and be- hir the fighting area.
 The Uneasy Hull on the British Second and U. s. Ninth Army fronts to the south continued early today, although German spokeSmen re- newed their warnings that a grand scale Allied offensive is about to erupt into the Cologne plain op- posite Aachen.
 , N0Zi military commentators sboaSted thatthe German high com sInand was ready for the attack and predicted that it would bring on the bloodiest battle of this war"
 Only local skirmishing was re- ported from the American First Army front on the headwaters of the Roer river, although American artillery broke up one strong Ger man patrol. Attempting to raid their positions around Hellenthal, three miles southwest of Schleiden.
 Lt. Gen. George s. Patton's U. s. Third Army forces beat off one strong counter attack that succeed ed in winning temporary foothold in the northern corner of Pruem. About 100 Nazis broke into the town under cover of darkness, but they were killed or chased back across the Pruem river after brisk fight.
 More than 30 miles to the south, other units of the Third Army 1poved up to within a half-mile west of the Pruem river on front of more than six miles, pushing their bridgehead east of the Sure river a maximum of three miles into Germany.
 Ernzen, two miles north of Ech. ternach, was taken by the Ameri- cans and they pushed on beyond the town to high ground Withir rifle shot of the Pruem. Other columns were overlooking the river northeast of Ferschweiler two miles northeast of Ernzen, and were about mile from the stream far ther north above Bollendorf.
 Hundreds of prisoners were beinr rounded up daily by Patton's troops in their slow advance through the Siegfried pillboxes, but there was nc indication of any general break in German morale.