Evening star., 1947-09-14

same day the river also was
preached north and south of Metz,
by 5th Infantry Division supported
by the 7th Armored.
This situation created very
fluid front. Spearheads were
stabbed deep into the enemy's lines
while, at the same time, his strong
points held up Lucky's main forces.
Both sides had considerable bodies
of hostile troops behind their lines.
On September IL Patton at
tended another conference at
Group. He was told that Mont
gomery was insisting that all sup
plies be diverted to support his Of
fensive. That meant Sd Army
would be completely immobilized to
hold a defensive sector on the Mo-
selle
Patton objected vehemently. He
pointed out that already the Ger
mans were building up against
Sd Army, because of its weak
ness, and that unless the Moselle
was preached Immediately, it would
cost thousands of casualties to do
it later.
Bradley, as usual, was sympa-
thetic, but declared Eisenhower
had received a complaint from
Montgomery that the gas allotted
to Sd Army was retarding his
operations.
That's a damned lie" retorted
Patton. "We received only 70,25O
gallons yesterday and only 5000 of
the 100000 rations We needed How
the hell are those small quantities
holding up him or 1st Army? That
claim is absurd
Bradley asked Patton how long
it would take to breach the Moselle.
Patton estimated several more
days" Bradley agreed to allow the
attack to continue until the night
of September IA.
Encouraging Omens
II the river was not crossed In
strength by then, Sd Army would
have to withdraw to the west bank
and sit down on the defensive. If
the river was forced, Bradley ex-
pressed the hope it would be pos
sible to continue the advance.
Patton rushed back to Lucky.
Two encouraging omens greeted
him: XIV Corps went into the line
on the south flank and the last
I'd battalions arrived from the UK.
But these favorable factors were
greatly offset by a mounting short
age in ammunition and gas.
The ration situation was even
worse. 1t became so bad that cap
tured German ration depots were
emptied to feed the troops.
When Patton was informed of
this. he snorted angrily: "SHAEF
is not only hog-tying us but trying
to starve us to death as we'll"
The fighting was vicious and
bloody the next two days The
enemy counterattacked continually
and strongly.
But by the deadline. the three
corps were on the east bank of the
Moselle in strength.
The Rhine was only 100 miles
distant and there was nothing out
in front but a patchwork crust
without depth or quality.
AK Falls Officially
All the elements were present for
a break-through except the order
for an advance and the supplies 10
propel it. r
Patton rushed to Group. at
Verdun, in the hope of getting a
ray of encouragement He found
Bradley gloomy and depressed
And what he had to say spelled finis
for a Sd Army offensive.
Later, Patton told the planning
group that Bradley had told him
Montgomery had prevailed on Els
enhoWer to slash Sd Army's sup
plies to the point where it would
be compelled to sit down. Also
that Montgomery was demanding
that VII and XIX Corps of 1st Army
be placed under his direct COM
mand
Patton also stated that Bradley
had suggested that Sd Army con-
tinue attacking in order not to give
the Germans the chance to re-
organize.
The troops responded with their
usual unquenchable esprit and
vigor. Fifth and Goth Infantry
and 7th Armored Divisions began
at the forts circling