Imperial Valley Press

Yanks Seize St. Vith Nazis Wilt Under Terrific Ground And Air Pressure

PARIS, Jan. 23. (UP)—

American forces drove into St. Vith today on the heels of Nazi forces which markedly increased the pace of their withdrawal all along the line of the remnants of the Ardennes bulge.

Both the American First and American Third armies reported the Nazis were wilting under unremitting ground pressure and the effects of the terrific air smash which yesterday knocked out 4100 German vehicles trying to get back inside the protection of the Siegfried line.

THIRD PUNCHES GAIN

The Third army punched out a gain of four and a half miles from a point six miles northeast of Houffalize and all along the line shoved onward distances of a mile or more.

The American tactical air force was out in some strength again today but it was hardly hoped that it could repeat yesterday's record bag.

Up to noon the Ninth air force had flown 198 sorties, destroying 302 motor transport and damaging another 119.

Eight armored vehicles of various types were destroyed for a two day total of 73.

HIT RAIL YARDS

The tactical air forces ranged behind the German lines, attacking railroads and freight yards as well as highway convoys, and reported the destruction of 72 cars and damage to another 72.

The seventh armored division's two-and-a-half-mile advance into the northeastern perimeter of St.

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Yanks Seize St. Vith, Punch Gains

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Vith threatened momentarily to collapse the northern half of the shrunken bulge.

A front dispatch said the Germans had pulled out of St. Vith, except for a skeleton rear guard force which temporarily had held up the American advance at a road block in the outskirts. Hunnage, one mile north of St. Vith, was captured last night.

SEVENTH ATTACKS

The seventh armored division—the same division which was ordered to withdraw after a heart-breaking stand at St. Vith early in the German offensive last month—took over the attack to reclaim the stronghold last Saturday, a belated announcement revealed.

Revised figures from yesterday's attacks showed that 4134 enemy vehicles were destroyed or damaged, most of them in two columns of 1500 vehicles each jammed bumper to bumper on highways leading to the Siegfried line.

While the German disaster mounted, the American First and Third armies further narrowed the Nazi Ardennes salient with advances of up to five miles all around its western and southern flanks. At no point were the Americans more than 12 miles from the German border, starting point of the Nazi offensive last December 16.