September 10, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1944:

ABILENE, TEXAS, SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 10, 1944 —THIRTY-SIX PAGES IN THREE SECTIONS

Troops Rushed From Westwall;

Patton Bridgehead Facing Difficulty

By The Associated Press

Forced into a showdown by the ring of Allied steel constantly tightening on an sides, Germany's battered but not yet conquered armies lashed back yesterday with deadly fury in a great battle on the Moselle river and stiffened their resistance in southern France and

northern Italy.

Field Marshal Gen. Walther von Model, the Nazis' new commander-in-chief on the western front, rushed reserves from the Siegfried line to join in fierce counterattacks against Al« lied troops in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The U. S. Third army of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, holding five bridgeheads in varying depth along the Moselle near Metz, bore the brunt of the German ferocity. The American positions were being subjected to a heavy artillery barrage and Associated Press Correspondent Edward R. Ball said the situation was "difficult."

In Belgium the British Second army made a second-crossing of the 'Albert canal in-a drive toward the weakest sector of the Siegfried line, north of Aachen, and .the U. S, First army plunged beyond Liege down the last 18 miles to the German border. But both forces encountered fresh Nazi troops and increasing resistance.

The heaviest fighting: since Normandy was raging along the Moselle. As Lt, Gen. George S. Patten's forces plunged across the river at one small bridgehead, they were caught in withering .artillery, mortar and machine gun fire from camouflaged forts, which waited to yank their lanyards after the first wave was across.

Bombs Hit Japs

Over Vast Area

By the Associated Press

Warships turned their big guns Wednesday on the Palau islands in .what may be the; beginning of the long expected three way amphibious attack on Japanese bases there and at Yap and Halmahera, needed by: American troops before they retake the Philippines.

At least one amphibious move toward Halmahera was made Thursday when General MacArthur's troops seized Soepiori island just west of Biak in Geelvink bay.

Blistering. American air attacks 'continued over a vast area. Manado, on the northern tip of Celebes, was hammered with a 150- ton bomb load. Widespread damage was caused with some oil dumps being set afire. Liberators, Mitchells and Lightnings pounded gun positions and airdromes on Halmahera without challenge in the air.

Great numbers of carrier based" planes worked over Palau, also, the Tokio -radio said. The enemy radio 'claimed, too, that battleships and cruisers shelled islands in the Yap group.

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz' headquarters in the Pacific announced the surface and air assault on Palau. The Navy release said buildings and defense installations on Anguar were blasted as the battleships, cruisers and destroyers opened, up on the southernmost island of the Palau group. Communications facilities at Peleliu island –were torn and bombs blew up supply dumps. Large fires were started on Koror. A Japanese air field, radio station and fuel dump felt the brunt of the attack en Arakafaesan island

"There .was little anti-aircraft fire. None of the attacking ships, which

usually soften ,up invasion beaches for thousands of troops, suffered any

damage^ in the attack,