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Ferrying at crossing of Saar near Wallerfangen, Germany |
In the meantime, bridging operations were meeting difficulties. Here again,
as with the Moselle, the Saar River fought on the side of the enemy. Each
time the necessary cables were stretched across the river, the current
snapped them like a string. The task was further complicated by the enemy's
observation on the crossing sites and the consequent artillery fire expertly
zeroed in.
Despite such obstacles, however, a footbridge was installed and remained in
place for a period sufficient to send more troops across the river. The
Germans lashed the site with heavy fire and succeeded in destroying the
bridge. And now again began the old familiar story of supplying the infantry
by carrying parties, by utilizing assault boats negotiating the dangerous
currents of the river.
No firm line had yet been established along the front. Contact between
battalions was either non-existent or insecure. The Germans found it an easy
matter to infiltrate between the two, reoccupy the pillboxes from which they
had previously been ousted, and engage the Americans from the rear. Again
and again, day after day, as the reduction of the highly fortified Dillingen
progressed, the infantry found it necessary to take and retake pillboxes
which were assumed to be out of action. |
