 Ten-fifty, General. Right from the enemy, huh? No, sir. All outposts are silent. I'm asking for it, and they're going to get it. Colonel, the hour of decision has arrived. We attack... This is United Press correspondent Henry Gorell reporting on the hour of decision at the Doom German city of Aachen. The day broke gray and cold. The white chili mist shrouded the 1,100-year-old city of German emperors. But the German troops in Aachen were not worried about the chili mist. Their concern was a more lethal pull overhanging the city. A pull of tough American troops encircling the entire area, except for so-called suicide corridor less than a mile wide to the east. That was the situation when the commanding American general told me at his headquarters, few Germans might get through, but I don't think many will want to risk our artillery fire. Isn't there a possibility of the Germans from the outside attempting to widen that corridor and reinforce the Germans at Aachen? They'll never get through, Gorell. The German garrison and civilians in Aachen face two alternatives, surrender or death. Get call, Private Cating. Yes, sir. Hello? Message received, King Forre. Plains report enemy from the east advancing on corridor with heavy armor. I'm gonna see something now. Colonel Forbes. Yes, sir? Batteries A to F. Get the range and fire along the line. Yes, sir. And don't let up, you understand? Yes, sir. The advancing German armored the outskirts of the narrow corridor to join the hard-pressed German infantry. Last attempt to reinforce Aachen had been smashed. Back at the American commander's headquarters. Well, Gorell, it's now or never. Colonel Forbes. Yes, sir? Fetch me three of your best men. Make it two officers and one enlisted man. Make sure one of them speaks German. Yes, sir, General. Well, Gorell, can you guess the next move? Well, I'd say that you're about to send the German commander at Aachen and ultimate him. And I would say, Gorell, that you are correct. The garrison at Aachen. Which one of you speaks German? Aye, sir. Lieutenant William Baum, sir. You're acquainted with the military formalities. Yes, sir. Good. Now, you... Lieutenant George Maffey, sir. You, Maffey, will deliver my ultimatum. And Private... Kenneth Cating, sir. You, Private Kenneth Cating, will carry the flag of truce. Yes, sir. Lieutenant Maffey, here's your message. That's all, gentlemen, and good luck. Barrican soldiers, Maffey, Baum, and Cating to our last outpost and then watch their backs grow smaller in the distance as they approach the German lines. A glance at my watch. Time was 10 minutes to 11 in the morning. 10 minutes to 11. Art, where's Baum? We're in the military corner. We'll have mine in the pasture. Speak English. Message for our commander, did you say? Yes, right, a message for your commander. Give it to me. I'll give you a receipt. Still stand, that passage. I'm sorry. Better keep that flag high. Is that a blend? Here's your receipt. Thank you. Now, I must blindfold you and take you to my lieutenant. Ten hot. Guns will turn Aachen into a mass of ruin and rubble. An example of the fate that awaits every German city resisting Allied arms. Yes, sir, general? Colonel, I want you to put every plane in this area on the alert, ready for immediate takeoff. Yes, sir. Inspect all artillery batteries and see that sufficient incendiaries and high explosive shells are on hand. Right away, sir. One thing more. Order all sound trucks out the first thing tomorrow morning. I'll prepare the proclamation I want broadcast tomorrow. That's all, Colonel. All right. Watch them move up heavy bombs, ready for instant loading. Watch the artillerymen check their giant guns while scout planes flew over the city, dropping thousands of leaflets containing the surrender terms and calling upon the city to give in. The answer was silence. When daylight broke, the general ordered out the sound trucks to broadcast his final warning to the garrison and civilians of Aachen. 10.50 a.m. No word from the enemy, arm. No, sir. All outposts are silent. They're asking for it and they're going to get it. Colonel Forbes, the hour of decision has arrived. We attack Aachen. Yes, sir. Order all planes to bomb up. Alert the artillery. Tell Captain... Hot steel was more than any human consumed from the outskirts appeared a great mass of German civilians and soldiers. Their screams and horse cries echoing across the battlefield. Their faces contorted with fear. They streamed into our lives by the... ...fied civilians left the ancient city of Aachen, dying under a bright blue sky, heaving under the dreadful symphony of bombs and bullets. Colonel Forbes, after surveying this dreadful scene, summed it up when he said to me... This is the way every town in Germany should look. Then there wouldn't be any more war for a while. Based on the famous American ultimatum, surrender or die. We will present another in this series in the near future. Be sure to listen. And meanwhile, remember to listen for United Press news on the air. Look for United Press dispatches in your favorite newspaper. They are your guarantee of the world's best coverage of the world's biggest news.