MONTGOMERY ABOARD SHIP STRUCK BY MINE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 137, 12 June 1944, Page 3

MONTGOMERY ABOARD SHIP STRUCK BY MINE

LEADERUNSHAKEN Beach Tours In Coastguard Cutter Taxis N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, June 11. General Montgomery and RearAdmiral Yian, in command of the British sector of the Invasion fleet, are using fast coastguard cutters as taxis to travel to points along the Normandy beachhead, says the Daily Express. General Montgomery's ship struck a mine as he was going to Normandy, but he was not injured. His confidence was obviously unshaken and he pressed on in another vessel to the appointed landing beach.

"After four days of fighting the Allied armies have secured a good, firm lodgment area on the mainland of France," says General Montgomery in a personal message to the troops of the Twenty-first Army Group.

"First we must thank Almighty God for the successes we have achieved and for giving us such a good beginning towards the full completion of our task. Secondly we must pay tribute to the Allied navies and air forces for their magnificent co-operation and support, without which the soldiers could have achieved nothing. Thirdly, I want to personally congratulate every officer and man in the Allied armies on the splendid results of the past four days.

"British, Canadian and American soldiers, fighting gallantly side by side, have achieved great success and placed themselves in a good position from which to exploit this success. Much still remains to be done, but together you and I will see the thing through to the end."