REPEATED ENEMY THRUSTS REPELLED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 154, 1 July 1944, Page 5

REPEATED ENEMY THRUSTS REPELLED

ALLIES STAND FIRM

Six German Divisions Smashed Since D Day

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, June 30. Allied forces, driving their salient towards the Orne River, in the Caen sector, have compelled the enemy to throw in strong armoured reserves in an effort to halt our advance, says a communique from Supreme Headquarters. Despite repeated counter-attacks by these formations our positions have not only been held but improved. Farther west ground has been gained near St. Jean de Daye. Resistance in the Cap de la Hague area of Cherbourg Peninsula has continued.

The weather severely restricted the air operations between midnight and mid-morning, but improving conditions over the battle area and southward permitted the Allied forces to complete some 1000 sorties by the early afternoon. Flying through clouds or below ceilings, small forces of medium bombers before dawn attacked the main thoroughfare the enemy is using in the Villers-Bocage area.

Nazi Movements Harassed

From the first light fighterbombers and fighters, based both cn Britain and Normandy, harassed enemy movements in the area bounded by Dreux, Chartres, Alencon and Argentan, and carried out reconnaissance as far south as Tours.

The Associated Press correspondent at Cherbourg says an American staff officer disclosed that the Allies since D day had killed or captured the equivalent of six full German divisions. The Americans alone captured over 38,000 and killed 10 000 Total prisoners are likely to exceed 40,000 when the Cape de la Hague area is cleared.

The British forces in the Caen area in repelling the enemy counterattacks inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans and improved the Allied positions. Our crossing of the Odon River is now a definite salient and a reasonably firm bridgehead. The situation is described as "more than highly satisfactory, but it is too early to speak of any kind of major success." Continued German counter-attacks in increasing strength are probable. Genaral Montgomery is punching the enemy first at one point and then at another, thus forcing the Germans to patch up holes in their defences witn troops which were meant for attack. Allied Initiative According to information obtained at Supreme Headquarters ■10-night, news from France is indicates that the battle in the Odon River-Caen sector is still fierce and undecided. There has been heavy fighting north of Caen, with no report tnus far of any appreciable change. Until the Germans can hold the Allies stationary at all points their much-predicted major counteroffensive is unlikely to begin. The whole of the British-Canadian sector is at present active, with the initiative everywhere ■ in General Montgomery's hands. It is revealed that the 51st Highland Division, which served at El Alamein and Sicily, and is one of the most famous formations in the British Army, is now fighting in Normandy.