ALLIED FORCES HOLD POSITIONS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24280, 10 June 1944, Page 5

ALLIED FORCES HOLD POSITIONS

Ceaseless Activity In The Air I " "■ ■' HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES * (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Ree. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June-®. A communique issued by Supreme Allied Headquarters at midnight on Thursday stated that the Allied Forces had not been driven back in any position and had held all points gained. They had made further progress since the last reports wer« issued, but there had been very heavy fighting along the whole of the battlefront. Our aircraft, from dawn on Tuesday until noon on Thursday, were' stated to have flown approximately 27,000 individual missions. Qne hundred and seventy-six enemy aircraft had been destroyed. Our losses for the same period were 289 aircraft. The communique continued:—

“Ten enemy divisions have . been identified in action against the Allied troops. German reserves have been flung into the battle and have made immediate counter-attacks. These are probably local reserves. “Organised counter-attacks, probably on a larger scale, can be expected at any time. There are various small enemy pockets inside the Allied line, which are being mopped up and obliterated. The centre of the Allied front is sound, although the field commanders and the troops under them have no illusions about the Germans’ stern fighting qualities. The enemy is fighting back at most points with vigour and purpose. “The enemy air effort is as yet limited in scale, but some opposition from flak has been encountered. Ceaseless patrols have been maintained over the immediate battle positions by fighters, and fighter-bombers, as targets presented themselves, in small units

broke off the main patrolling force to dive-bomb and strafe armoured columns, troop movements, and gun positions. . “Other ‘fighters covered ' shipping against air and sea attacks behind the combat zone, and other fighter-bombera ranged over the country in a deep belt many miles to the south-east and south of the battle area, attacking armoured vehicles, motor transport, troop concentrations, and other targets, including railway fuel dumps, airfields, and canal locks on the Seine river. Rocketfiring aeroplanes attacked a tank concentration west of Caen.

“Heavy bombers, in very strong force, struck against railway foeal points, railway yards, and airfields well beyond the battle area yesterday morning. Medium bombers and light bombers took advantage of the.‘miproved weather and made many sorties in the Normandy area against road* and rail targets.”