DEEP ADVANCES IN NORMANDY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 260, 31 July 1944, Page 5

DEEP ADVANCES IN NORMANDY

Americans Race Down Coast BRITISH ATTACK Six Thousand Enemy Prisoners (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received July 30, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 30. While the American forces in western Normandy steadily continue their southward advance, having trapped German formations near Coutances and pushed far to the south of the town, the British Second Army today launched an attack near Caumont, roughly midway between Caen and St. Lo. It was preceded by a massive aerial bombardmen This part of the British front had been relatively static for some week's past. The Americans' left flank has now pushed bevond the town of Percy, 1 5 miles south of St. Lo, and the new British assault may well threaten the rear of strong enemy defences which have prevented American expansion eastward over the Vire RIVe Writing before the British attack, Reuters correspondent with the Americans said that elements of the Second Panzer Division had been rushed from the Caumont area in an attempt to stem t - American driye down the west bank of the Vire River It.is.estimated that the Germans in the last four days have lost 2»3 tanks and 1500 vehicles. , On the west coast two American spearheads pushing south of Coutances have linked up, encircling a German force consisting of elements of three divisions. This has made strong efforts to break out of the trap but is being steadily mopped up. Yesterday the Americans advanced six miles making a total advance of 20 miles since the offensive was launched four days ago.

A spearhead was reported last night nt Brehal, 12 miles south of Coutances, and another force, making ever faster progress, was pushing toward Granville, 20 miles beyond Coutances. The main enemy resistance was on the River Vire, where counter-attacks slowed un, but failed to halt, the American advance. A high-ranking military spokesman told a representative of the combined Press at the supreme headquarters advance command post: “General Bradley s advance is going very well. We can see no possibility of more than temporary checks for some time. The Germans ap--1 parently have no time to prepare new : positions but are throwing in new troops, who are fighting well. The last remaining elements of three German divisions have been wiped out.’’ “The American break-through in the Coutances area is the greatest 1 achievement since the initial landings states the London correspondent of the i “New York Times.” “In n sense it was a small-scale military classic, which may considerably affect the future events. ■ “The break-through represents a triumph of bold tactics plus sound, military principles. For the first time since taking Cherbourg we have concentrated on one section of the front in enough strength to ensure a break-through. For the first time we have used massed armour and pushed through the gap in the enemy line, by-passing pockets of enemy resistance and exploiting our gains fully regardless of the risk to the flanks.” Some 6000 prisoners have been taken so far in the general American advance. Earlier German Escape. A message on Friday, reporting that ■ the American armoured spearhead from • Periers had reached the outskirts of Coutances, said it was believed that the trap was not as large as expected, because the Germans threw in their best troops and held the door open. Prisoners from six German divisions were brought into one American advanced post within ■l5 minutes on Friday, but the main forces probably slipped out of the Coutances trap during confused night fighting. Rommel’s frantic retreat southward through Coutances was more disorderly ■than his retreat to Tunisia, according to fighter-bomber pilots who are veterans of the desert campaign, said Reuter's correspondent on Friday. One pilot who made several sorties over the Coutances area said: “Over the network of small highways I saw burning vehicles of some sort every few yards.” Correspondents, however, said there was no sign of a German rout or panic. The country which has been taken in the advance is virtually untouched, says Ileuter’s correspondent. It is possible for the first time in the American sector to drive mile after mile and see tinmarked houses, live cattle, and civilians working peacefully in the fields. Ferocity Near Caen. A “Daily Express” correspondent. Alan Wood', in a dispatch from the Caen ■front on Friday, said : “I have seen nothing in this war which exceeds the bitterness of the battle the Canadians are ilighting here, except the battles the Australians fought in New Guinea. The Ger•mans are fighting with almost the same (fanaticism as the Japanese, and they are digging in in the same way.” “Allied armoured columns on the western sector continue to advance against stiffening resistance,” said last nights Allied communique. “One column has •reached the coast west of Coutances and Itaken lhe town of Pont de la Roque, and • another column has reached Ilyenvi.lle, Lsouth of Coutances. Pockets of resist'ance at Cerisy la Salle and Mont Pinebon have been mopped up. A salient, between ■Villebaudon and St. Denis le Cast has been cleared of the enemy, and the town of Ilamhye has heen taken. Allied forces • south-east of St. Lo advanced several ; kilpme t res.” ______