SECRET CANADIAN ADVANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 277, 19 August 1944, Page 7

SECRET CANADIAN ADVANCE

Falaise-Channel Line Collapses (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, August 17. . The German front west of Paris is breaking up fast. All day today German transport has been streaming through the Falaise gap, now only four to five miles wide. The R.A.F, has been striking at the traffic, and so far it is reported that well over 500 German transport vehicles have been destroyed or hit. Most of the remnants of the armour of the Seventh Army are still fighting hard to keep the gap open for the German infantry, but only spasmodic resistance is being met as the Allies drive in and mop up as they go. “The hard panzer core of the German. Seventh Army lies somewhere between Argentan and Falaise and the Seme, waiting for other battles, which might obliterate it any day. All northern France is open for conquest,” says the British United Press correspondent in Normandy. “The fact that this core exists means that the combined British, Canadian, and American armies have failed in their primary purpose of crushing von Kluge’s only armoured group. Another series of co-ordinated attacks must be launched before the Germans can again tie brought to bay. The Germans have won a reprieve. possibly only for a week or two, by their brilliant and' orderly retreat from the pocket west of the Falaise-Ar-gentan road." Great Tank Battle. The Exchange Telegraph Agency’s correspondent in Normandy reports that three panzer divisions appear to be forming up somewhere near the gap between Argentan and Falaise, with the possible intention of holding back the Allies so that another German defence line can be established'. Our advance is being strongly opposed 'by rearguards.

American and German armour are locked in battle in the vicinity of Argentan, says the British United Press correspondent in a later message. This is the first big tank battle in France since 1940.

The Germans’ escape 'gap. says Reuter's correspondent with the British forces, has now been narrowed to four miles. A staff officer said: “There is no doubt about it, the Germans are in an awful mess —a chaotic mess.”

Simultaneously with an announcement from the Columbia Broadcasting Sys-

tern’s broadcaster in Normandy that the German army had begun a new retreat ou a 30-mile front stretching from north of Falaise to the Channel coast east of the mouth of the Orne River, the correspondent of the Associated Press with the Canadians revealed details of the Canadian attack eastward which was launched under the cloak of the deepest secrecy. Toward Usieux. Though the Canadians' thrust began south-east of Caen, their progress forced the enemy to withdraw from Troarn and 8.-ivent, three miles north of Troarn. Sume stiff engagements were fought north-east of Falaise. The enemy withdrew early today and retreated across marshes. The German defensive line from the sea to Falaise has been completely broken. For 48 hours armoured cars, tanks, and infantry have been fanning out rapidly eastward and south-eastward from the bulge in which the Canadian army was contained between Caen and Falaise. This advance is not yet. a “Patton pursuit,” which is the Canadian's way of describing the American army’s headlotig thrust, but marks the quickest . gains since the Canadians launched their major offensive 10 days ago. Everywhere tlie Germans tried to make a stand they were beaten. The Germans must fall back along the roads to Lisieux, because these constitute the only main route eastward. Forces which crossed the Dives River ami took St. Pierre were British troops under the Canadian Army command. Reuter's correspondent says that the Canadians who captured Falaise joipeil with Polish armoured formations to ing is going on two miles north of Trim. 10 miles south-east of Falaise, and fighting is going on two miles north of Trim. The Canarlinns are advancing against light opposition. The Germans were evideiilly unable to organize a definite line after the loss of Falaise. The drive against Trim, which is a vital road centre. was launched from two directions, from Falaise and trom St. Pierre.