ROUND TOULON

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 278, 21 August 1944, Page 5

ROUND TOULON

Fast Progress By Allies WIDE OFFENSIVE (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) (Received August 20, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 19. A Mediterranean Allied communique states: “Continuing their rapid advance against relatively slight opposition, troops of the Seventh Army have enlarged the bridgehead in southern France to more than 1000 square miles, and progressed to within six miles of Toulon. Advances of several miles have been made by American units on the west and north-west sectors ou both sides of the Argens River valley. The towns occupied include Sullies. French troops have overcome the last enemy opposition in the Cape Benit area.”

’ French tanks in northern France have captured St. Maxiniain, 22 miles north of Toulon, and Allied troops are near Grasse, seven miles inland from Cannes. A senior staff officer said that the enemy had been pulling out so fast from southern France that there had been no such demolition as in Italy. However, stiffer resistance could be expected as the advance progressed. The German garrison in Toulon is.already deprived of effective communication with Marseilles, while the port is half encircled and The encirclement manoeuvre is developing steadily. The Germans are firing heavy guns at the right flank of the Allied forces, which are closing in on Cannes. Another German infantry division has been identified, making three known to lie opposing the invasion. A representative of the combined Press in southern France says that this infantry division w r as identified yesterday. It crossed the Rhone without most of its mobile equipment because nearly all the 'bridges were down and the railway was wrecked. Extent of Operation,

The capture of the towms of. Leluc and Lorque. both over 20 miles inland and about eight miles apart, in addition to the seizure of other towns inland, such ns Lc May. 11 miles south-east of Leluc, and Collogrieres. seven miles inland, gives an indication of the extent of the Allied operations on this front, says a Rome war correspondent. I naddition to the action being fought in this area, progress is being made in the east and west, he says. “To the west our forces driving toward Toulon have progressed more than 10 miles. The distance between the western side of the arc and Toulon is some 20 miles. To the east our forces are about five miles east of Frejus, in the direction ot Cannes.” 'The air force has been bombing gun positions at 'Toulon. An attack on the French battleship Strasbourg in Marseilles harbour, -whose guns could have been a considerable menace to our approaching forces, is of great assistance. All supplies are still going over the beaches, and if these could be landed at Toulon the situation would be greatly changed, for the troops inland could then be supplied over a good road system. Another correspondent says that Gorman artillery, the first encountered in any strength since the initial landing, Was alternating its. direction of fire between Cuers and Pierrefou, six miles to the east, with consequent casualties to civilians there. The additional use of guns here is an indication that the Germans have managed to push several mobile units to aid in the defence of the Toulon zone. LARGE FORCES*LANDED IN RIVIERA LONDON, August 20. A 8.8. C. radio commentator today declared that the Allied forces landed in southern France now number several hundred thousand. Tim raajortiy of General de Tassigny’s French army has now landed in southern France.