Late News SEINE CROSSED, SAYS BERLIN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 278, 21 August 1944, Page 6

Late News SEINE CROSSED, SAYS BERLIN

Allied Air-troops Gain Foothold

TANKS FOLLOW UP (By Telegraph.—-Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received August 21, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, August 20.

Berlin radio states that Allied paratroops and other airborne troops have landed north of the Seine and opened an area in which Allied tanks, reinforced from Chartres, have been able to cross the river. German formations are now attacking the bridgehead. American armoured units and selfpropelled guns have reached the hills at St. Cloud Mendon, west of Paris, overlooking the entire city, according to "reliable reports” from Vichy reaching Madrid, says the British United Press. Today’s Allied communique does not record a crossing of the Seine. It states: “Allied forces have advanced to the vicinity of the Seine and closed the enemy escape corridor south of Falaise. Leading elements moving north and northeast from Dreux have reached a. point IS miles beyond the city in the vicinity of Mantes and Gassicourt. Allied forces from the north, and south met in Chambois, sealing the exit south of the I' alaise area. _ . , Pocket Dwindles.

“The enemy pocket has again been reduced substantially by advances from ah directions, particularly. . south toward Montabard and north to Ecouche, where heavy fighting has occurred. \V est ot Arge'utan, in the area south-east of Putanges, we have completed the moppmg-up of enemv groups behind the southern edge of the pocket. Our troops further north in the area east of St. Pierre stir Dives continued to thrust eastward and established three bridgeheads over the Vier River at Livarot, Coupcsarte and Grandchamp. . “No changes are reported m the area of Chartres, Orleans, or the Brittany Peninsula. , “Our Normandy-based planes continued heavy attacks on tanks and motor vehicles of all types retreating eastward and against river barges on the- Seine. They also provided support for our advancing columns. The roads in the escape corridor in the vicinity of Orbeg are strewn with knoeked-out vehicles, often making it difficult for our pilots to select active targets. “More than SOO motor trucks were destroyed and 600 damaged yesterday from the line of Falaise and Argon tan and northeastward to the Seine. In additional 40 tanks were destroyed and many others damaged. Fighter-bombers during the day sank 26 large barges on the Seine. Fifty-nine were destroyed on the previous day.”