SEINE RETREAT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 279, 22 August 1944, Page 5

SEINE RETREAT

Germans Pour Across LONDON, August 20. Reuter’s correspondent with the American forces reports that patrols of the American Third Army are operating 21 miles south-east of Paris, in the neighbourhoood of Mcluit. Other patrols have also been operating near Fontainbleau, 30 miles to the southeast. West of Paris more American patrols have been in the vicinity o£ Versailles, about 10 miles fiom the heart of the capital. „ . , “The Allies reached the Seine early yesterday morning, almost without opposition,” says the British United Iress correspondent on the Seine. ‘American tanks and armoured vehicles nosed down toward the river about 30 miles northwest of Paris. So far all we have been getting from the enemy are occasional bursts from tauk concentrations on tlie other side of the river against our reconnaissance vehicles.” , The Germans have established from 1to 20 organized crossings over the Seme, and are getting across in fairly considerable numbers. They are using repaired bridges, pontoons, barges, and anything they can lay their hands on. At one point German troops are swimming the river. The troops are being harried by Allied fighters and fighter-bombers. "The thrust to the Seine started at noon on Friday,” states the British United Press correspondent. "Forward patrols thrust out before the main body, and by nightfall the first report came back that the. river had been sighted. Only very light opposition was encountered as the main tank columns advanced from positions in the Dreux area. The only attempt at serious opposition occurred at 11 p.m. on Friday, when our force was encamped five miles from the river. Seven Tiger tanks tried to slip inside our lines to shell our armoured concentrations. A short, vicious battle ensued. Four of the enemy tanks went up in flames and the others disappeared.” Brideghead Account.

The German news agency says: “After reaching the middle Seine between Vernon and Mantes the Allies attempted to establish a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the river, but failed. The Allies then landed parachute and airborne troops east of the Seine, while Allied tanks subsequently crossed the river under the protection of these troops. German units immediately attacked the bridgehead and the airborne troops. Heavy fighting is in progress there now.” “British reconnaissance units which reached Gace, on the main road from Alencon to Rouen, 'are stabbing toward the Seine at great speed,” says Reuter’s correspondent with the British Second Army tonight. “The front everywhere is folding up against powerful armoured thrusts which seem to be bowling along almost unchecked.” A Reuter corerspondent at an observation post on tlie Seine says: "The Americans are ranged for miles along the west bank of the Seine north of Mantes. These American formations so far have cut five escape routes from the Falaise gap.” Nearer Marseilles. Late Allied reports indicate that Cannes is threatened with encirclement by a spearhead from Grasse. The Americans driving north from the beach-head arc establishing contact with powerful Maquis forces. Algiers radio slated that the Allies have thrust to within less than 10 miles from Marseilles. The French advance to Ilyeres, according to a headquarters official, was made against stiff opposition, which was not found on most other sectors. The Mediterranean deputy commander, General Devers, visited the beach-head today. The Allied forces in southern France have taken over 12,000 prisoners so far and freed 2000 square miles of French territory. A radio correspondent said tonight that the fighting was becoming more and more a French fight.