LIGHTNING MOVE IN PROVENCE

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

LIGHTNING MOVE IN PROVENCE

French Tanks North Of Marseilles

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) LONDON, August 20.

Today’s Allied communique says that troops of the Seventh Army, in a swift thrust on the north-west sector of the beach-head in southern France, advanced as much as 20 miles. With American infantry and French armoured forces operating together, the towns of St. Maxijnin and Barjols have been liberated. Other French forces advanced to within two miles of Hyeres, on the western coast flank. Between Draguinau and the. sea on the east flank American elements reached Castellane and La Bastide, cutting the main highway from Cannes. Our casualties continue to be light. Following a devastating joint air and sea bombardment this morning, French armour and infantry are closing in on Toulon, reports Reuter's correspondent from Mediterranean headquarters. The invasion fleet poured shells into Toulon’s defences and medium bombers struck 15 times against the port’s defences within a few hours to paralyse the batteries. It was announced at Mediterranean headquarters that French patriots surrounded the German garrison at Pertuis, 12 miles north of Aix and above the Durance River. The Allies reached the outskirts of Aix, and also crossed the Durance at several points. Algiers radio later said that the Allies had captured Peyrolles, on the Durance, River, 3(1 miles north of Marseilles, and that a French column had reached Hyeres, nine miles east of Toulon. It added that the Allies were pouring in troops and material at a faster rate than for jmy previous amphibious operation. Flatter Country Reached. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent says that the envelopment of Marseilles and Toulon by French, and American forces is proceeding rapidly against patchy, crumbling opposition. He points out that Aix is an important junction of seven roads, some of which lead straight to the Rhone Valley. It is also the main escape route for the Germans in Marseilles and Toulon. Swift expansion of the beach-head followed quickly after the entry of Allied tanks and armoured cars into’ Rians. 34 miles north-west of Toulon, and also Barjols, 30 miles north of Toulon and St. Maximin.. French armour, passing through St. Maximin, reached flatter country,, where the rapid rate of advance was still further accelerated as they turned west to encircle Toulon am] Marseilles, which are the first objectives in this lightning campaign. Tlie Allied bombing line is nearly 70 miles inland, and pilots say there is still no sign Hint the enemy has recovered his balance sufficiently for a major counterattack. A German High Command report tonight on the Riviera, fighting stated: “The enemy, by driving his forces forward reck]essly. has succeeded in expanding the beach-head north-west and north of the Maures Mountains. The Allies arc fighting particularly heavily south of the Verdon River, in the initial phase of the attempted envelopment of Toulon.”