BATTLESHIPS AID FRENCH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 280, 23 August 1944, Page 5

BATTLESHIPS AID FRENCH

Entry Into Toulon

LONDON, August 21. Two powerful French armoured forces last night crashed through the defences of Toulon, which is on the verge of capitulation, states Reuter’s correspondent at the Allied headquarters in the Mediterranean. These forces broke in after the city had been subjected to a tremendous blasting from Allied warships while bombers incessantly hammered and paralysed coastal guns. One French column has looped northward round the port, nearly completing the encirclement, while French armour and infantry crashed through the northern and western sections toward the centre of the city. Naval forces simultaneously helped the troops to capture a German strongpoint one mile east of the city, near Hyeres. where the Germans had fortified a hotel to cover the coastal approach. The French east of the city also captured dominant heights of Montredon, which the Germans defended stubbornly as the last line of resistance before the naval base itself. Other French units advanced steadily north-west of Toulon and captured Cuges les Pius and Le Beausset and are now threatening to cut the last road to Marseilles at Aubagne. The entry into Toulon was effected through the suburbs of Les Quatre Chemins, Les Routes, and Vallbourdin. Two battleships and six cruisers formed the naval force which yesterday bombarded Toulon. They fired a total of 1400 rounds into the fortifications and shipping. Some retaliatory fire came from the shore. E-boa.ts after dark tried to attack the naval forces, but were driven off, one being sunk and another driven ashore in flames. The British cruisers, Aurora and Black Prince, the French-battleship Lorraine, the cruiser Emile Bertin, and. the large destroyer Le Fantasque participated in the attack. A previous naval bombardment of Toulon was carried out on Friday. Americans Approacii Rhone. American troops fanning out from Rians are at one point 12 miles north of Aix. An- Exchange Telegraph correspondent says that the Americans’ westward advance into the Durance valley is. mostly against disorganized German resistance. Fast-moving columns were ou both sides of Pertuis yesterday afternoon, and others were pushing into the outskirts of Aix, which is 40 miles from Avignon, the gateway of the Rhone Valley route to the heart of France. The Americans have liberated Valensole. about 50 toiles due north of Toulon. and reconnaissance elements are operating in the nearby Asse River valley. Pertuis, where French Forces of the Interior had surrounded the enemy, is now firmly in our hands. A third German general captured, Major-General Hans Schubert, was taken with big entire staff of 60 officers and 30 men. He was chief of the district liaison staff in Provence. and was well known as an ardent Nazi; witii a reputation for extreme cruelty. ■ R.A-F. Spitfires are now operating from a landing strip in southern France. Previously they had to cross the sea over distances of upward of 100 miles, which frequently involved operating against laud targets 250 miles from the bases.