Late War News BATTLE ROUND BORDEAUX

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 281, 24 August 1944, Page 6

Late War News BATTLE ROUND BORDEAUX

Unofficial Details ALLIED ASSAULT TACTICS Nazi Collapse West Of The Seine

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received August 24. 1.20 a.i11.) LONDON, August 23.

French military authorities at Hendaye (inside the French southern frontier) told a Reuter correspondent that the Allied landing in the area of Bordeaux was co-ordinated with an attack by French and American columns. which met ou the outskirts of Bordeaux at noon yesterday, and began as assault against the city. Tlielrun correspondent of the Associated Press of Gerat Britain says that according to messages received there the landings in the Bordeaux area were made near Arcachou. known to many British and American tourists, and within the last pocket of organized German resistance in southern France. Allied planes first made a concentrated bombing attack ou. the area, and then came the thunder of big guns from naval units lying offshore. All along the coast to the north French forces'on land turned on searchlights to mark their positions. Then Allied bombs and shells began to pour into the black area, occupied by the Germans. The Allied troops then stormed ashore under cover of an intense aerial and naval bombardment lasting an hour. . _ , Goebbels Delays Bad News.

While the free world is rejoicing at the news of the liberation of Paris after four years and two months of occupation the German uews agency has declared that the situation in Paris has “calmed down as the result of effective German action. The B B.C. has broadcast to the free population of Paris an appeal from General Koenig’s lieadqquarters, asking the people to conserve the food stocks carefully in spite of their hardships as a few' days must pass before Allied food can reach the capital. Between Paris and the sea. all German resistance west of the Seine has collapsed as the Germans rush toward the Seine under the fast-growing Allied encirclement menace.

A correspondent says the retreat .is beginning to look like a rout. In spite of bad weather yesterday the air forces sank 15 German barges and 200 vehicles at the Seine crosisngs, and today the weather is improved. The Press Association’s military correspondent says that instead of the Seine being a German outlet to the. sea, it has heconie a demarcation wherein the Germans are confined. Reuter’s correspondent with the advanced American forces reports that heavy opposition from eneijiy panzers was encountered from the general .direction of Mantes along the west bank of the Seine. The German news agency says that hundreds of German bombers yesterday concentrated their attacks against Allied bridges across the Seine between Mantes and Vernon and also bombed troop concentrations and artillery in the middle Seine area.

While thousands of the German prisoners taken in the Falaise pocket are still to be counted, a correspondent says it is estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 have fallen into our hands there.

Correspondents at supreme headquarters describe the American sweep southeast of Paris in which they captured Sens, on the road to Troyes and the German frontier, as one of the boldest moves in the campaign. Most Stirring Picture.

Reuter’s correspondent says that the spectacular outflanking thrust south of Paris, coupled with the great pincer developing south of the Seine estuary, presents perhaps the most stirring picture of the war. The speed with which General Patton’s men are moving can be gauged from the faet that on Monday they were reported 60 miles from Sens. The Americans also surrounded and then by-passed Melun, 28 miles south-south-east of Paris.

Operational secrecy is being maintained! by General Patton’s armoured forces south and south-east of Paris.

PETAIN REMOVAL

LONDON, August 23. The Swiss radio says that Switzerland's Minister to Vichy lias been recalled following upon the discovery of a message left by Marshal Petain that he had been removed from Vichy against his will. Yesterday, the Swiss radio had stated that Petain was reported to have been fallen from Vichy by the Gestapo.