BATTLE FOR LYONS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 282, 25 August 1944, Page 5

BATTLE FOR LYONS

Maquis Attacking Inside City LONDON, August 23. A “Daily Express” correspondent in southern France said that the battle for the liberation of Lyons began this morning. Nearly 35,000 members of the F.F.I. practically surrounded the city and then closed in. The Germans, fighting desperately, retreated behind prepared positions, including sand-bagged blockhouses. The streets are deserted except for Germans and Vichy’s militiamen, who are being fired on from windows. German troop movements are reported north of Lyons toward Belfort and other fortresses on the Franco-German border. American tanks and motorized forces which reached Grenoble, 140 miles from the beaches of southern France, covered a much greater distance than that, because of the winding mountain roads on which they travelled, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters in the Mediterranean. This American advance was carried out under conditions of secrecy resembling those covering General Patton’s drive from Brittany. The F.F.I. have helped General Patch s Americans a great deal all the way from the Riviera. The Americans may find Lyons already in the'hands of the 1’.1.1., which two days ago was reported to be almost completely in control of the city. [The Allied communique, referring to Grenoble, said that the city bad been reached by the American?, with the cooperation of the Maquis in the final stages. It is commented that Grenoble itself had evidently been occupied by the Maquis.l Moro Territories Freed. The entire police force of Cote d’Or has joined the Maquis, it was announced tonight in a routine communique from General Koenig’s headquarters. The German garrison of Bedaneux, near the south coast, evacuated after an F.F.I. attack. They numbered 1000. The Germans lost 300 men when Chateauroux (Department of Indre) was tQ The Ardeche Department has been almost completely liberated At Limoges 28 squadrons of Gardes have joined the Algiers radio, broadcasting instruc-. tions to patriots from General Alexander’s headquarters, said': A targe number of German troops from the south of France will probably try to cross to the north of Italy. Do not let them escape.”