Late War News CLAIMED NOW FREED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 282, 25 August 1944, Page 6

Late War News CLAIMED NOW FREED

Port Of Bordeaux FOURTH CITY OF FRANCE (By Telegraph.—Press Assu.—Copyright.) (Received August 25, 1.15 a.ni.) LONDON, August 24. A French broadcast, from the United' Nations radio in Algiers today states that French ami American forces have liberated Bordeaux, the great port on the west coast of France. The radio says that the Americans joined up 'ritliF.F.I. formations in the assault. It gives no indication of how (be Allied troops came there. ' If this report is true it means that three out of the four main cities of France have been freed. . Bordeaux, France's fourth city, has a papulation of 250,000. The third city, not yet freed, is Lyons (population, 580,000). An unconfirmed report from Geneva states that American troops have reached the Swiss border. A correspondent at the southern headquarters says that 6000 to 8000 square miles of French territory has been freed so far by General Patch’s array. The Swiss radio announced that American troops have reached Annecy. After being told that an American column was approaching the town large crowds gathered in the streets to await its arrivalAmerican armoured forces from Grenoble are only 15 miles from Lyons, and great excitement reigns in the city. Allied troops this morning are moving toward Paris, but there is no indication yet that they have actually entered the city, states a report from Allied supreme headquarters. The, enemy’s left flank has been completely turned by the speed of the Allied advance northward along the west bank of the Seine. This advance between the Seine and the Eure has reached out to Elbeuf, which, with Louviers, has been liberated. The Allies have also reached Leneux. The resistance is stiffening doser to the coast in the area of Bout L’Evequc and Liscux as the Germans try to anchor their right flank. The enemy here has dug-in tanks and some sort of anti-tank screen in an effort to bold the Canadians’ advance along the coastline. The Allies have made crossings of the Seine north and cast of Fontainbleu, which is not yet completely cleared. Fairly heavy, fighting is going on round Montnrgis. Thirty-seven enemy planes were destroyed in the air over northern France yesterday, of which R.A.F. Spitfires shot down 32 for the loss of four. Progress in South. It is now known that the German garrison on the island of Deportquerolles surrendered to a United States cruiser on Tuesday, states the southern Allied communique. More than 200 prisoners were taken. The island is. now garrisoned by French troops. French troops captured Marseilles eight days after going into action in southern France and are driving westward into the lower Rhone Valley. The resistance was comparatively slight in Marseilles, but it continued lo be stubborn in Toulon, where street fighting is still in progress with most of the city in our hands. Further progress toward the Rhone River has been made northwest of Marseilles. With the, occupation of Salon, American forces have .driven further westward in the Durance River valley.