ACTION BEGINS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 133, 7 June 1944, Page 5

ACTION BEGINS

First News From Enemy

LONDON, June 6. "The long-expected invasion appears to have begun," was the first and world-shaking announcement, flashed by the German radio at 6.35 a.m.

The German news agency, giving the first detailed account of the Allied landings, said "The enemy began landing operations in Seine Bay. Many parachutists and transport gliders were seen in the Trouville area from 1 a.m., and landing attempts were simultaneously made from the sea. A strong concentration of enemy vessels was observed at dawn, west of Le Havre. In the middle of this concentration were many landing craft. There was a strong escort of naval vessels on each flank, six battleships and twenty destroyers on the east flank and a similar fleet on the west flank. "A German motor torpedo boat flotilla went out against the enemy ships, which put up a smoke screen. Fast enemy warships, including destroyers, constantly circled the landing craft, laying dense smoke-screens, and Allied planes, flying low, assisted _to lay a smoke screen. The German ships got in close and fired every toraedo and shell on board. The enemy vessels were so closely packed that they suffered heavy losses. Simultaneously, engagements occurred in Seine Bay, where German craft put up a gallant fight with their limited armament. Coastal batteries and army guns ashort joined in the battle. The German long-range guns in the Straits of Dover also shelled enemy transports sailing north." DROPPING OF PARACHUTISTS. The news agency added that Allied parachutists were dropped in the Saint Vaast area, slightly south of Cherbourg, heavily supported by warships, and also at Harfleur, slightly north of Cherbourg. The Allies dropped dummy parachutists, which exploded among the German defenders. The German news agency stated that the Allies between Caen and Asigny penetrated several miles southward, using tanks. It added that the Allied landing barges penetrated the estuaries of the Orne and Vire Rivers in rear of the Atlantic Wall. The Allies made particularly heavy landings at Saint Vaast. The news agency said that the centre of gravity of the enemy's intended landing apparently developed between Saint Vaast and Ouistreham. A German transocean broadcast said that about 80 medium-sUed warships were approaching Ouistreham. Captain Sertorious, speaking over Berlin radio, said that a 75-mile stretch of coast between the Seine and Vire estuaries where the attack was launched is the nearest part of the Channel coast to Paris, for which reason it had been most thoroughly included in the German defence preparations for years. The Atlantic Wall here, he said, beats all records in regards strength and depth. 'It thus appears that the Allies want to take the bull by the horns if the first phase of the invasion is to be the centre of gravity," he said. CAEN THE MAIN CENTRE. The Germans claim that considerable parts of parachute units in the Normandy Peninsula and river mouths were wiped out. The centre of gravity of the fighting is at Caen, they say. Berlin radio announced that the combined Anglo-American landing operations from sea and air stretch over the entire area between Cherbourg and Le Havre. The Germans

The German news agency, giving the report that six heavy Allied warships first detailed account of the Allied and 20 destroyers are lying off the landings, said "The enemy began land- Seine estuary. ing operations in Seine Bay. Many A New York message says that the parachutists and transport gliders were Columbia Broadcasting System heard seen in the Trouville area from 1 a.m., German broadcasts reporting that and landing attempts were simultan- Allied troops had also landed at the eously made from the sea. A strong mouth of the Somme at Abbeville. The concentration of enemy vessels was C.B.S. points out that the Allies apparobserved at dawn, west of Le Havre, ently landed at two points in separate In the middle of this concentration operations. were many landing craft. There was A German High Command commuma strong escort of naval vessels on que says that heavy land fighting is m each flank, six battleships and twenty progress. Terlin says that Allied destroyers on the east flank and a troops have landed also on Jersey and similar fleet on the west flank. Guernsey, the two mam Channel "A German motor torpedo boat flo- islands. . tilla went out against the enemy ships, "At least four Anglo-American airwhich put up a smoke screen. Fast borne divisions are in action between enemy warships, including destroyers, Le Havre and Cherbourg, with more constantly circled the landing craft, strong airborne formations at the laying dense smoke-screens, and Somme estuary, says the German Allied planes, flying low, assisted to radio. lay a smoke screen. The German ships DEFENCE SLOW TO ACTION. got in close and fired every toraedo twpH Pi-p^ nf America says -J ~u.oi t, n!l rH Tho fnPTTiv vp<?- lne umtea Jriess oi Ainer».d tayb ai or! 2?jwfv racked tHa? they that the first reports reaching Allied LZ% v, o lvv ln^Ps P Simultaneously headquarters from the battle area said suffered heavy losses, bimuuaneoubiy, v Tpr-iii arh'vitv wa«; <?low Pnactal hnttprips and army guns spotty. K.A.r. pilots lepunea minu ;? •„•„!% If-, «,= battle The Ger- movement on the roads. 3S n° rtii tLel ™ns in the Straits The Columbia Broadcasting System 3^ *?" g*?J*e=v.ffi ll S tr 3 n ! states that. Caen is the most serious