ENEMY'S DIFFICULTIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 40, 16 August 1944, Page 6

ENEMY'S DIFFICULTIES

Fight With Backs to Seine

LONDON, August 15. General Eisenhower spoke today on the present position in Normandy. He told a Press conference that some German armoured divisions had managed to get out, in part, at least, and that more might escape; but even if the enemy did manage to get some of his troops out of the first trap it would /not end his difficulties in Normandy. Given good weather, the remnants would have to fight with their backs to the Seine. "If we can bottle up these German troops and defeat them, it will be a very great tactical victory," he said, "and it must be remembered that we may have to win a number of such victories • before we reach the Rhine. There are still a great number of German soldiers in France."

usual cheering French throngs, who awoke this morning to find American tanks rolling through streets where yesterday there were only Germans. The people of one village had remained locked in their homes for ten days be r fore the arrival of the Americans, because of the Germans' pillaging ,and looting. As the American tanks rolled through today, the inhabitants ran about the streets to greet and kiss relatives and friends. "Patriots in one street were stoning a house on which was a chalk sign 'Collaborator.' The townspeople said that the house belonged to a Bocheloving grocer who dined and wined his German overlord. "A large convoy of Tiger tanks attempted to escape this column, but American dive-bombers left it a smoking skeleton a mile long. "A captured German colonel was crying when he was brought to an American camp. He was dazed and bewildered, by the sudden Allied onslaught. A captured German lieutenant who fought in Russia and Italy said that the attacks in this secret operation were the most terrifying he had ever experienced, chiefly because of the aerial and artillery blows. "A Frenclwvoman who went to bed on Sunday night while the Germans were still in the town and opened her front door in the morning to American soldiers' cheerful greetings, said: 'The Germans sensed several days ago that, you were coming, and went on a wild < pillaging spree. The S.S. troops were the worst. They are murderers and robbers. None of the women could leave their homes for days.'" j