CAMPAIGN OF ATTRITION

Evening Star, Issue 25226, 13 July 1944, Page 5

CAMPAIGN OF ATTRITION

German Ranks Wear Thin

Casualties High—Armour Breaking

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

(Eeoeived 10.10 a.m.l

LONDON, July 12

After a day and night of most bitter fighting, in which they lost another 20 tanks, German panzer units thought better this morning of throwing in a counter-attack between the Odon and the Orne, says Reuter's correspondent. A staff officer said:" We gave the enemy a very heavy knock yesterday. He has had more than enough for the time being. We certainly destroyed one whole panzer grenadier regiment. We have taken several hundred prisoners, all of whom speak of the very severe casualties suffered by other regiments."

It is believed, adds the correspondent, that British armour, artillery; and anti-tank guns between Hill 112 and Eterville, during the past 48 hours, put out of action about 50 tanks. Rommel late last night committed, and as usual lost, more of his dwindling reserves in another persistent pecking action north of Maitot, but the German tanks blundered head-on into a nest of British anti-tank guns and artillery. They recoiled broken. Every hour of this unspectacular map fighting between the Odon and the Orne means fewer Germans to be killed further inland, and less opposition when the drive gets under way again. Rommel's reserves are rapidly shrinking. Prisoners coming in are flabbergasted by the weight and concentration of British artillery barrages. They say they met nothing like it in Russia.

A British United Press correspondent says that the Germans hold a line controlling the actual Orne crossings, but they are now covered from the high ground of Eterville. • It is a matter of time before the Germans are unable any longer to bear the strain of the heavy casualties. They are fighting in some of the coldest weather since D-Day. Britisji troops are to-day wearing greatcoats for the first time.