BATTLE OF NORMANDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 June 1944, Page 5

BATTLE OF NORMANDY

GIVE-AND-TAKE ENCOUNTERS ALLIES REACH~ CAUMONT GERMAN OFFENSIVE IMMINENT LONDON, June 14. To-day’s first communique from Supreme Allied Headquarters says' “West of Tilly our armour went round the enemy’s flank ana ’struck south with great effect. Advanced patrols have now reached Gaumont, in spite of vigorous reaction by the enemy. Between Tilly and Caen armoured battles continue.

Caumont is about 12 miles almost due south of Bayeux, and 18 miles from the coast. It is the meeting point of seven roads. Correspondents at headquarters say that the spearhead which reached Caumont moved east and took Villers Bocage, seven miles due south of Tilly. There is considerable fighting in the area, and the enemy is using large numbers of troops. It is not clear who actually holds Caumont. Further west, fighting continues round Carentan. Earlier reports indicated that the Germans were trying to retake this town, but this morning’s reports say it is firmly in Allied hands. It was stated at headquarters this morning that Allied patrols may have pushed a Lew miles rearer to St. Lo, which is 18 miles south-east of Carentan. Another scene of heavy fighting is Montebourg, on the Cherbourg Peninsula. Correspondents say this morning that it is not clear who holds Montebourg, which was earlier reported to have been captured by the Americans. Allied warships off the eaat coast of the peninsula are continuing to bombard the enemy in

The Official German News Agency reports: “Considerable numbers of American armoured units attacked in the Carentan area late yesterday afternoon. Protracted swaying battles developed. The German lines, after grim fighting, were taken back several miles.” A BIG ADVANCE LONDON, June 14. A message from General Montgomery’s Headquarters reports a big Allied advance in the centre of the beachhead line between the Forest de Cerisy and Tilly, which we now hold. Forward units reached Caumont while other advanced elements are reported to have reached Bocage. eight miles east of Caumont. It is leatrned at SHAEF that generally the Allied advances awakened the enemy, who reacted .sharply at various keypoints. He heavily counter-attacked near Montebourg*, and is offering strong resistance near Carentan. The Allied movement from the Forest de Cerisy and from Balleroy is going strongly. Heavy armoured clashes occurred near Troarn, where the situation is obscure. Much milling about both west and east of Caen is reported. The Germans are obviously trying to avoid the left and right hooks which threaten Caen. Beach weather reports state that landing conditions were good last night. With the Luftwaffe swamped by a flood of Allied ’planes over France, the Germans rushed strong anti-air-craft units to key points in an effort to stem the Allied onslaughts. The concentrations appear to be strung out along the base of the Cherbourg Peninsula. German E-boat activity required a great effort from the Allies, who are trying to catch these craft as they leave the harbours as well as attacking them near the lines of communication. ARMOURED BATTLES. (Rec. 9.50.) LONDON, June 14. Amoured battles of increasing intensity are being fought in the Tilly-sur-Seulles-Caen area. It is learned at SHAEF that the enemy made repeated turions counter-attacks to push the Allies back. The Allies thuslar have held firm, although they had to give ground in some places. A fourth panzer division has been identified in the area between Tilly and Caen. Fierce lighting occurred in the Cherbourg Peninsula with heavy German counter-attacks. There' was fluctuating fighting in the Troarn area, where generally, the operations were disappointing despite strong gunnery support from the battleships Nelson and Ramifies. Heavy lighting is still raging in and around Montebourg and Troarn, both sides being in and out of both towns in the past 24 hours. The Germans are using increased armoured strength. The Exchange Telegraph Agency correspondent with the British armoured force reports that this force pushed ahead early yesterday and entered Villersbncage, six miles east of Caumont. The Germans rushed up reinforcements, including tanks. Heavy fighting is going on just outside the town after a tank battle in Ihe streets.

The Paris radio says that frosh Allied paratroops are reported to have landed in the Troarn area. DIFFICULT COUNTRY. "RUGBY, June 14. Difficult but strategically important ground lies immediately ahead of our advances in the Battle of France, says a correspondent. The high ground east of the Rivers Don and Orne is of great importance to Caen. In the Bocage country, high ground is not of great value. The country is thick and there is no observation from heights, which renders them militarily useless. The village of Caumont is on a steep hill with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. Beyond it to the south, the hills go higher and higher to 1100 ft above sea level. St. Lo is on a rocky hill and has been one of the most important military stations in Normandy since the twelfth century. The river which runs through it was navigable for barges before the war. South-east of Caen there are small wooded fields and many orchards. This country has also many ditches,

ruts and hedges, and it is described in the old guide books as veiy suitable for ambushes.

FLUCTUATING FIGHTING

RUGBY, June 14. The general picture on the Normandy front to-night is ol fluctuating fighting throughout. Thenemy is doing all he can to what seems to him a possible break through. At Montebourg, at the extreme northern end ol the front, the Germans have launched a \ciy fierce counter-attack ana we have been pushed out of the town itsel . Heavy fighting continues. . Further south we made shgnt gains along the railway liom Che bourg to Carentan. In the lattm nlace another counter-attack was repulsed and the town itself, as far as is known, is still in our hand.. Along the whole front there is no definite line, but a great numbei ol troops are fighting in a big confused battle. The Allied line generally Fs holding firm. At Trparn there heavy fluctuating fighting m and around the town. GERMAN PANZERS. COUNTER-ATTACK PLANS.

RUGBY, June 14. It is now known that there are lour Panzer divisions between Tilly and Caen. It is reasonable to suppose that the whole force ol each would not be committed and the bulk of the German armour in fact, hay not yet been committed to battle. Most of the infantry ol these loui divisions, however, have been committed and a certain number o tanks. The Germans are doing all possible to get up reinforcements, particularly infantry, and we mils,, expect that they will try to replace the infantry from the tank divisions by the infantry coming up. and thus withdraw the armour from the immediate battle for employment in a deliberate counter-attack. I his maybe expected in the not very distant future. The counter-attacks at the moment are piecemeal and local, but when the Germans can form a real defensive force, then we may expect a big counter-offensive. The fighting in the Caumont-Vil-lers Bocage area has a special character. The area is very enclosed with small trees and high hedges and the holder of the terrain has not the advantage that normally goes with high ground. “The entry ol British tanks into Villers-Bocage was followed by heavy fighting just outside,’’ writes' a correspondent at the front. “The enemy threw in Tiger tanks, two of which got into the town after our infantry had cleared it of enemy snipers, machine-gun nests and a tank battle went on in the streets. It was after our leading column had gone through the town that the enemy tanks appeared down a side road. The town appeared to have been evacuated by the enemy during the night, but when the infantry entered on the heels of the tanks machine-guns and snipers opened fire from windows. The Germans! raked the streets with Spandaus, while our men replied with Brens and Stens. Grenades were tossed across the street, but just as our troops cleaned up the nests two Tiger tanks appeared in the town itself, while others were spotted on the outskirts in the wood on high ground. Our tanks opened fire on the enemy tanks and armour-pierc-ing shells went whistling through the streets as the tanks exchanged shots. One Tiger was quickly knocked out, while the other, though it appeared to be hit, wheeled round and disappeared. “In the meantime, more 1 iger tanks and infantry appeared from a wood about a mile south of the town and tried to outflank the leading column of tanks and infantry that passed through. Our guns following up the tanks proceeded to put down a barrage on the wood where the enemy tanks were hiding and covering the road. Along the road to VillersBocage there was a never-ending line of troops and fighting vehicles this morning. Great clouds of dust arose and from a hill just outside and away from the dust we could see a burningbuilding in Caumont, about six miles away, which the Allies occupied this morning, about the same time as our troops were entering Villers-Bocage. Several groups of Germans cut off by the sudden armoured thrust were marched along the road to a prison camp. “The German reaction was to launch a counter-attack in the Tilly area. Apparently the Germans thought we might have thinned out in front of them here to make a thrust to Vil-lers-Bocage. It wasi in no sense a full-scale counter-attack, but the enemy used several companies of infantry supported by about 30 Panther ‘tanks. The German infantry met with a hot fire as they attempted to come out of the woods and they quickly retired. When the Panthers appeared a little later they were met by a heavy concentration of antitank and field guns. The Panthers turned and sought cover in the woods again, and in less than half an hour all was quiet except for an occasional burst of Bren-gun fire from our leading infantry positions towards the woods where some movement was observed."

Although there were long sunny periods the sky this afternoon over the Straits of Dover was overcast and heavy storm clouds cany in the evening brought a little rain. The wind has strengthened since mid-day and there are white-capped breakers at sea.

GAINS AND LOSSES

(Recd. 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 14

r The armoured battle continues in the Tilly-Caen area, says a SHAEF communique. The enemy has coun-ter-attacked constantly in a furious attempt to stem our advance. We are holding firm and vigorously searching out the weak points in his attacks. In the Cherbourg peninsula, the enemy is fighting fiercely. His heavy counter-attacks in the north forced us to give some ground in the vicinity of Montebourg, but further south, we •have made some gains. Enemy coun-ter-thrusts on Carentan have been repulsed. GERMAN CLAIM (Rec. 10.10 a.m.)~LONDON, June 14. A German High Command communique states: “The Armoured German Force in Normandy Peninsula has penetrated into the enemy bridgehead east of the Orne and has inflicted heavy losses in men and material. The enemy carried out a number of attacks on the remaining sectors of the bridgeheads, supported

by . tanks, heavy naval guns and strong air formations. They were repelled. The Germans, during the counter-attack, captured a_number ot localities. An enemy armoured reconnaissance force which advanced in the' region south of Caumont was wiped out.’’ LANDING IN SOUTH? LONDON, June 14. Vichy radio, quoting a Berlin military spokesman, said that important Allied shipping movements have been observed in. the last few hours in the Gulf of Gascony, whicn is in the Bay of Biscay towards the Franco-Spanish border, but it is too early to say whether this is a feint or a prelude to a forthcoming attack. U.S.A. PARATROOPERS.

(Rec. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. Many nundreds of American paratroops dropped behind the enemy lines to launch the invasion are still roaming the occupied areas of France, attacking German installations, says Reuter’s correspondent in Normandy. The majority of the paratroops fought a way through the enemy line, accomplished their missions, and are now spearheading the Allied drives against key positions in the Cherbourg Peninsula. Bearded, dirty soldiers, many of them wounded, are returning to the Allied front lines almost hourly throughout the day, many of them with prisoners. Ail reported bitter day and night battles.

U.S.A. OFFICER’S ADVENTURES

LONDON, June 14

A correspondent with the United States forces says that Captain John Lee, of the American Engineers, and a son of General Lee, considers himself one of the luckiest men in the world to be alive and free. He was captured by the Germans on Cherbourg Peninsula and having made good his escape was under lire from his own troops for several hours before he could convince them of his identity. After being captured while engaged on reconnaissance work, Captain Lee was placed in the charge of an Austrian guard. Captor and captive settled down to a friendly chat which lasted for several hours until Captain Lee waited lor the guard to turn away momentarily. He then knocked Jiim out with a German shovel and escaped towards the American lines. As he approached the forward American troops, Lee called out his name and asked to be admitted. He was greeted with “like hell Jerry,'’ and a shower of bullets. For hours he lay under cover trying to convince his comrades that he was genuine, but was regarded merely as a German who spoke fluent English. Eventually a soldier who had been al Lee’s headquarters in London asked questions the correct answers to which could only be given by an American. Lee passed the test and returned to his unit carrying a German rifle taken from his guard. > SUPPLIES* - AT BAYEUX

LONDON, June 13.. A “Daily Telegraph” correspondent says that except for a marked absence of men of military age and scantiness of goods in shop windows —scarcely more than can be found in an English provincial town —there is little abnormality noticeable during a stroll through the streets of Bayeux. The town is completely undamaged. There is nothing approaching mass starvation and nothing comparable with the suffering of the Greeks. Bread and meat are unrationed and reasonably abundant. Civil affairs commissioners discovered a store of 28,000 cheeses. There has been some shortage of tea and coffee, but both are obtainable. Butter, though this is rich dairy farming country, costs 12/a lb. Sugar, when obtainable, costs about 6/-. There is a marked lack of soap and shoe leather, but Allied troops are not faced with a desperate need to feed the population. In fact, far from clamouring for food from the British, the people of Normandy fully expected to have to feed the invasion armies and had even begun preparations. The German on the whole, have not proved extortionate landlords. They left the people of Bayeux and neighbourhool to manage their own affairs to a great extent. When they exacted forced labour they paid reasonably good rates. Unskilled labourers received 6/- to 7/- daily and skilled labourers proportionately more. The Germans did not loot the towns or carry off cattle from the field, but apparently they requisitioned butter and cheese wholesale at the time of the Allied landing.

LAND OF PLENTY. (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Rec. 9.30 a.ni.)~LONDON, June 14. Some unexpected conditions were found in Normandy judging by reports of correspondents. One states: “When I rode through the beachhead yesterday many French waved and shouted greetings. Others stared at us woodenly and others turned their backs. We were told of the capture of French women snipers, that the Germans were popular with many French girls, and of women who wept as they tended the graves of our dead.”

Another correspondent with the Americans stated that the handful of hamlets liberated by the Americans in one day were like all others freed thus far, surprisingly prosperous. Some inhabitants were even living in luxury. Where the United States’’ troops had been in Normandy in the past week they found the French civilian.:! well fed and clothed and amply supplied with wine, brandy, and applejack cider. “One deserted village where I spent the night even had silk sheets on the bed. There was a huge pan of roasted pigs’ knuckles in the oven, large dishes of butter and artichokes on the table, and plenty of perfume, face powder and perfumed soap. 1 fol lowed one American through the yard with chickens and geese. Intfide the house was a plate of large roast joints, a huge jar of cream, and a churn full of butter. There v/ere plenty of clothes, both men’s and women’s, in the bedroom closets. It was curious to see the French women wearing wooden shoes with sheer stockings, some of which appear to be made from silk.”

A third report says: Everyone seems to agree the present rate of 200 francs to the pound is much too low compared with the German mark-franc note. Prices in towns and villages within the British area generally are far higher than in England. The French blame the Germans because they say the German soldier received 60 francs daily. The British soldier’s pay when translated into francs is less than half that. It is emphasised, however, that hasty conclusions should not be drawn from these reports, for Normandy is a great food growing area and j.t is likely that the smashed communications with other parts of France caused a local glut. OPINION IN U.S.A.

. NEW YORK, June 14. American commentators are less nervous and more unanimously confident that the invasion is progressing satisfactorily. As the air is beginning to clear warnings that the advance may be slow have a steadying effect. The New York “Herald-Tribune” in an editorial recalls that it took eight to nine days to consolidate the Sicilian beachhead and ten days to consolidate at Salerno, which could

not be compared with the gigantic nnerations in Normandy. The “New York Times” points out that Allied reports make no mention n/the beachheads east of Caen, which suggests either that the Allied formations there have been isolated or that the German claim that they have been wiped out is true. There is every reason to believe, however, that the invasion is still up to schedule. Major de Seversky, says: It is too soon to assume that the Luftwaffe is dead. The Nazis have probably saved a small but effective striking force to throw into battles in which a major crisis threaten. Their sole hope of victory now is to beat the Allies on the ground. W.A.A.F’s ATTEND WOUNDED

(X.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

LONDON, June.l4.

“We found wounded men lying waiting for us among poppies and clover. Things were pretty rough over there. We saw and heard plenty* of war. There were heavy bombardments going on to the west, where our bombers were knocking out an enemy position. The sky was full of smoke puffs. We saw one plane shot down. I hope it was German.” That was the comment, of twenty-seven vear old Corporal Lydia Alford, one of the first three W.A.A.F. nursing orderlies to fly direct to the battlefield and return with wounded. The W.A.A.F’s stayed in France longer than expected. They took off at dawn with three Dakotas, and landed in France at 6.30 a.m. They found the weather there unsuitable for air transport of severely wounded so waited for six hours in the ■field finding plenty to do. While flyina to France the transports had Spitfire cover. The first thing the orderlies did was to give tea to wounded. They had received special training, including the use of oxygen, emergency safety equipment, injections and first aid. They are paid eight 'pence daily extra flight pay. Freight ’planes can be adapted in ten minutes to take twenty stretchers. The soldiers were surprised and delighted 1o find that there was one W.A.A.F. for each aircraft. Wrens and A.T.S. also had special invasion jobs. Maintenance Wrens work on gun mountings, supplyWrens issue victuals, electrical main-tenance-Wrens make final adjustments. In floating dock, they scrape, clean and paint ships, they drive lorries and cars. A section of A.T.S. is preparing beach landing packs, containing repairs for many sorts of vehicles. They work in the “overseas” shed of the Central Ordnance Depot.

aerial offensive.

RAILWAY BRIDGES BOMBED

LONDON. June 14

“Early last evening, after a midday lull caused by bad weather, Allied aircraft resumed the offensive in one of the most concentrated efforts since the opening of the campaign,” says to-day's first Allied communique “Enemy fighter opposition was sporadic but many of our aeroplanes encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire. Heavy day bombers, with fighter escort ‘attacked six bridges on the north-south railway system across the Brest Peninsula and airfields at Beauvais Nivillers, and Beaumont-slur-Oise. Further to the south-east two large formations of fighterbombers attacked railway bridges over the Loire at La Possoniere and La Port Boulel. Another formation patrolled the Etampes-Orleans railway, seeking out traffic. "Throughout the Cherbourg Peninsula and in the immediate battle zone large groups of fighter-bombers and rocket-firing aircraft attacked German troop concentrations, motor transport, and other targets indicated by our ground forces. Medium bombers and light bombers in considerable strength bombed fnc! dumps in the Foret Dandain and also at Domfront and St. Martin, and the highway junctions of Marigny and Canisy. Beachhead air patrols‘were continued throughout the day and evening. Fighters last night shot down five enemy aeroplanes attacking the beachhead. Light bombers without loss attacked the railway yards at Mezidon.”

Air operations were reported by yesterday’s second communique, us follow: “Deteriorating weather today (Tuesday) slowed down our air offensive. Nevertheless, escorted heavy day bombers continued their attacks against airfields west of Paris, at Evreux, Fauville, Dreux, mid Villiers I’Eveque. A fuel dump at Dreux was sei on fire. Medium bombers were also active and they again attacked the Rennes airfield. “Ranging from the Channel to Tours, fighter-bombers swept the area for two hours and a half, destroying seven locomotives and some 50 vehicles, and strafing encampments."

HUNDREDS OF SORTIES

RUGBY, June 14

Fighters and fighter-bombers of the Second Tactical Air Force have flown hundreds of sorties to-day, beating up all sorts of enemy transport in the back areas feeding the fighting line and also working in direct support of the ground forces. Several squadrons of Rocket-carrying Typhoons have been in action from an early hour, giving 'close support to advanced elements of the Army. In one case the Army withdrew from a village near Tilly, which is being strongly defended,'while Typhoons went in and blasted "the place into ruins and dust. South-east of the battle area Mustangs broke up a large convoy and a Typhoon formation attacked a fine of between 50 and 70 trucks. amertcapFassaults.

(Rec. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. American heavy bombers based in Britain made record operations this morning when over 1500 Fortresses and Liberators attacked many aerodromes -and bridges in France and Belgium and the oil refinery at Emmerich, states an official announcement. The aerodromes included Le Bourget, Creil, Etampes, Mon Desir. Chateau d’Un, Brussels. Melsbroeck, and Eindhoven. The heavies were strongly escorted by Thunderbolts, Lightnings and Mustangs, which strafed and bombed military objectives.

A very strong force of 9th Air Force Marauders and Havocs went out at dawn for an assault against communications and other military objectives in France. The bomber foray was closely followed by fighter sweeps'which continued until late in the evening. More than 500 planes were engaged. Ten fighters were lost and three enemy planes were flhot down. Four medium bombers were lost in the 24 hours ended at midnight.

ANOTHER RECORD DAY.

(Rec. 2.0.) LONDON, June 14. In one of their most active mornings, Allied Air Forces, to-day operated almost unopposed from Brest Peninsula to 'Belgium and Holland and penetrated deeply into Eastern France. The effort of heavy day bombers exceeded even yesterday’s figures. The targets included airfields at Le Bourget, Creil, Orleans-Bricy, Etampes-Mon de Sir in France, Brus-sels-Melsbroek in Belgium, and Eindhover in Holland. After escorting the bombers, our fighters hit numerous road, rail and military targets in France. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed. Fifteen bombers and eight fighters are missing from these widespread operations. Before dawn, medium and light bombers hit communication targets

near Caen, in close .support of the ground forces. Attacks were made on the marshalling yards at Mezidon, and against bridges and traffic centres at Auny-sur-Odeon, ■ Falaise Vire, Vimourties, and Flers. Other formations struck far into the interior bombing traffic points and moving targets •in the Chartres region south-west of Paris, railway trucks, west of Laval, and railway guns south of the battle area. No enemy fighters were, encountered in these operations, but anti-aircraft fire was heavy. One medium bomber is missing. Fighters, fighter bombers, and rocket, firing fighters, some of which were operating from bases in Normandy, gave close support to the troops in the Cherbourg Peninsula, cutting railroads and attacking large enemy convoys. Other fighters scored rocket hits on barges and batteries. Coastal aircraft harassed E-boats near Le Touquet. Of seven enemy vessels engaged, three were observed to sink and one was seen to receive such damage that survival was considered unlikely. Of the remaining three, two were left stopped and burning fiercely. LUFTWAFFE’S ACTIVITY. (Rec. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, June 14.■ Two French squadrons ot the R.A.F., led by a New Zealander, Wing Commander W. Compton, landed on an advanced landing strip in Normandy at dawn yesterday, says Reuter’s correspondent in France. Most of the French pilots had not been to France for four years. They went out on patrol soon after landing. There is another advanced landing strip nearby, from which squadrons are operating. There will be airfields! soon with permanent wings based on them ready to accommodate damaged bombers and fighters, as well as re-fuel and re-arm planes. The R.A.F. is steadily beginning to base itself in France. The Germans brought up more than 500 single-engined fighters to within tactical range of the Normandy battlefield. Reporting this the “Daily Express” air correspondent days that the enemy air squadrons are probablv operating from 12 airfields within ‘lOO miles of Caen and from 10 to 15 base§ deeper inland.. The presence of these 500 planes suggests that the German Air Force is slowly coining to battle. The reason why the Luftwaffe is still being used sporadically is that the German Chief, FJfld Marshal Sperrle, is waiting for the Navy and War chiefs to make up their minds when it is to be used. The correspondent adds: “If there is a plan for the German Air Force it has lost the advantage of the time factor and has allowed the Allied bridgeheads to become invincible.”

RAIDS ON GERMANY

LONDON, June 14.

An Air Ministry communique states lhat Bomber Command planes last night attacked objectives in Western Germany and mined enemy waters. None is missing.

MUNICH RAIDED

LONDON, June 14

Strong forces of heavy bombers under escort yesterday attacked objectives near Munich, railway yards at Innsbruck and industrial installations at Porto Marghera. Targets at Munich included two aero engine plants and ordnance works on an airfield used for aircraft assembly. BUDAPEST RAIDED. (Rec. 10.0) LONDON. June 14. The Budapest radio stated that American bombers before noon attacked Budapest and its outskirts as well as several provincial towns. The bombers' concentrated their attacks against industrial installations. They caused damage arid civilian casualties.

IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS

RUGBY, Juno 14

The Bomber Command, since the outbreak, has dropped 400,000 tons of high explosives l , and incendiaries, of which total 275,000 were dropped on Germany. The first 100.000 was dropped between 1940 and lhe Spring of 19-13, and the second 100,000 was dropped in a bare seven months. Early in March last the Command switched to pre-invasion bombing of occupied Western Europe, offer', delivering over 10,000 tons in precision attacks in one week on objectives in France and Belgium. The night before the invasion, Bomber Command dropped well over 5000 toml on the coastal batteries. In the last heavy attack, on June 12, nearly 4000 tons were dropped on targets in Germany and France. Since D. Day Allied Air Forces have flown 56.000 sorties and dropped 42,000 tons. The enemy has lost 306 planes in the air, while Allied losses were 554— 139 heavies and 415 others —slightly less than one per cent, of the sorties flown.

WOMEN SNIPERS

(Recd. 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. Two French girls, aged 16 and 18, the wives of German soldiers, were handed rifles on D. Day by their husbands and were told: “Now shoot for your lives!”, according to a “Djiily Mail” reporter who interviewed returned British wounded. The two girls killed five British soldiers as they sniped from the first floor window of a house near Tilly-Sur-Seulles.

Corporal Charles Carme, a tank corp casualty, said he saw the girls at the window. Several of his comrades lay around wounded or dying. “Oh yes! The girls died too when we stormed the house. They were good shots and they killed five of our men. They had been ordered to shoot to the last,” said Carme.

Myra, a German girl, aged 29 who was captured at St. Mere Eglise and was reported by her American guards to be a sniper, has arrived at a South Coast port, says an official reporter. Myra’s American guard who was armed with an automatic rifle said: “I was told to be very wary of this prisoner. The guards who handed her over to us said her method was to smile at our soldiers and pull a gun against them when they approached. She winged a few of them that way, so I am taking no chances.” A German High Command spokesman denied General Montgomery’s statement that German women are being used as snipers in the Atlantic Wall strong-points, says the German News Agency. “Some women employed as auxiliary signallers may have been seen at these points.” The German High Command announced that Artillery General Mareks, “valiant defender of the Cherbourg Peninsula, was killed in action in the front-line, at the head of his troops.”

RUSSIAN BROADCASTS

LONDON, June 13

The Red Army is keeping.the German troops fully informed of the progress of the Allies’ operations in Normandy, states “The Times’s” Moscow correspondent. • A field. broadcasting system is sending out to the enemy six regular news bulletins, daily, while millions of leaflets and illustrated maps of France are dropped or fired daily to the German lines. Prisoners in the last few days reported mounting anxiety about the Western operations among the German troops, which is heightened by the feeling of suspense regarding the great blows from ,the East which the Germans are expecting,