GAINS IN NORMANDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1944, Page 5

GAINS IN NORMANDY

AMERICANS PUSH ON CAEN DRIVE~CHECKED Major Offensive Preparations

__________ * LONDON, June 16. To-day’s first communique from Supreme Allied Headquarters says that there has been no major change in any sector in Normandy, but the Allies have made further progress westward across the base of the Cherbourg Peninsula from C'arentan. All enemy attempts to gain the initiative have failed, and counter-attacks have been repelled. Correspondents at Headquarters say that United States troops on the peninsula have pushed forward one and a-half miles further and are now six miles from la Haye du Puits, which is only five miles from the west coast of the peninsula. The Allies advancing west of Carentan are now north-west of Baupte, according to a Headquarters report. A German report goes further, saying, that they have reached Pretot, which is four and a-half miles from Le Haye, the capture of which would finally seal the peninsula. Further north on the peninsula, near its east coast, the Americans have captured Quieneville, due east of Valognes. Reuter’s correspondent says the Americans have captured Reignville, nearly eight miles south of Valognes. “The momentum of the Allied drive towards Caen from the north-west has slowed down in the last 12 hours because of stiffening German resistance,” .says .Renter’s .correspondent with the British forces near Caen. “Our armoured units have fallen back to a commanding ridge, but not before inflicting many casualties on the enemy. Nine enemy Tiger tanks were knocked out in a few hours in a pitched battle.

The military correspondent of “The Times’’ says: “The enemy is showing himself particularly sensitive to Allied progress on the Hanks, and most of all to the progress towards Cherbourg. He must realise the danger that'before he is able or willing to launch a lull-scale counter-offensive, the Allies should have so .improved their positions as to make such an offensive unlikely to succeed. Possession of Cherbourg would greatly contribute toward their reaching such a situation. Al the present moment the enemy obviously has no immediate hope of driving us back into the sea. He is trying to prevent the expansion of our holding and narrow it where he can by means ol counter-attacks with limited force but great resolution. Meanwhile, further reserves are slowly closing up to the zone ot operations, and resistance is gradually growing stronger.’' Prisoners taken in the Forest de Cerisv in Normandy include men from the German 3rd Paratroop Division, who fought as the Ist Paratroop IDi. - sion in the early part ol the Cassmo Eisenhower, by Air Chief Marshal Sir Aithm Tedder, made an official visit yestaclav to the eastern sectors ™ e beachhead, and conferred with General Montgomery. Air Marshal Cor ffigham, and other British ground and air commanders.

GERMAN CLAIMS (Rec. 9.30 a.m.)”LONDON, June 16 To-day’s German High Commanu communique stales: “Our troops m Normandy yesterday successfully counter-attacked. German armoured units cast of the Rivv ()i n ® into the enemy bridgenead. Oui divisions west of Caumont. and southeast and south-west of Carentan drove the enemy back and’ consolidated their positions. The enemy west of St. Mere Eglise made small gains. BEACH WEATHER BAD (Rec. 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. The position in Erance is generally unchanged, it is learned at SIIAEI' late this afternoon. The Allies have not yet launched a co-ordinated attack. General Montgomery is waiting to get up artillery and Allied divisions. The brigades, thusfar, are capturing small towns. We are two and a-h-alf miles cast of Saint Saveur. Our patrols, two miles east of Gaumont, which we strongly hold, met the enemy in force. There was much activity in the Villers-Bocage area, but neither side advanced. We are cloine some infiltrating. Renewed street lighting is progressing at Montebourg, there are no reliable reports who holds the town. the weather on the beaches is the worst since “D” day. The wind _ is blowing from the north-west, with force. Air activity until mid-day to-day was very much reduced owing to the weather, and was con lined to standing patrols over the combat area.

Only a few cases of gangrene are reported among our wounded, and more among the Germans. Less than one pei cent, of the wounded reaching American medicaj installations dies subsequently. We are using great quantities of penicillin and blood plasma. Field hospitals, with nurses, arrived four days after “I)’’ day. ENEMY PUZZLED LONDON, June 16. A correspondent al SHAEF says that the Allies’ threat to Cherbourg Peninsula is substantially increasing. It is believed that the enemy is in a quandary whether he should reinforce his troops there, and if so, to what extent. Americans commanded by General Bradley are six miles from the important western highway, at Le Haye. Actually, the nearest point to the highway which the Americans have reached is three miles west of Saint Sauveur, but this town is not regarded as important as Le Haye. There is little change elsewhere along the front. The build-up continues satisfactorily. A reduction in the volume of lighting in the Caumont-Tilly area indicates that both sides have withdrawn slightly for re-grouping. The lighting east of the Caen Canal has become closer and move static than on any other part of the front. MONTGOMERY’S PREPARATIONS (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. “While the battle rages along an 80 miles front, we are piling up strength for a smashing blow,” says the “Evening Standard's” correspondent with the Army Group. “Our big offensive, however, should not be expected to be launched in a hurry. That is not Montgomery’s way of lighting battles. He believes in intensive preparation , Nothing will persuade him to start until he is ready; but, when he does strike, he does so with everything he has got. His battle order is ‘Hit the enemy for six.’ A great part of England, to-day, is crammed with tanks, trucks, ammunition, and war stores of every description. Much of this material has already, been sent across tlie Channel, but there is very* much more to follow.” ENEMY STRENGTH. T 4 "RUGBY, June 16. Late reports on the strength of the i U? ian forces in the Normandy battle area, writes a correspondent, indicate that the enemy has 300,000 men in this area, of which 200,000 are fighting troops. His armoured strength is estimated at the equivalent ot four panzer divisions. To keep his

units in the West up to this strength the enemy has been forced to use as much'as 25 per cent. foreigners. Information gleaned From prisoners of war indicates that the greater number of foreign troops contacted by the Allies in France to date have been Russians. It was indicated that these troops came from the “scorched German occupied areas in Russia- and were given the choice between service in the German Army or .starvation. Formations of troops recruited in Poland. Rumania, Georgia, and Turkestan have also been contacted. The lighting qualities of these foreign elements in the Nazi armies are described as “extremely low.” A tota.l of over 10,000 prisoners ol war are now in England. Four German divisions have been either virtually destroyed or seriously impaired in fighting efficiency to date. AERIAL OPERATIONS. THREE THOUSAND SORTIES. LONDON, June 15. Referring to air operations a communique says: “Despite rain and limited visibility over many parts ol France yesterday, Allied air forces flew three thousand sorties, many of them by planes based in France, attacking targets indicated by advanced Air Force and Army Headquarters. Fighter-bombers, fighters, and rocketfiring fighters were active all day., atI e Mans, Fougeres, Mayehne, Vine, Granville, Folligny, Byenville, Chartres, and Coltainville, and a bridge over the Orne River near Amaye. Fighter-bombers east of Caen attacked enemy troops and tanks sheltering’ in woods mid orchards. Others bombed Seine River ferries, observation posts, a radio, station, and arul* lerv ‘concentrations, also several bridges and railway lines near Saint Lo. Fourteen enemy planes wore destroyed in these activities for the loss of seven ol' ours. . Our heavy bombers m gieat sirciwth last night attacked coricenIratioris of E-boats, R.-boats and minesweepers in Boulogne harbour, also railway centre.-. :ri Valenciennes nncl fvit?! (ii.injps tit Chui Igllcvo ii 11 Foui Hard. Fourteen bombers are missing. Ou? night intruders over France destroyed lour enemy planes and damaged others. BOULOGNE AND LE HAVRE LONDON, June IG. The R.A.F. Bomber Command’s successful daylight onslaught against le Havre on Wednesday was repeated last night against Boulogne, under similar conditions of. strength and time, and for the same purpose—the destruction of E-boats, R-boats, tor-pedo-boats and minesweepers moored in the harbour. It is believed that the results were equally encouraging. Reconnaissance photographs show no trace of three torpedo-boats and ten E-boats which were known to be al le Havre before Wednesday’s raid. There is no definite evidence that they were all destroyed, but the naval inference is that most of them were pul out of action. It was known that there was a number of small German naval vessels at Boulogne when the R.A.F. attacked. They were in pens, which it is explained, are bunches ol small piers to which vessels are moored, and not roofed shelters.

PRESS CRITICISM. LITTLE REAL INFORMATION. (Rec. 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. The operations in Normandy have shown considerable achievement lor a period of little more than a week, but it would tax the credulity unduly to suggest that in this and in the Italian and Finnish campaigns can be discerned ipajor parts of the general engagement which is scheduled for the present Summer, says “Strategicus” in “The Spectator.” . ~ “There are sufficient strains on the intelligence already. Lavish candour as to the insignificant and miserly doling out of the essential, inevitably breed a certain virtuosity of speculation. The ’Atlantic Wall’ was, for instance, dismissed as if fiction were ever accepted for the® true, with the result that the task of landing was made to appear much easier than it was; in fact. The multiplicity of reports has not so much added to our news of ‘the clash in the West which isi speeding towards a terrific climax,’ as Dietmar says, as to blur its outlines. If we attempt to get back objectively we have to realise that, though the expedition, to Normandy is potentially one of the most important operations at present in being, the Italian campaign is engaging the greatest number of enemy divisions and the Finnish the fewest. Speculations as to the present strength of the 21st Army Group is not encouraged, but the Germans are putting it at about 25 divisions, and it is thought, that General Montgomery is engaging some 13 to 15 German divisions. If there is any truth at all in the German estimate it can be readily realised that there are tremendous potentialities in this expedition, and that needs no emphasis.” The writer adds that it can be seen that the original plan for Normandy was intelligently ambitious in offering to attack a left flank that was over 60 miles from the thrust which threatened one of the main objectives—Cherbourg. “Indeed, it is because of that bait that the Allies have not only been moving forward against, nodal points of communications with growing success 1 , but at the same time have been narrowing the door whereby the enemy can reach Cherbourg. This door is only 20 miles wide at Carentan, and the American troops are some distance west of the town already. If there

are any dangers for the enemy there it is obvious that even greater dangers cloud Rundstedt’s strategic decisions. ■ Montgomery expects to engage the enemy’s strategic reserve but even if discretion should counsel us to turn a Nelsonian blind eye to the country north of the Seine, Rundstedt cannot but we well aware of its potentialities. “Action from the air has imposed a not ineffective barrier on the flank of the 21s*t Army Group, and for present purposes that should restore the Seine to military use, which sometimes has tragically failed, but there remains a considerable, inviting stretch of coastline, which is so well known in this country. One thing may be said. It is difficult to imagine that the enemy can now do more than contain the Allied force at the besft. That, indeed, is a dismaying success, and Eisenhower will undoubtedly make use of his opportunity for the launching of other attacks when the enemy commits himself to a strategic counter-blow.”

MR. CHURCHILL AT FRONT. COMMONS DISCUSSION. LONDON, June 15. “Mr. Churchill should not. risk his life unnecessarily,” stated Captain A. S. Cunningham Reid (Con.), in the Commons, referring to the Prime Minister’s visit to Normandy. “The trouble is that when this old warhorse smells the powder he cannot keep out of the fray, and we know the fighting blood of Marlborough is up. But I feel strongly that Mr. Churchill must curb his personal feelings, because if ever a man had a duty to mankind in this war it is he. I warrant this is the opinion of millions. We are all the time hearing from France of snipers, Quislings, and even girls firing on our men from the blue. Was there ever such a target as Mr. Churchill, perched up in a jeep? No one could have mistaken the massize figure, complete with cigar.” The Minister of Information, Mr. Brendan Bracken, said it was Mr. Churchill’s duty, as Minister for Defence Io see things for himsell. '1 think it is a good thing that every Prime Minister should go to the front line and see the troops. Mr. Churchill has run risks in this war, and may have to run many more. There is no sacrifice of health and comfort which lie won’t make in the service ol Britain. Furthermore, nothing said here to-day will make me take the unnecessary risk of trying to persuade Mr. Churchill not. to take risks. THAT SPLENDID SCOT. “I think it is a good thing that every Prime Minister should go to the Iron! line and see the troops. Let us examine the doings of that splendid Scot, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is only just back from seeing the New Zealand forces, who are playing such a noble part in chasing tne Germans from Italy (Cheers). The Germans celebrated Mr. Fraser s arrival by dropping plenty of shells near him. I am told he thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and that the New Zealand troops are very proud that their Prime Minister has been with them under fire.” FIRST CHAPLAIN KILLED (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, June 16. The first chaplain to be killed during the invasion of France wasRev Derrick Lovell Williams, son ol the late Mr Hal Williams Hawke s Bay a well-known architect, who lived in London for many years. During the blitz he was known as the courageous curate ol' Christchurch, Stepney, which was burned out in a heavy raid. Williams went out nightly in the blitz in the streets, rescuing people, putting out fires and giving comfort to those bereaved. He later’worked in a munition factory durine’ the week and took charge ol Putney Church at the week-ends. Then 'he joined the Army. First he served as a private in the Intelligence, before volunteering tor the commandos. He was attached to the Royal Marine Commandos when he was killed. He voluntarily undertook a full-scale training and was dropped behind the enemy lines on “D” day. His widow said: “We wanted to see the Nazis crash, and h’is one great desire was to help to strike the blow by taking part in the second front.” A friend "said: “Just before he had the call to stand by for ‘D’ day, he said to me: ‘I am going out there to do God’s work, but as they won’t give me a gun, I shall take a stout stick with me to give the Huns a pasting.’ He could have been in France for only a few hours when he was killed, but it was the kind of death for which he would have asked.”

Williams, who was 30 years of age and six L'eet tall, married Rosalind Anne Harris, just before the war. He leaves two children, Simon, aged two years, and Euan, aged two months.

“He was fearless,” was the tribute paid by the Vicar for whom he served at Stepney, Rev. S. J. H. Groser. “He was the sort of boy who was always in the middle 01. it. He would either get the Victoria Cross orwould be killed. During a raid on Stepney, he was one of those instrumental in saving the public library collection. The library was afire, but he went in and out of the blaze fetching books. He took no notice of any danger, when he went out on his rescue work.” FIGHT WITH E-BOATS. RUGBY, June 16. Riddled by enemy gunfire, a single motor launch of the Royal Navy fought off ten German E-boats, attempting to attack a convoy of landing craft, carrying vital supplies to Normandy. For an hour and fortyfive minutes, the three-pounder guns of the motor launch and Oerlikons of the landing craft replied to the formidable guns of the E-boats. In spite of these long odds, only two landing craft failed to reach France. The motor launch sustained no casualties, although the craft itself was hit by shells. DE GAULLE’S PROGRAMME LONDON, June 15. General de Gaulle is expected to leave London soon for Algiers, where he may address the French Consultative Assembly at the opening of its new session next week. His visit to Washington has been scheduled for July, but the exact date has not yet been fixed. FRENCH "PARTISANS "LONDON. June 16. Allied planes dropped arms to French partisans all day on Wednesday, say reports from Switzerland. Partisans in the Vosges mountains of Eastern France, have been joined by thousands of recruits from Alsace The reports add that the biggest battle yet between the Germans and French partisans is developing in the Vosges. The partisans wrecked a tunnel near Annemasse on the Swiss border entombing a German troop tram. 1