GATE UNHINGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21472, 2 August 1944, Page 3

GATE UNHINGED

AMERICAN BREAK-OUT

PUSH INTO BRITTANY MAY TURN GERMAN LINE (10 a.m.) NEW Y'ORK, Aug. 1. By'the capture of Avranches, the Americans unhinged the first of the two natural barriers between them and a break-through into Brittany and north-western France, says the New York Times correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters. Now me Americans have crossed the Selune River southward of Avranches they not only have outflanked another German defence line but also freeci their own right flank from the limita dons of manoeuvre imposed by the fact that it is resting on the sea. There are 160 miles of good manoeuvring space between the base of the Coteniin Peninsula and the tip of the Brittany Peninsula beyond Brest. A drive across the base of the Brittany Peninsula would give the Allies the nighly valuable ports of Brest and St. Nazaire. With the River See already outflanked, it is likely that the German defence line appears to be the Selune River westward towards Domfront. The line of woods beyond the river would furnish cover for defending mortars and artillery. Furthermore, the whole area might be flooded by the dam eastward of St. Laurent de Terregrette, which backs up the river waters for five miles.