ALLIES CLOSE ON CHERBOURG

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1944, Page 5

ALLIES CLOSE ON CHERBOURG

RAPID ADVANCE BY AMERICANS

MORE' PENINSULA TOWNS TAKEN

German Attacks Held at Tilly

[Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.l (Rec. 11.25) LONDON, June 21. To-day’s first communique from S.H.A.E.F. savs: Allied troops advancing against Cherbourg reached prepared positions defending deep waters of the port. v ? ] 1 1 0 ° n f s ’ Les Pieux, Couville, RaUVIII ® h Bigot have been liberated. three German attacks have been held the Tilly area. Active patrolling was carried out on all other sectors of lh ßrf™”ins to air operations the eoSnlqJe says: Pilotless bomber sites at Pas de Calais, a coastal o.at tery at Houlgate, and gun positions on Pel ? nsula we ’? j| s t -ets yesterday afternoon and Last evening for medium and ■ fighter bombers Other fighter-bombers struck a CT ainst locomotives, tioop trains aSd railway « widesnread areas of northern Mance. Preliminary reports show that eleven enemy planes were destroyed. Four ° f Light bomterTHst night attacked railway centres at. Mezidon and Chartres and other enemy communications. Night fighters destroyed two enemy planes. heavy FIGHTING around HOTOT. (Rec 12 45) LONDON, June 21. <R It is learned at SHAEF that very neaw fighting is going on ground Hotot and the D , osltl - on th oi British .troops captured tne village o Onchy three and a-half miles south°fCouSile, the capture of which }s mentioned in to-day’s eight miles north-east of Les iPicux and Rauville la Bigot is eight aa half miles south-west of Cneroou g. german wall wearing thin. (Rec 1.0.) 'LONDON, June 21 k Reuter’.?, correspondent with the British forces in France says that the German wall of men and armour around the Allied beachhead is wearing desperately thin. The German situation around Cherbourg is rapidly developing in our favour and Allied strength is being built up steadily. Marshal Rommel is in t'he unenviable position of having to hold an enemy of growing power with his own forces dwindling, ine Allied position is now regarded as promising. The Germans facing the British front are strained to the limit. Their conditions are terrible. The correspondent continued that most of the activity occurring around Caen, where the enemy is being squeezed out east and west of the town, is in an attempt to guard his flanks. His position here is now thinly held. ONLY TWO MILES FROM CHERBOURG. (Rec. 9.15.) LONDON, June 21. The National Broadcasting Corporation reports that the Americans are now within two miles of Cherbourg, whose fall appears to be imminent. GERMAN REARGUARDS IN DELAYING ACTION. (Rec. 11.45.) , LONDON, June 21. The German Overseas News Agency says that the bulk of the American forces in the northern part ol the Peninsula appear to be massing for an assault against the fortress of Cherbourg. ~ No fighting contact has yet been made with the German defenders ot Cherbourg, the Americans merely fighting German rearguards, who according to orders are only fighting a delaying action, while gradually falling back on the outer defence zone or the fortress. GARRISON URGED TO SURRENDER. (Rec. 9.15.) LONDON, June 20. A British officer, broadcasting in German, from the 8.8. C. this morning called on the Cherbourg garrison to surrender, saying: “You are cut off. Rommel cannot assist you, and your evacuation is impossible. It isn’t dishonest to surrender. Von Arnim’s troops at Cape Bon understood that. They stopped fighting. This ought to be an example to you.” VALOGNES A DEAD TOWN. (Rec. 11.45.) LONDON, June 21. Reuter’s Normandy correspondent says that an American jeep driver and a Lieutenant captured Valognes and forty Germans without unslinging their carbines. There was not a shot fired, and hardly a sign of life when they entered the town. It was as eerie as a tomb. The town is a sea of wreckage, easily the worst mauled yet encountered in France. There is not a building not hit. Most of them are now mere gaping holes where block-busters landed. There is one part in a principal street where neither buildings nor streets exist. There is just a series of great bomb craters. No one knows how many civilians are dead. BAD WEATHER CONTINUES IN STRAITS. '■ (Rec. -11.45.) LONDON, June 21. ■ Low black clouds raced across the sky in the Straits of . Dover at daybreak, and, with a gusty wind still blowing as unpleasantly as ever, conditions were more in tune with January than with the longest day of the year. There was no change in the rough sea conditions. Earlier Reports HEAVY FIGHTING AT VALOGNES

LONDON, June 20. A S.H.A.E.F. communique says:— Allied troops are attacking the outer defences of Cherbourg. Montebourg has been liberated -and our forces are on three sides of Valognes where heavy fighting is progressing. Our position in the Tilly area is firm. Very heavy fighting continued near Hotot yesterday. It is stated at S.H.A.E.F. that there are three definite areas of fortification in the Cherbourg .area—the coastal defence which is a ring of gun emplacements probably facing north; secondly, an inner, defence zone a few miles inland; and thirdly. an outer defence zone about six miles from the town running in a great semi-circle from sea to se.a.

LAST BATTLE FOR CHERBOURG. ROADS STREWN WITH RUINS LONDON, June 20. Ch.asing the last remnants of two German divisions into Cherbourg the Americans have begun the last battle for the port, at its gates, states the British United Press correspondent before Cherbourg this evening. “I passed through thousands of American infantrymen as I drove towards the battle line. The thunder of cannon roared over woodlands running within two miles of the outskirts of the city, and clouds of smoke rose from fires. The attack was begun at 5 p.m. I watched the assault begin, as our artillery began the last shattering blows to break what may be the last line guarding the port. I saw many bridges, which the Germans should have blown up, and roads and tracks strewn with German armour, burnt out and twisted. Miracle pinpoint shooting by our artillery picked off enemy guns, lorries .and transports carrying infantry. Many of these were hit on the roads, increasing the disorder of the Germans’ flight.” Reuter’s correspondent with the United States Forces, in a message lodged at 9 p.m. to-day says that the last battle for Cherbourg is under way in full fury. The city, which the Germans are trying their hardr est to demolish is considered likely to fall soon. The Americans are doubling their time-table to reach the high ground dominating the city itself. The forces from the west have travelled approximately 14 miles since yesterday morning, and have captured over 600 prisoners. The Associated Press correspondent with the Americans says: The thunder of explosions is heard from within Cherbourg, and civilians straggling through the lines reported the' Germans have begun demolitions. Smoke from the explosions hangs over the city. There is no escape now for the enemy except by sea. The Americans are aided by patriots who have taken up arms and volunteered for service as guides, scouts and front-line troops, and are fighting alongside the Allies. T'he “Daily Mail” says: British light, naval forces are standing off the 'port ready to intercept any attempt to evacuate the German garrison to the Channel Islands. Router’s S.H.A.E.F. correspondent reports that the advance towards Cherbourg is being made over a front nearly 20 miles wide. The Berlin radio stated that heavy naval guns are operating on the east coast of the peninsula. advance on peninsula. LONDON, June 20. American troops have advanced to within four miles of Cherbourg, ami according to the German News Agency commentator, Hallensleben, have already penetrated the fortified approaches, to the port, where the advance spearheads are battling with the German defenders. The Americans forged ahead on Cherbourg Peninsula, to-day, bypassing nockets of German resistance. The furthest advance was made on the western side of the peninsula. Relatively large numbers oi prisoners were taken. American troops to-day occupied Montebourg and Valognes. They swept one and a-half miles beyond Valognes to within four miles of Cherbourg. This evening they were reported one and a-half miles north of Quineville, and two miles north of Montebourg. The Americans also advanced five and a-half miles north of Briquebec and improved their posi-tions-north of Barneville. There was little change at the south edge of the corridor. The Associated Press correspondent with the American forces says that the Germans fell back from Valognes without attempting a major stand. They are reported to be steadily withdrawing lines to Cherbourg. Other American troops simultaneously advanced to St. Martin, only four miles from. Cherbourg. This is the deepest penetration thus far into the Germans’ peninsula stronghold. Rennes radio, quoting a late report from Cherbourg, said the Allies were blasting the German positions at Cherbourg from land, sea and air. Heavy Allied naval guns and fourengined bombers carried on the attack all day. The Germans expect new Allied landings near 'the Cherbourg tip. added the radio.

TRAPPED GERMANS MAY NUMBER 50.000. LONDON, June 20. *lt is understood that it is possible that the number of marooned Germans north of the corridor across the Cherbourg Peninsula may be as high as fifty thousand,” says a correspondent. “Officially, there are ‘elements' of three German divisions there. One division is known to be in bits and pieces, but if the other divisions are upi to strength then this new figure will hold good. Certainlv the bag will be no lower than 30,000.” ALLIES’ SUCCESS “NOT TO BE BELITTLED.” LONDON, June 20. The official German News Agency has admitted that the Allies, in cutting off the Cherbourg Peninsula, have achieved a success which is “not to be belittled." A British naval officer stated that it would be impossible for the Germans to evacuate Cherbourg by sea, owing to the limitations of enemy shipping in the port. Ruined Towns MONTEBOURG AND TILLY DEVASTATED. LONDON, June 20. , The British United Press correspondent at Tilly says: Hardly one wall is intact. The streets here are strewn with broken farm carts, and burnt-out German and British tanks. Tilly ‘has changed hands two or three times. The German High Command was, evidently hoping to use the town as a pivotal point for defence or counter-attack. The Germans converted every bv-wav and cross-road into a stronghold. The British finally captured the town after bitter house-to-house fighting. They are now moving on southwards. Reuter’s correspondent at Montebourg says: This is no more a city. It is more devastated than. Carentan,

Isigny and Trevieres. It was shelled from' the sea day after day, whereafter for nearly a week American patrols have been pushing into the outskirts. Montebourg to-day, is dead. Block after block is heaped with rubble and black devastation. Only one building was found relatively intact —by a stroke of mercy it is the local hospital. About 10 French nurses and fifty patients stayed on, others being evacuated. Some French civilians are already re-settling in Montebourg. Allied Air Activity WIDESPREAD RAIDS. (Rec. 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 21. Mosquitoes of the fjecond Tactical Air Force spent last night setting on fire railway marshalling yards and strafing trains and road transport in France, says the Allied Expeditionary Air Force. One R.A.F. squadron bombed yards at Mezidon in relays for four hours. An Australian squadron left a large fire burning at Chartres railway junction, started a fire in a railway yard at Rambouillet, and shot up trains between Chartres and Lemans. A New Zealand squadron many times attacked the railway system in this area, and also left fires burning in railway yards near Dreux. This night activity was followed by attacks all day, in improved weather, by large formations of medium and fighter bombers against German pilotless bomber bases, road and railway bridges, tunnels, tracks, and junctions. Air crews were especially briefed for attacks against ten pilotless bomber stations at Pas de Calais yesterday. The massive concrete emplacements and extensive camouflage demanded pin-point accuracy from the attackers. The results are described as satisfactory. Some bases were attacked twice in a few hours. Meanwhile Second Tactical Air Force and' Air Defence of Britain fighters patrolled the Channel, intercepting pilotless bombers, a number of which were destroyed. CONTINUED BAD WEATHER LONDON, June 20. A communique from S.H/A.E.F. stated: Bad weather in the battle area limited air operations until mid-day to-day. Fighter-bombers and fighter-escorted bombers attacked pilotless plane bases in the Pas • de Calais area during the morning. Several hits were scored on these and other military installations. Other formations of fighter-bombers hit .a bridge over the I’Ore, near Nantes, destroyed a railway bridge at Granville, and bombed rolling stock an r i motor transport at Trappes, south-west of Paris. Fighterbombers also successfully attacked railway tracks at a number of places both north and south of Chartres. Five of the 12 Fockewulf 190 s which attempted to interfere with this operation, were destroyed in air conbat for the loss of three of ours. DE LA ROQUE ASSASSINATED. LONDON, June 20. According to a broadcast announcement bv the Vichv Minister of Information (M. Henriot), the French Fascist leader, Colonel de la Roque, j has been assassinated. VICHY POLICE OFFICIAL KILLED. (Rec 8.20.) LONDON, June 21. T'he Vichy Minister of Information announced that De Gaullists assassinated a Vichv police official, Colonel 'de la Roche, not the Fascist leader, Colonel de la Roque, as stated in an earlier message. WOMEN SNIPERS. NO INFORMATION TO SUPPORT ALLEGATIONS. LONDON, June 20. Replying to a question in the Commons, the Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office (Mr. Hall) said the Government had no information to support the allegations that women were being used on a widespread scale as franctireurs in France.

ALLIED AND GERMAN TANKS.

(Rec. 11.45.) LONDON, Jun e 21. , Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters in France says that the Normandy campaign has shown that, despite technical superiority or equality in most weapons, the Allies have not put into the field heavier tanks than the Germans. The German Tiger has a very heavy armour front and carries a terrific punch with an 88 millimetre gun. The German .Panther is heavily armoured and beautifully shaped, "it must hit at an angle under thirty degrees to get penetration. This is most difficult, because of the cleverly sloped front of British tanks, which are generally equipped with seventy-fives. Tank battles are occurring, but thus far only on a s m‘ail scale, each side using tanks to support infantry. The problem of taking care of enemy tanks is left mostly to anti-tank crews. The counter to the enemy’s formidable armour is to produce more of it and to handle it wisely. The enemy is already far outnumbered in tanks, and Allied tank crews are learning > quickly to adapt themselves to the countryside and take advantage of, cover in such a way as to avoid out and out slogging matches. E-BOAT MENACE DEFEATED. (Rec. 5.5.)' LONDON, June 20. The E-boat menace to the Allies’ cross-Channel supply lines has been defeated, if only for the time being, though, according to a senior naval officer, it was a big worry at first. A young British motor torpedo-boat Lieutenant described at S.H.A.E.F. how at dusk on the night before “D Day” E-boats came out from their nests while motor torpedo-boats were protecting the convoy route to the beachhead around the tip of Cherbourg Peninsula. “It was not easy work,” he said. “They are an extremely low silhouette and can make good way through practically any sea at forty knots. They got a rough ride that night. We gave them a goon hiding, often at a range of fifty yards and less.” Practically throughout the first week of the invasion, E-boats came out nightly and made themselves a nuisance, but eventually t'he motor torpedo-boats’ constant harrying and the R.A.F’s plastering of their bases proved too much for them. ‘‘They used to run a shuttle service from Le Havre to Cherbourg. They just have not done it lately,” said the Lieuten-ant-Commander. LONDON PRESS SPECULATES (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 7.30) LONDON, June 21. The future trend of the fighting in France now that the initial landings have been successfully accomplished, is a _ matter of much comment in theorising. “The Economist” says that the real question at present is whether Marshal von Rundstedt is capable of a concentration of forces thqt would give him local superiority before General Eisenhower completed build-

ing up his striking force inside the bridgehead. His mobility in shifting reserves has been decisely reduced, but he might offset the slowness of his concentration by its mass. This he can only do at the risk of engaging in the battle of Normandy forces that sound strategy would advise him to keep in readiness against new Allied landings on other sectors of the Atlantic or Mediterranean coast. “If Von Rundstedt now saves his forces for a future battle then the result is that he has allowed his reserves to be paralysed by the mere threat of new landings and so gives General Eisenhower enough time to extend and consolidate bis bridgehead into a solid jumping-off ground for a major offensive,” says the journal. “If, however, he disregards the ’ rules of prudence and engages a high proportion of his reserves in the fighting now, he facilitates General Eisenhower’s tasks of making new landings elsewhere. The dilemma is not only Von Rundstedt’s. It is Hitler’s also, and it confronts the German High Command not only along the Atlantic Wall but all over the Continent. Everywhere the thunder hangs over Hitler’s head. Nowhere does he know when and where the bolts will fall.” “Liberator.” in “The Observer, ’ says that Von Rundstedt is fighting three battles now, and in none of them has he any freedom of action. In this situation he may decide to draw heavily on troops on other fronts in the west for reinforcements, and makes an all-out effort to throw the Allies' Normandy army back into 'the sea. The Germans may argue that in that case the Allies will reinforce their bridgehead and try to hold it rather than start another attack, but the Germans may be wrong. The Allies mav not react in. this way. Instead they may land on a coast bared of troops elsewhere on the Continent. In that case Rundstedt in turn would have to call off his plan and probably regroup his entire force in western Europe. , , . ~ A special correspondent in the “Sunday Express" says that it is important to realise that the real campaign in France has not yet opened—only a heavy battle to decide whether there is going to be .a campaign at all. Assuming that we win this preliminary battle, it must still be weeks before the plan drawn up bv the Supreme Command begins to unfold. The correspondent outlines what may be five steps towards a decision in the west. They are: First and secondly, the battle for the bridgehead; third, the gaining of a deep foothold containing ports and airfields and giving the forces room for manoeuvre, regrouping, and the passing of supplies. It may take, a month or more to capture and consolidate the necessary ground. Fourthly there is the battle for an Allied base in Franc . A possible area is the great quadrilateral enclosed bv the Seme ana the Loire Rivers. It cannot be taken easily but Von Rundstedt may be prevented from using all of ms strength at this stage Genei al Alexander may by then be in North Italy, constituting a threat to southern France. There is, also, the continuous threat of other landings tying down< divisions that might .be thrown in the present or (battles. Fifthly, .assuming that this quadrilateral is in Allied hands, witn the full strength of the armies massed there, Von Rundsted • difficulties will appear insuperable. When the time comes that the Aines can break out of the quadrilateral—assuming that they can take it the time will also come when the enemy will begin quitting France.