IN DIFFICULTY

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1944, Page 5

IN DIFFICULTY

VON KLUGE’S FORCES AMERICANS MOVING Towards Orleans NEW 'BRITISH' PUSH 1,500,000 MEN FIGHTING AMERICANS HAVE ENEMY IN ANXIETY. I Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.l (Rec. 10.40) LONDON, Aug. 11. A German war correspondent, Guenther Weber, reporting from General Von Kluge’s headquarters on Thursday night said: There now are one and a-half million men involved in a fierce battle on a front of two hundred and forty miles. It would be futile to deny that the American break-through has placed General Von Kluge in a difficult position.

BIG AMERICAN ARMY

SWINGING TOWARDS PARIS

LONDON, Aug. 11.

Nantes, entered by Americans with vep- little enemy opposition, is the biggest French city yet reached by the Allies. It had a peace-time population of more than 187,000. It is of great importance as main roads and railways lead from it to the Paris region and' to the south-east. The cit" of Angers, further up the Loire, is now completely surrounded. Berlin radio says American columns which by-passed Le Mans (now held by American forces) have reached points 87 miles from Paris. Vichy radio stated: An American arm v of 20 divisions advancing eastwards between Mayenne and Laval after crossing the Mayenne River, is in contact with German armour west of the Alencon-Le Mans line. In St. Malo on the north coast of Brittany, German resistance has been crushed except in one quarter of the ■ town. Three thousand prisoners have ' been taken at St. Malo. American Liberators, escorted by Mustangs, attacked several bridges and fuel depots in the Paris area today. Marauders to-day continued the offensive against bridges on railways, leading to Faris, hitting four important structures, north and east of the city. The bombers, escorted by Thunderbolts and Lightnings met no enemy fighters. One Marauder is missing. SEVERAL OFFENSIVES BY AMERICAN LEFT FLANK. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, Aug. 10 A Reuter’s correspondent says:— American forces on Thursday began a general offensive along the entire left flank of their Normandy front. They gained between a' mile and a mile and a half in most sectors fighting. against determined opposition. Bitter fighting is still going on around Mortain, which is still held by the enemy. AMERICAN PROGRESS TOWARDS ORLEANS. (Rec. 8.15.) LONDON, August 11. According to the American National Broadcasting Corporation, there is another American column attacking Chateau d’Un. north-west of Orleans. A Reuter correspondent states: Am» erican forces when entering Nantes and Angers, on the Loire River, encountered only slight resistance. ■ A “Daily Express” correspondent stated: Americans who broke into St .Malo fought street by street to the waterfront, and the town is in our hands, except for occasional snipers in attics and cellars. The town is not heavily damaged, though the Cathedral is holed by shellfire. Prisoners number more than a thousand,, more than 170 being found in a quarry, while 400 surrendered from tunnels. In a citadel running a hundred yards through a solid rock, the German Commander made his headquarters. This still held out on Wednesday night. The commander s threats against members of the garrison surrendering were vain, as hundreds gave up when called on by loudspeakers. An Associated Press correspondent says: "German troops in St. Maio began shooting their own officers so that they could surrender.

LE MANS FETES AMERICANS

FLEEING GERMANS OVERTAKEN

(Rec. 9.50) LONDON, Aug. 11. A Reuter correspondent stated: — On Thursday night Le Mans, between Rennes and Orleans, when Americans entered, was a great blaze of red, white and blue. Its streets were filled with cheering and waving people. Thousands lined the streets and cheered themselves hoarse as American troops entered in pursuit of retreating Germans. Members of France’s underground resistance forces, on Thursday marches through the streets of Le Mans with German prisoners they had captured inside the city. These French forces also took part in chasing Germans with Americans. Germans are still hiding in Le Mans cellars. They are being dragged out. American soldiers in one case dashed forward to protect a small group of them who were in danger of being swamped by a hissing, threatening crowd. Some women who had collaborated with Germans were having their heads shaved in streets in the centre of scoffing crowds. About 20 or 30 collaborators were gaoled to await a trial. Many others fled from the city with the Germans. A British United Press correspondent tells a story of a German column which ran into an ambush outside Le Mans. He says an American officer stated: “The Germans never knew what hit them. They were retreating. We looped around therm and dime out on a main highway ahead of them. They came on at 40 miles an hour. We let them get within ten yards before we machine-gunned their first lorry. That held up their entire column. We sprayed the column with machineguns. Then we opened up with artillery and anti-tank guns. Lorries and tanks caught fire and exploded. The Germans were caught in aii inferno of flame. About 100 Germans- were killed and 230 captured. Fifty vehicles including tanks, selfpropelled guns and lorries were put out of action.” An American tank column is reported to be closing in on Shertres, and a second column is nearing Tours 1 and a third heading for Orleans. The German News Agency stated Americans concentrated three or four divisions in the Le Mans .area-, trying to continue eastward, but a German protecting formation stopped them at Montfort, 10 miles east of Le Mans, and Beaufay, 12 miles east-north-east.

BRITISH GAINS ON THE ORNE. A TT . "LONDON, Aug 10. A United Press correspondent says: British forces captured the village of Vimont. A British Associated Press correspondent states: British troops gained a new bridge-head across the River Orne due east of Amaye, and began to threaten German forces pocketed in a' fork between the Orne and Laize Rivers.. A new foothold was established in the vicinity of Percouville, which fell to British assault troops. Percouville is close to the east bank of the Orne and south-east of May-sur-Orne. British forces on Thursday night were consolidating the bridge-head a few miles north of Grimbsq forest. Exploiting the situation south of the British original lodgment, armoured patrols have reached Thury-Harcourt and captured Espins a small town on the southwestern fringe of the forest de Cinglais An “Exchange Telegraph” correspondent says:—Although there are definite signs of the enemy pulling out of the Orne-Laize pocket, which will cause the western flank of this corridor to collapse, the enemy, appears to be strengthening his eastern flank as rapidly as possible as British trrops pushed east two miles on Wednesday night. They met stiff resistance when they attacked Vimont. Enemy guns and mortars put down a heavv fire on the roads. British forces fought their way into the village using flame-throwers to burn enemy troops out of their nests.'

BRITISH OPERATIONS ADVANCE TOWARDS FALAISE LONDON, Aug. 10. The Associated Press says: British advances on either side of the Orne River are tightening a pincer around an enemy river ba'stion at ThuryHarcourt. We threw into the bridgehead fresh reinforcements of infantry, tanks and’ guns in support of the troops, who held off violent German counter-attacks. The suddeness of attack from the bridge-head surprised the Germans as they expected troops within the bridge-head would be exhausted by waves of panzers and infantry hurled against our positions. The Germans found their escape fines threatened by the British-Canadian drive towards Falaise, and immediately began to pull out the armour, leaving the infantry as a holding force. Our troops are now meeting the German delaying elements in fields, woods and hamlets. A Reuter correspondent states. An advance of two and a half miles took British troops to outskirts of Vimont. Fighting is going on in and around the town. ■Another report stated: British forces are making three armoured thrusts into German defences on a broad front. An armoured column which broke out of the bridge-head engulfed the village of Forge a Cambro, two miles north-east of ThuryHarcourt. They are chasing enemy forces retreating southwards. The second column, moving down the main road between Aunau-sur-Orne and Conde-sur-Noireau, has taken Tramblay, six miles north of Conde, and high ground west of it. A third force crossed the Vire-Vassy road and captured Laritero and Reullours, three and two miles respectively east of Vire. Reullours is a mile south oi the road. Eight villages were captured in a rapid push from the Orne bridgehead. . “We are hoping to see big things, to-dav in the sector west of the Orne, but the enemy fights for every inch of this ground, for much depends on it,” said the Second Army Headquarters.

CANADIAN THRUST AT FALAISE The correspondent continues: The Germans are making a great etort to keep Canadian forces from Falaise. Marshal Rommel has packed armour and guns in their path. Tigers and Panthers have been rushed from south and west. To-day they are hidden in every wood, while in some points there are groups of twentyfour enemy eighty-eight millimetre guns, close together, about five miles north of Falaise. The enemy certainly have made a remarkable quick recovery. His SS -men are fighting with all of the fanaticism that they have ever shown. The fighting is heaviest around, Hill 195, which is about two miles north-west of Potigny, and which Canadian armour captured early on Wednesday morning and have held in spite of heavy enemy shelling and mortar fire. The enemy was able to cover the southern slopes of the Hill from the wes -" ern flank with anti-tank guns and tanks, while, to the east, the enemy rushed' armour and infantry into a heavily wooded area. Canadian infantry pushed down the hill. They found themselves enfiladed by crossfire. The Canadian force met the same kind of resistance when they succeeded in forcing a wav to the next Hill. Armour piercing shells from enemy guns on both sides whistled across the slopes of both hills for many hours. A few tigers did venture out from the cover of the woods. They met a hot reception. Some were knocked out. Canadian forces continue now more slowly than during the first two days ot the break through. Enemy tanks came out on their eastern flank to

counter-attack during the morning and’ mixed bags of forty tanks mainly Tigers and Panthers, sallied our from a wood west of Quesney, nearly eight miles north -of F'alaise, and they counter-attacked our force just as it had established itself on a piece of commanding ground. However the enemy tanks quickly broke, ana sought cover, when they discovered to their cost our forces had their anti-tank guns with them. The Canadian corridor was widened and strengthened by our advance eastwards to within a mile of Vimont, where it has met heavy resistance.

advance to thury-harcourt

(Rec. 1.10) LONDON, Aug. 11. _ General Dempsey’s forces this morning, launched a concerted attack south-east in the Vire sector, towards Conde Sur Noreau, and .also made a third crossing of the Orne in a bend in the river, north of Thury-Harcourt, reports a Reuter correspondent with the British forces. There is evidence of the Germans pulling out from ThuryHarcourt, Which is now gripped by a fire closing from both sides as our troops Dress in from the west .and east. Armour and infantry are being used in a push south-east from Vire. German resistance which was most determined in this sector until very recently, is crumbling under the weight of the asasult.» An Associated Press correspondent on the Orne River front says: British forces stormed within 1000 yards of Thury-Harcourt. Another British column in a synchronised drive down the east s’de of the Orne from the north seized Hill 128, about 1500 yards north-east of Thury-Harcourt, which thus appears doomed. The early” fall of Thury-Harcourt would mean another staggering blow 1 against General Von Kluge’s Orne River defence system. Large German forces are still fighting a hopeless but desperate battle west of the Orne. Coincident with a mounting threat against Thury-Harcourt British forces launched a concerted attack south-eastwards in the Vire sector. A British staff officer said any normal army would be puling out from the Vire salient, but curiously enough the Germans seem to be throwing more troops into the fire.

LATEST OFFICIAL NEWS LONDON, Aug. 11. Allied troops have entered the cities of Nantes and Angers, reports Friday’s S.H.A.E.F. communique Enemy resistance at Nantes was slight but there were extensive enemy mining in areas in both cities. In the Brittany Peninsula mopping up is proceeding in the rea of I-lennebonL Auray and Quiberon. on the south coast. Americans have completely surrounded I’Orient on the land side. The enemy is maintaining a strong resistance at Brest. There elements of three German divisions are located. Our forces outside the city have been joined by another force which proceeded along a north coastal road on the penisula. The enemy defence at Saint Malo has been reduced mainly to a single strongpoint which is still offering a stubborn resistanc. A total of three thousand prisoners has been taken thus far in the port. The Germans are still strongly defending Dinard. Hard fighting continues in the MortainVire area of Normandy. Stubborn enemy resistance is being encountered north and south of Mortain, particularly in the vicinity of St. Barthelemy. Allied forces in the area of Vire made gains of one and one and a-h.alf miles in a southerly direction. Other units are attacking towards Gathemo against strong German resistance. The enemy resistance to the Allied thrust, toward Falaise was increased considerably yesterday. A strong screen of antitank guns and heavily defended positions in the areas of Fontain Lenins, Quesnay, Estress la Campagne, St. Sylvian' and Vimont slowed the advance and heavy fighting resulted. We captured Estrees la Campagne. Soignilles changed hands several times. Fighting in and around Vimont continued all day long. Allied troops enlarged the bridgehead over the Orne with an advance of 4000 yards, capturing Espins on the fringe of Foret de Cinglais, and the villages of Coroisillies and Forgeacambro. Allied armour and infantry, driving down from Le Plessis Frimoult, captured a number of villages, including Gauville and Lenault, and reached the vicinity of Saint Pierre le Viellle.

FRENCH INTERIOR FORCES (Rec. 9.30) LONDON, Aug. 11. Algiers radio sent out an appeal to French resistance groups on the French-Spanish frontier to stop and to arrest Vichyites and Germans trying to escape across the border. It is reported French interior forces cut main railway lines from Bordeaux to Paris, and the line from Toulouse to Agen; thus there are are only secondary railway lines available for traffic from Bordeaux to the whole south-west to Paris and to the east of France. Five German trains carrying munitions and personnel are immobilised at Agen. A sixth which tried to reach Toulouse was blown up. ALLIED AIRBORNE FORCES UNITED. (Rec. 10.40) LONDON, Aug. 11. General Eisenhower referred to a consolidation of British and American airborne forces in one command under Lieut. Lewis Brereton, United States Army, formerly commanding the Ninth United States Air Force.. Lieut.-General Frederick Browing, British Army, is deputy commander. The object is to integrate and make more effective large airborne forces at the disoosal of the Supreme Commander. In the new command will be combined both combat troops and planes and gliders for transporting them.

The appointment is also announced of Major-General Ralph Royce, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force. General Eisenhower said: “In airborne operations lies one of our greatest opportunities for further successes. What you have already done does not equal my confidence in what you are going to do in future. Through your effective employment we will end this war far more quickly than we could without you.” He .said he seriously doubted whether I the Normandy landings could have occurred without an airborne spearhead. 2,000 RUSSIANS CAPTURED IN FRANCE. ANXIETY OVER M. STALIN’S ATTITUDE. (Rec. 5.5.) LONDON. August 11. The “Daily Express” says: Two thousand Soviet citizens have been captured while fighting or working for the German Army in France. Their fate is worrying the British Government. Some of these Russians were in the Todt Labour Force. Others were in German combat battalions. All say they were forced by threats to join in active service against the Allies. M. Stalin is believed not to be disposed to be unduly gentle with the men whom he regards as traitors, even though they were unwilling. Some of the prisoners may be treated as war criminals, and oe brought to trial. Others may be forgiven and re-admitted as Soviet citizens.