Canadian Attack

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1944, Page 5

Canadian Attack

REACHES WITHIN FOUR MILES OF FALAISE LONDON, Aug. 14. A United Press correspondent stated: A great air attack against the German positions in the Falaise area was preceded by a major operation by the Canadian Ist Army to dominate the lines of communication to Falaise, and there was another shortly after noon. A smoke screen travelling at 12 miles hourly was laid down in front of oqr advancing troops. The dense smoke blew right into the eyes of the German defenders whose anti-tank gunners will have had no assistance in spotting our tanks. Canadian tanks went in first, equipped with flails, because it was estimated the German minefields would be extensive. The infantry came after the tanks. Some Canadians rode in converted jeeps behind the tanks. Two hours after the attack began heavy bombers began coming over in hundreds, bombing villages, particularly on the right flank of the advancing Canadians. Heavy solinter bombs were used in this attack.. The Canadian drive has, thus far, been successful. We are heading for the high ground just north of Falaise, after crossing La Son River. The importance of the attack can be judged from a message sent this morning •to all Canadian officers from the Commander of the Ist Canadian Army. It read: “Hit him first, hit him had, and keep on hitting hard.” Another report stated: The Canadian drive on Monday afternoon forced a passage of the River Laison over high ground on a width of two miles. Several important points were seized from which our artillery will be able to shell the retreating ’columns. Prisoners are flowing into the British front. Six hundred were captured to-day. The enemy armour is pulling out of the pocket mostly concentrating around the southern lip of the gap facing the Americans near Argentan. Action occurred in the triangle represented by Brettevillerabet, 9* miles north-north-west of Falaise, Sassy, seven miles north-east, of Falaise, with the base at Falaise itself and the main part of the operation ori the west side of the Caen-Falais.e Road. Tanks moved across the dusty plain towards Laison Valley. Planes flew over to attack the German positions in the area between Olendon and Sassy, in which- a strong antitank screen protected Falaise. There was some shelling as the tanks and infantry crossed the plain which is largely concentrated in the area of Brettevillerabet. As the heavy bombing progressed, loading tanks which had crossed the Laison River mounted the slopes of the first feature—the hills running from south-east of Potigny to Sassy. Beyond that lay the main feature running through Versainville and Bamblainville, which are about one and a-half miles north west and three and a-half miles west-north-west of Falaise respectively.

Another correspondent says: The Canadians launched a full-scale attack towards Falaise. The operaions were supported by over 1000 R.A.F. heavy bombers in addition to medium bombers. The Canadians went through enemy strong defence • positions in the Laison Valley, and early on Monday afternoon had advanced two miles and were four miles from Falaise.

The Canadians launched their attack at noon at a point where the enemy probably least expected it, Laiso'n Valley. The enemy had packed the valley and its commanding slopes with 88’s and anti-tank • guns of all kinds. Canadian armour dealt a smashing blow at this defence line. Within a couple of hours it had broken through the valley to advance two miles to the next piece of rising ground. A smokescreen which Canadians put down with their guns, formed two giant curtains which provided covering walls between which they pushed through the valley and the’ thick anti-tank screen of 88’s which the enemy had massed could have been of little use to him, being blotted out by smoke which rose gently in the air on an almost windless day. As Canadians pressed forward the R.A.F. came over to play its part, which was to protect the Canadians’ right flank by saturation bombing of the area from which any German counter-attack could be expected. From two until four o’clock Lancasters and Halifaxes showered tons of high explosives down on the enemy positions, and there was hardly a break in the rumble of exploding bombs. The enemy still clings to Thury-Harcourt, but his position there is almost untenable since the town is overlooked by the Allies from every side. Air support of the ground forces to prevent a German break-away has been incessant 'and in great strength. The Exchange Telegraph Agency says: Thury-Harcourt is cleared of the enemy. The town has been burned since the night of August 12. British troops are less than two miles from Conde Sur Noireau. The British Second Army, west of Falaise, has driven forward towards high ground near Conde. All along the British and Canadian front the Germans are contesting every inch of ground and there is no sign of an enemy collapse. Estry, for which the Germans fought for several weeks, is at ‘last in British hands. We took about 300 prisoners in this region. Second Army troops at Thury-Har-court mopped up all but fifty “death or glory’’ snipers, but the Germans on Saturday night reinforced the garrison with 500 men and fighting is still going on. Over 100,000 men and hundreds ot tanks are moving to an exit where the massive Allied jaws are threatening to close soon. The Germans are leaving behind screens of artillery and Panzer troops as a rearguard- force. A British staff officer said: “It is a big fighting withdrawal. Their army is swinging eastward and there is no telling yhere it will stop, or what terrible price it will have to pay. It will be slaughtered all the way from the narrow exit from Falaise.’’ Another officer declared: “The revolution in the German strategy in the last 58 hours may produce results of dimensions which the Russians will understand.”

A Reuter correspondent said: A broken German Army is fleeing eastward. in a headlong retreat from tne narrowing Falaise-Mortain pocket and it is being savagely attacked from the air.

In Brittany, French Forces of the Interior liberated the small town of Milizac, seven miles north-west ot Brest, as well as Paimpol, on the north coast —where several hundred prisoners were taken—and other places on the north-west tip of tne peninsula. The "Daily Mail” said: The strain was becoming unbearable. The tension has snapped and the break has come. It is as though the German commander suddenly realised there was not a moment to lose. Whatever happens now this force—the finest still left' to the enemy in the west — faces destruction. If it escapes the Falaise sack it will be hammered along the Seine.