NEAR PARIS

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1944, Page 5

NEAR PARIS

U.S.A. SECRET DRIVE

BRITISH BEYOND FALAISE

Enemy in Grave Peril

[Aus. & N.Z. press Assn.J (Rec. 11.50) LONDON, Aug. 17. A “Times” correspondent with British troops in Normandy says:— The pattern of the Allied plan is now becoming clear, and it is possible to see now where all the past weeks of grinding, unspectacular fighting have been leading. It has not always been easy to be patient, especially for men in the front line. Week after week they sloged aw'ay through country which gave the defenders every advantage, and the attackers none. They must have wondered where the effort was getting them. Perhaps the last battle in Normandy will be just as spectacular as the last battle at El Alamein. Perhaps it will come just as suddenly. The Germans here are in process of suffering one of the severest and most decisive defeats in their history. It is too early to tell, and useless to speculate, just how grave for them that defeat is likely to be, but one thing seems certain. German armies in north-w’estern Trance lire facing not merely a peril of defeat; they are facing peril of extermination. American Push TO 40 MILES FROM PARIS ENEMY “DUNKIRK” OVER THE ' SIENE HINTED. LONDON, Aug. 16. The German High Command in a communique stated: Allied forces, pushing eastwards from Alencon are engaged in hard fighting with German Security Forces in the Chartres and Dreux regions. Chartres is 44 miles south-west of Paris ( while Dreux is 42 miles south-south-west. The Berlin radio, giving details of the thrust towards Paris said:— “Enemv formations concentrated at Le Mans first drove northward bevond Alencon. Then, after bringing up fresh formations, the Americans during the past few days have pressed on into the areas of Nogent le Rotrou and La Loupe, respectively 75 and 60 miles west of Paris. From there they drove along .a road leading to Chartres from the north-west and south, pushing forward armoured reconnaissance coloumns. German defence formations have engaged the enemy in bitter fighting, particularly north of Chartres and destroyed many American tanks. Fighting is now in full swing there on a broad front.”

The German News Agency commentator, Captain Sertorius, commenting on the German communique and the Berlin radio’s reference to the presence of Allied troops in the Chartres-Dreux region, said: “It remains to be seen whether the movements are destined to pin down the German reserves, or are a big attempt at outflanking the German armies lighting in Normandy. The enemy’s intention in the latter case would be to cut off these German forces from Paris, and press them back into the area of the Seine.”

The British United Press says: If the German report is true it means Allies have jumped forward 55 miles. The German statement is the most sensational admission of the war. It means that we have forces, of some strength on the flank of the mauled remainder of the German forces whicfi%Sc-aped from the Falaise-Ar-gentan pocket. Any pressure northwards from the 'Chartres-Dreux area would force the retreating Germans against the Seine at a point where it is least passable,. and might result in the extermination of the whole of the German forces east of the river. No whisper of this move has come from any other sources. The news, if true, completely changes the whole picture in northern France.

One R.A.F. Wing Commander said: It looks as if the Germans are preparing a "Dunkirk” across the Seine for the troops who managed to escape through 'the gap. Germans are massing barges in the Seine. The enemy with all bridges across the river down is gathering craft to evacuate the forces across the Seine. General Eisenhower has taken over personal command of all ■■ Allied land forces in northern France, and has command of two Army groups, the British 21st Army under General Montgomery, and the new United States group, comprising two armies under Lieut.-General Omar Bradley. The American, General Bradley, has been appointed to be Commander of the 12th Army Group. Orleans and Tours NOW THREATENED BY AMERICANS. (Rec. 11.20.) LONDON, August 17. A Berlin military spokesman was* quoted by the German Overseas News Agency as saying: Mobile warfare is becoming increasingly important in F’rance, with powerful Allied forces delving deep into the interior. There are Allied columns driving against Chartres, Dreux and Orleans. Other Allied tank columns that have been protecting the advance forces pushing east have swung southwards towards Tours. ALLIES IN CHARTRES. (Rec. 1.0.) LONDON, August 17. The German News Agency admits that forces have penetrated into Chartres, which 55 miles southwest of Paris. ALLIES BOMB SEINE RIVER ROUTES. (Rec. 1.5.) LONDON, August 17. The S.H.A.E.F. communique on Thursdayi states: Bad weather .on Wednesday limited the Allied air effort over northern France. Medium bombers attacked five bridges over the River Rille, which flows parallel to the Seine on the western side. Light bombers bombed an ammunition dump near Rouen, also at night successfully attacked crossing points on the Seine road transport, near Dijon. Night fighters destroyed seven enemy aircraft over the battle area. Latest Allied Official Report WEDNESDAY'S GAINS FALAISE PASSED (Rec. 12.10) LONDON, Aug. 17. The S.H.A.E.F. communique on Thursday says: Allied troops made further gains in the Normandy pocket. Our forces are clearing the last of the enemy forces from the towm of Falaise. Heavy fighting continues east of that town. v Most of the road from Falaise to Conde . is in our hands. The towm of Conde has been captured. Forward elements, advancing from the west and north-west, reached Flers. The enemy opposition to the east-

ward is bitter. The Allied advance is made more difficult by the enemy making large-scale use of mines, booby traps and demolitions. Further west, advances were made east of Tinche Bray, which has been frqed, and east of Ger. Mopping up has been completed in the vicinity of Juvigny .and Foret d’Andaine, east of Domfront. . North of Laftertemace and northeast of Domfront gains up to six miles have been made again resistance. which varies from light to moderate.

North of Ranes, which has been by-passed, our units are encountering heavy opposition.

In Argentan the enemy still hold most the city. Fighting is there progressing.

In Brittany the port of Dinard has been completely occupied. The German garrison of Saint Malo are maintaining their stubborn defence in the citadel.

TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF FRENCH REFUGEES IN POCKET.

(Rec. 9.50.) LONDON, August 17. A British United Press correspondent in Normandy states: Tens ot thousands of French refugees were herded by Germans from their homes oeyond Vire and Mortain, and from hills north of Conde and from farmlands around Argentan. They are now left helpless within the Falaise-Arg-entan pocket. Information from the Maquis, who have come through the battle lines, is that these refugees are without any food, except for what they can beg from people in the countryside, and they are in danger from the Allied air attacks and Allied artillery fire Some of the Maquis also fear that, if the Germans are forced to make a last ditch stand inside of the pocket, there may be a wholesale massacre oi the refugees.

FRENCH INTERIOR FORCES SUCCESS IN BRIJTANY RISINGS IN RHONE VALLEY AND EASTWARD. LONDON, Aug. 16. The commander of the French Forces of the Interior, General Koenig, in a communique says: An armoured F.F.I. detachment has taken part in battle for the first time and occupied Erdeven in Brittany, killing 65 Germans and taking 140 prisoners. . Saboteurs completely destroyed a German munition dump in the department of Indre et Loire. Throughout the whole of France the F.F.I. in accordance with orders, is giving the enemy no rest. Authoritative French circles announce that French Forces of the Interior have taken three more Brittany towns by assault —Lannion, on the north-west coast, Serignac, to the south of it; and La Clarte.

Pocket Shrinking GAP LESS THAN TEN MILES ENEMY’S ARMOUR NEARLY ALL CLEAR. LONDON, Aug. 16. The German pocket in Normandy is about 25 miles long east to west, and continues to shrink. The escape gap is definitely known to be less than 10 miles across, but it is reported to have been considerably narrowed. Flers is the only large town left to the Germans inside. The German Seventh Army is still fighting hard in the Falaise-Conde pocket, and its rearguard action has prevented any rapid Allied advance. One advance from the north-west reached St. Pierre Dapou, five miles north-west of Flers. The CondeFalaise road is cut south of Bois du Roi, south-west of Falaise. There is strong enemy resistance in the vicinity of Rianes south-west of Argentan. British patrols entered Conde and forward armoured formations entered Flers. These formations took Mont Secret. We now .hold firmly practically the entire ‘length of a lateral escape road running from Vire to Falaise, with the possible exception of where it passes through Conde, where fighting is taking place. In the centre fierce resistance has been put up by the enemy) against 'the British troops who crossed the Noireau. The enemy reaction is extraordinarily sensitive to the advance, but . despite this our troops . reached the area of Ronorine la Ohardonne. The swift move to Flers means there are certain pockets of the enemy cut off the Orne Valley near the station of La Rue, six miles south of ThuryHarcourft. One thousand civilians were released from a railway tunnel in which they were imprisoned by the Germans. There are elements of several enemy armoured divisions in the eastern end of the pocket. They are attempting to hold the southern flank around the Armenian area against Americans. Other enemy armour in the north-west is also known to be in the pocket. A British push on the right of the Canadians reached down to positions half a mile south-west of Falaise and, with the Canadians .around the corner, Falaise is virtually surrounded. British troops have throughout Wednesday aidcelertited advances overnight, even though it meant building bridges, for the bridges over every stream they met were blown up by the enemy. Canadians are established west and north of Falaise after an advance made in darkness. They met io opposition and moved almost fc miles in one sweep. Two thousand German prisoners have been counted. A staff officer said: “The Germans' can trickle things through Falaise but cannot get anything large through.” The fall of Falaise appears imminent as the Canadians clean up resistance outside the town. Its capture would narrow the Germans escape gan to six miles and deprive the Germans of ' the best escape roads. The Germans will probably manage to disengage and extricate the major part of their armour. There are still large masses of infantry inside the pocket, probably around Conde, which is virtually isolated by the Britsh advance. British are backing up Canadians and cut a main lateral escape route running east oL the Vire through Conde to Falaise. Westward others have captured Vassy and .are racing along both sides of the Torutton River, a tributary of the Noireau, towards St. Germain de Crioult, three miles west of Conde. Americans took Tinchebray after a race with British. Americans won. The British then turned jfaist towards Mont Secret.

The U.S. Second Army is in heavy going in the Ranes area.' This army thus far, has captured 3238 prisoners in the pocket. Against the U.S. Third Army the bulk of the trapped German Army is degenerating into guerrilla units, searching for ways to escape from the pocket which Allied artillery arid planes .lare pounding. It is unofficially estimated that the Third Army has killed 11,000, wountded 46,000 and have tafen 39,000' prisoners since August 1.

One British correspondent stated that Germans left in the cauldron are so mixed up that no fewer than twelve units were identified in one small area. British infantry found Tigers and Panthers abandoned undamaged. Tanks h ad run out of

petrol, but were in perfect °Hder. Germans left in such a hurry they even neglected to spike the guns. A change from a more or less orderly withdrawal to a pell-mell retreat was observed in some sectors late on Tuesday, particularly north-west of Falaise. Remnants of the German infantry divisions, under orders to hold a “roof” over Falaise at all costs, were so badly mauled that their lines wer.e broken into -fragments, and survivors began a headlong flight. A British field headquarters spokesman said this division could be written off. Divisions escaped in great confusion and all mixed up. Some of their units are scattered' over the countryside, and lost with both transport and tanks running short of fuel. The Germans inside the sack are getting out as fast .as they can. No reinforcements are arriving. Most of von Kluge’s armour is believed to have escaped from the pocket. Fighting is going on in the town, but the bulk of the German armour is already east of the town.

The British United Press correspondent said the march to _ Falaise was a feat of endurance by infantry. Falaise suffered the fate of a besieged town, its houses and ‘streets reeking with ruins. A Canadian major said: “Our troops marched for days. We fought a two-day batlie and moved back. Then at -8 a.m. on Tuesday we moved off again and when we reached the outskirts of Falaise, had covered ten miles.” At United States First Anmy headquarters in Normandy it was announced that elements of eleven German divisions had been caught in the Falaise pocket. Allied natrols probing deep eastward are’ frequently ’ losing contact with the Germans who are obviously getting out of here. in great haste.

R.A.F. bombers at Brest sank a tanker and an obsolete French cruiser. It is believed both were being kept so that they could be sunk at the entrance of the harbour when the fall of Brest could no longer be delayed.