FIGHTING IN NORMANDY.

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 56, 20 July 1944, Page 2

FIGHTING IN NORMANDY.

FRENCH COAST BOMBARDED. LONDON, July 18. South-east coast towns were shaken last night by a three hours’ non-stop bombardment of the French mainland. Great flashes and numerous search lights and rockets illuminated miles oi the French coast in the Dunkirk-Calais urea. The roar of Royal Air Force bombers going out added to the crash of buisting shells and bombs from France.

UNBROKEN TURMOIL OF FRENZIED FIGHTING.

LONDON, July 18. “Somehow this campaign has got keyed up to too high a pitch,” cables the Daily Mail correspondent, Alexander Clifford, from Normandy. He proceeds: “It started as the. Allies’ greatest effort of the war, and perhaps it was natural that people should expect an unbroken turmoil of frenzied lighting. But it has not happened like that in reality.

“It is important io realise that there has so far been no really major fighting on the scale of the offensives in the last war. There have been savage encounters on battalion or even brigade scale. Platoons and companies have fought as hard as anyone has ever fought anywhere. But there has been nothing which has ever looked like being an all-in and decisive battle. “There have been no tremendous tank battles. You m<ust wash those memories of the Western Desert clear from your mind. Tanks are not being used here on masse, but rather in little groups colloquially known as ‘penny pockets. ’

“We have been too anxious for progress, too eager to assume that each attack is a main break-through. Because this is a big thing, there has been a temptation to use big words about it all the tim(. ” VILLAGE TAKEN NEAR ST. LO. LONDON, July 18. Allied troops in Normandy have gain ed more important and commanding ground iu both the British and American sectors. The heaviest fighting yesterday was again in the Caen area, especially at the village of Noyers, on the road and railway running from •Caen south-wqst to Villers Bocage, which is five miles beyond Noyers, where the British were last reported to be holding the railway station in spite of violent counter-attacks. Nearer Caen, between the Odon and Orne rivers, the British have gained ground near Evrecy. The Am.cricans, to the west, have tightened their ring round St. Lo, having taken a village close to the town on the east. North-west of St. Lo they have advanced about 1000 yards in spite of heavy mortar fire. The general position at St. Lo is that though the American infantry which penetrated the town, were driven back to its eastern outskirts, advances have been made from three other directions. The Americans are also reported to have advanced to within 200 yards of the St. Lo-Periers road.