SOUTH OF FRANCE.

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 64, 17 August 1944, Page 3

SOUTH OF FRANCE.

SUCCESSFUL LANDING BY ALLIE 7 LINK WITH NORMANDY FORCES. LONDON, August 15. «• To-day American, British, and French troops, strongly supported by the Allied Air Forces, are being landed by the American, British and French fleets on the southern coast of France. This is the text of a special comnjpnique issued to-day from Supreme Allied Headquarters. The following proclamation to the French people has been issued by the Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean (General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson): “The armies of the United Nations have landed in the south of France. Their objective is to drive out the Germans and to link up with the Allied forces from Normandy. French forces are taking part side by ■ide with their brothers-in-arms, the Army of France is in being again. Remember 1918. AJI Frenchmen have a nart to play in the campaign of the south. Let us end the struggle as auickly as possible so that all men may resume a free life. Victory is certain. Long Uve the spirit of France and all that it stands for.” •Correspondents report that paratroops were landed two mUes inland at dawn. The German positions had been subjected to heavy air and naval bombardment. At 8 a.m. to-day the in fantry began to attack. Minimum opposition was met bj the first wave of American infantry, which reached its first objective in less than an hour. Before 10 a.m. seven waves of infantry, each of more than 2000 men, had been put ashore. British heavy bombers attacked the south coast of France yesterday for the third successive day. , , The Rome correspondent ot the As sociated Press says that a strong force of fighters accompanied the heavy bombers yesterday, but no air opposition was’ met, for which reason the heavy bombers went out on Monda This indicated that the SXiffe’s power in southern France had been knocked out. Mustangs and Lightings all day strafed targets in ae same areas, in some cases not even en l° U reXrt n from k Supreme Allied Head, auarter’Hn Italy says that the Allied £Xgs in the south of France are go extremelv weU, and our forces ar “ g far meeting with a iqtnimum of

German resistance. The landings took place along 10c miles of coastline between Nice am, M <Se lll report says the first landing were made south-west of Cannes According to German reports lam. ings were made 25 miles from Tool an d paratroops were dropped in .. say that the firs.

landings were on a bigger scale than the first landings in Normandy. More than 800 ships, with strong naval support, were used. ALLIES PUSH FORWARD EIGHT MILES. LONDON, August 16. The Allies have pushed forward eight miles inland, gaining all objectives.