Thirty Miles From Belgian Border

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 206, 31 August 1944, Page 5

Thirty Miles From Belgian Border

Germans Admit Evacuation of Rouen Allied Forces Cross Marne and Aisne United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright; Received Thursday, 12.12 a.m. LONDON, August 30. Latest highlights in the dramatic news from France are that the Berlin radio admits that the Germans have been forced to evacuate Rouen, their main bastion on the River Seine, and that American armoured spearheads have reached a village 30 miles from the Belgian border. “Allied forces continuing to sweep beyond Paris crossed the Aisne and Marne Rivers in the Upper Marne valley,” reports to-night’s Shaef communique. “Mopping-up is progressing in Vitry le Francois and our troops have reached Marson and Lepine southeast and east of Chalons-sur-Mama. Other units are under a mile south of Chalons. On the west side of the river we occupied Chateau Thierry. Our armoured forces moved north to take Soissons and have established a bridgehead across the Aisne at Pontarcy 14 miles eastward. Other troops are advancing through the area between the Marne and the Aisne north of Meaux and Chateau Thierry.

“Advances were made in the Paris area through the northeastern outskirts of the city beyond le Bourget and Montmorency. Elements further west cleared the Foret St. Germain and moved northwards to a point under two miles south Pontoise. “The bridgehead across the Seine in the vicinity of Mantes-Gassicourt was further enlarged northward, and eastward beyond Meulan contact was made with troops from the bridgehead to the northward. Our troops advancing from the Vernon bridgehead pushed across the Paris-Rouen road to the town of Etrepagny and from there to the village of Longchamps. “The Paris-Rouen road was also cut near the village of Ecouis hy troops from the Ouvicrs bridgehead. Contact was established in the evening between these two bridgeheads. Our forces southeast of Rouen advanced against persistent opposition and captured the village of Boos, some five miles from the centre of Rouen.” “Heavy fighting continues in the Caudebec area but the Foret de Broitonne has been cleared and the whole of this loop of the Seine is now in our hands. Hard fighting continues at Brest as the Allies slowly close in on the port. “Air restrictions yesterday were restricted by weather. Fighters and fighter-bombers attacked enemy road and railway movement over a wide area of the Low Countries, Western Germany and France as far south as Lyons. Large numbers of locomotives, railway cars and motor transport were attacke i successfully. ’ *