Cherbourg City, Port Available As Supply Base

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1944, Page 3

Cherbourg City, Port Available As Supply Base

Americans Now In

Complete Control

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, June 27

THE GERMAN FORCE IN THE ARSENAL SURRENDERED 1 TODAY AND THE AMERICANS NOW COMPLETELY CONTROL THE CITY AND PORT OF CHERBOURG, SAYS REUTER’S CORRESPONDENT.

Describing von Schlieben’s surrender, a correspondent of the Associated Press says that a goose-stepping German lieutenant, carrying a white flag, marched out of the general’s 30-feet deep tunnel with a message that his commander wished to surrender. Von Schlieben and Admiral Henneske, a few minutes later, filed from the tunnel followed by 800 men.

Asked why he did not tell the Cherbourg defenders to lay down their arms when their plight was hopeless, von Schlieben replied that he learned in Russia the value of resistance by small groups.

The Americans broadcast the news of von Schlieben’s surrender to isolated pockets of Germans.

One of the toughest points of resistance broke this morning when a German artillery colonel radioed his surrender. He was taken prisoner with 300 men. Approximately 9000 Germans surrendered yesterday. 80,000 German Casualties #

The latest estimate of prisoners taken in the Cherbourg Peninsula advance is 15,000, learns a Supreme Headquarters’ correspondent. A conservative assessment of German casualties in the invasion battle to date is 48,000 killed and wounded and 32,000 prisoners.

The north-east tip of the peninsula is cleared of the enemy, but there is still opposition in the north-west tip and the German forces are holding out around Maupertus airfield. It is disclosed that the 7th United States Corps, comprising the 4th, 9th and 79th divisions, took Cherbourg. Final Mopping-Up

Allied forces in the Tilly-Caen area crossed the Caen-Villers Bocage railway near Mouen, says a Supreme Headquarters communique. Our advance was made in torrential rain against • determined resistance from, enemy infantry.

On Cherbourg Peninsula we are continuing to attack against the last remnants of organised opposition. Elements of the enemy are still holding out in Maupertus airfield, east of Cherbourg, and in the north-west tip of the peninsula.

Prisoners taken on the peninsula total at least 20,000 and more are coming in. Bad weather this morning severely curtailed air activity, but fighter-bombers attacked a train at Parennes, east of Laval, and road transports in the Lava’ and Alenccn areas.

Light coastal forces early this morning intercepted and engaged a force of enemy trawlers and minesweepers off the Jersey coast. Considerable damage was inflicted on the enemy in a gun action in which the coastal batteries of' the island joined in. One minesweeper was hit by torpedo and it is considered that she sank. Extensive Arsenal Area The arsenal covered an area of li miles in length by half-a-mile in depth. It was surrounded by a wall 30 feet high and 10 feet thick, with a six feet deep moat outside. , The enemy, at embrasures in the wall, mounted a number of guns, including machine-guns and anti-air-craft guns, i

Second Phase Ends

The fall of Cherbourg ends the second phase in the campaign of liberation, states today’s communique from Supreme Headquarters. Allied forces 2G days after the initial assault have established a firm beachhead, including almost the whole of Cotentin Peninsula and a major port. Liberation of Cherbourg came after a final day of fierce fighting m the north-western part of the city. The enemy lost in the battle the greater part of four infantry divisions, numerous naval and marine units and line of communication troops.

Lieutenant-General Carl Wilhelm von Schlieben, commander of Cher.fcourg garison, and Konter-Admiral Hennecke, sea defence commander in Normandy, have been captured. A strong attack towards Villers Bocage-Caen main road has secured Fontenay Cheux (two miles east of Fontenay) and advanced several miles in fact of heavy German armour, infantry progress continuing. Storms and dense clouds minimised air activity yesterday and throughout last night Succeed Beyond Plans

With the fall of Cherbourg the initial stages of the Allies’ invasion of Hitler’s Europe has ended in greater success than General Eisenhower’s planners ever hoped for, says Reuter’s correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. We undoubtedly have made the fullest preparations to put Cherbourg to maximum use with the least delay. Special devices to counter the undoubted destruction carried out by the Germans are ready to go into action. It should not be long before Cherbourg is in a position to take big ships with masses of men and material, the value of which in the next phase of invasion will be immeasurable. Naval Grip Tightens From a naval point of view possession of Cherbourg not only means elimination of a former E-boat nest, but also opens up vast strategic possibilities, includoing the strengthening of the Allied naval grip across the Channel and a new menace to U-boats operating in the Atlantic. There is a good airport just outside Cherbourg which should be of great value to the Allied air forces.

A correspondent of the Associated Press at Supreme Headquarters states that the difficult days of landing on beaches under awkward weather conditions are ending. The Allies will be able to push supplies through Cherbourg at a rate vastly exceeding the peacetime capacity of about 12,000 tons daily.

A Sheltered Base A convoy of Allied salvage experts are waiting in the Channel to tackle, the dangerous initial phase of turning Cherbourg into a sheltered supply base for Allied armies of liberation, now that German resistance in the third largest French port has ceased, says a correspondent of the Associated Press. They are preparing to remove hundreds of mines, booby-traps and under-.water explosives that the Ger< mans had sown in the outer and inner harbours to delay, as long as possible. use of the port to the Allies. The importance of swift acquisition of these facilities is obvious for once the harbour is cleared it will be usable

to pour in supplies and troops aboard deep-water vessels without danger from wind and tide—twin factors which have been impeding beachhead deliveries.

Airfield Still Held * If. le ? rned . at Supreme Headquarters that the American line east of Cherbourg joins the coast in the area of Le Point ae Breulay, and west of Cherbourg, near the small village of Rocfort. The enemy in the eastern ■' area still holds Maupertus airfield, where he is making a determined stand. Moppingup is in progrtxss in all cantured areas. Reconnaissance has not revealed the enemy in Barfleur region, but there are bound to be a few knots of Germans who will make some sort of stand, as well as stragglers!

The Germans, in some strength, have gathered’in Cap d? La Hague area.