Allied Tanks Across Seine

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1944, Page 3

Allied Tanks Across Seine

Little Chance Of Orderly Nazi Retreat; Fate Of Paris Sealed General Patton’s Patrols Enter Capitals Suburbs

(Received I 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 20. ALLIED TANKS HAVE CROSSED THE SEINE UNDER J PROTECTION OF PARACHUTISTS AND AIRBORNE YrOOPS DROPPED ON THE EAST BANK. AN ORDERLY WITHDRAWAL ACROSS THE RIVER WOULD APPEAR IMPOSSIBLE AND THE FATE OF PARIS ITSELF TO BE SEALED.

The Allies reached the Seine early yesterday morning', almost without opposition, says the British United Press correspondent on the Seine. American tanks and armoured vehicles nosed down towards the river about 30 miles north-west of Paris. So far all we have been getting from the enemy are occasional bursts of fire from tank concentrations on the other side of the river against our reconnaissance vehicles.

The thrust to the Seine started at noon on Friday. Forward patrols thrust out before the main body, and by nightfall the first report came back that the river had been sighted. Only the slightest opposition was encountered as the main tank columns advanced from positions in the Dreux area. The only attempt at serious opposition occurred at 11 p.m. on Friday, when our force was encamped five miles from the river. Seven Tiger tanks tried to slip inside our lines to shell our armoured concentrations. A short, vicious battle ensued. Four enemy tanks went up in flames and others disappeared. An Associated Press correspondent says elements of General Patton’s 3rd Army closed in on Paris today, sending armoured patrols into the vicinity of the capital’s suburbs. It is also operating along the approaches from Orleans on the south.

The German News Agency says: “After reaching the Middle Seine between Vernon and Mantes, the Allies attempted to establish a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the river, but failed. The Allies then landed parachute and airborne troops east of the Seine, while Allied tanks subsequently crossed the river under protection of these troops. German units immediately attacked the bridgehead and airborne troops. Heavy fighting is progressing there now.”

10 Miles South Of City

It is officially announced at 3rd Army Headquarters that American cavalry Is operating near Corbeil, 10 miles south of Paris. Reuter’s correspondent with the American 3rd Army, in a despatch filed at 10.30 on Sunday night, reports that American patrols are operating 21 miles south-east of Paris, in the vicinity of Melon. Patrols also are operating in the neigh bourhood of Versailles and Fontainebleu. Another patrol has driven 20 miles east of Orleans in the direction of Montargis. Reuter points out that Melun, is on the. upper Seine, also on the main road southward and south-eastward through Fontainebleu to Dijon and the Riviera. Montargis is on the main road south of Fontainebleu.

The German News Agency, admitting grim fighting across the Seine north of Dreux, says the Allies have brought up reinforcements to widen the bridgehead.

British Stab Towards River

British reconnaissance units, who reached Gace on the main road from Alencon to Rouen, are stabbing towards the Seine at great speed, says •Reuter’s correspondent with the British Second Army tonight. The front everywhere is folding up against powerful armoured thrusts which seem to be bowling along almost unchecked. Reuter’s correspondent from an observation post on the Seine says that the Americans ranged for miles along the west bank of the Seine north of Mantes. These American formations so far have cut five escape routes from the Falaise Gap. American armoured units and selfpropelled guns have reached the hills at St.' Cloud Meudon, west of Paris, overlooking the entire city, according to reliable reports from Vichy reaching Madrid, says the British United Press.

Panzers Break Action

Enemy armour has broken off action near Argentan and joined in the mass retreat north-eastward, says the British United Press correspondent with the Americans. It is now difficult for the air force to intervene as the Allies are too close to the °nemy. There is some evidence of enemy resistance west of the Paris area, between Stampes and Doudan. A report from Ninth Air Force headquarters says the Germans have discarded camouflage in a pell-mell rush to escape the Normandy trap. A correspondent at Supreme Headquarters says that the Germans appear to have between 12 and 20 organised crossings on the Seine for getting men and supplies across. These are located between Vernon and the sea and include pontoon bridges, ferries and permanent bridges which the enemy has succeeded in getting into seme sort of repair. They also are using barges and river steamers and one of our pilots reported today that the Germans were actually swimming across the river in their eagerness to get to the east bank. The Seine, at the point where this incident was witnessed, is some 200 yards wide. Ead weather interefered with Allied air operations today but fighters and fighter-bombers continued harassing attacks upon the retreating enemy, who is taking advantage of the treescreened roads to make towards the Seine with some chance of escaping observation. The enemy also is using ingenious camouflage. Throughout yesterday there was a continuous enemy withdrawal northeast towards Bernay where escaping traffic split up and pressed on towards the Seine. Reconnaissance reports show clearly the gruelling effect of Allied attacks upon German communications on the other side of the great waterway. A large number of trains from six to 12 cars each, have been observed marooned without locomotives at various points _ of the railway system east of the river. Tho Canadians secured three bridgeheads across the Vieg River. Tho Second Tactical Air Force, despite had weather, up to 9 p.m. on August 19 destroyed 40 tanks and 800 vehicles.

Muddy roads are likely to slow up the German retreat to the Seine.

R.A.F. Lancasters early today attacked, without loss, an oil storage depot at La Fallice. The fact that in one small sector within the pocket prisoners from 18 separate divisions have been captured, gives an indication of the chaos in the German Seventh Army. Other prisoners from some of these divisions have been taken as 'far away as Dreux. On the northern part of the front there has been a useful five-mile advance from Pierre to the outskirts of Livarot. This advance of a fairly broad front has penetrated .into Boisduroi, north-west of Livarot. Resistance west of the River Vire is stiffening. Our position has been consolidated in Trun-Chambois area, and we dominate high ground in Ibis area at the mouth of the packet.