RETREATING ARMY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 August 1944, Page 5

RETREATING ARMY

ANNIHILATION THREAT | CONTINUALLY NARROWING GAP (Rec. 9.55 a.m.) London. Aug. 14. Smashed at from the air under ' almost cloudless skies and harassed and attacked everywhere by land torces the German Seventh Army is threatened with annih lation in the daylight retreat eastwards. Von Kluge's battered divisions are struggling towards a continually narrowing gap between the Falaise and Argentan areas. At the latest news this gap was only between 17 and 25 miles. Co-operated strategy lias thus produced a situation in which the British and American armies and air torces have the German Seventh Army on the roads where airmen can turn the retreat to a rout. The Germans arc lighting bitter rearguard actions at a number of keyooints in 411 effort to stave off disaster. The veil of official secrecy has been lifted to disclose that the southern point of the gap is formed by American forces sweeping up from Le Mans through Alencon and Sees to the Argentan area, where fighting is now in progress. The northern point of the gap is a few miles north of Falaise. GREAT AIR ATTACK A great air attack against German positions in the Falaise area preceded a major operation by the Canadian First Army to dominate the lines of communication to Falaise. and there was another shortly after noon.

A smokescreen travelling 12 miles an hour was laid down in front of our advancing troops, says the British United Press correspondent. Dense smoke blew right into the eyes of the German defenders, whose anti-tank gunners have had no assistance in spotting our tanks. Canadian tanks went in first, equipped with flails, because it was estimated German minefields would be extensive. Infantry came after the tanks. Some Canadians rode in converted jeeps behind the tanks. Two hours after the attack began i.eavy bombers began coming over in hundreds. bombing villages particularly on the right flanks of the advancing Canadians. Heavy splinter bombs j used in this attack. The Canadian drive so far has been successtu.. v» o are heading for high ground just north of Falaise after crossing the Laison river. The importance of the attack can be judged from a message sent this morning to all Canadian officers from the commander of tbe First Canadian Army. It read: "Hit him first. Hit him hard, and keep on hitting hard.” The front-line reports of a German retreat are still regarded cautiously, says an earlier message. If a withdrawal is occurring it is definitely orderly as far as the forward enemytroops are concerned, according to General Eisenhower’s headquarters at midnight last night. The resistance at both ends of the line is stiff. It is known that some enemy armoured forces have moved eastward, but there is no widespread withdrawal. There is no official comment on a front-line report that the Americans are beyond Argentan. There have been two minor advances: the first, east of Vire down the Tinchebray road to within four miles of Tinchebray. and secondly, a further advance toward , Ccnde-sur-Noireau. with the British troops now on high ground within 500, yards of Conde. which they apparently overlook. ■ In the Mortain-Vire area the enemy resistance south of Vire has decreased slightly, and there has been a limited advance along the Gathemo-Tinchebray road. The Americans have also worked their way south of Sourdeval. The Allied advance in the general MortainVire area has made some progress, but though the resistance is slightly less "it is an advance in rontact with the enemy PRECARIOUS POSITION While it is too early yet to speak of a German rout, the great point in yesterday's news is that General Montgomery has now got the German army out on to the roads in daylight in excellent flying weather, where our planes can get at them. This makes a precarious situation for the enemy, but there is absolutely no sign yet of general disorganisation All the way from Vire to Falaise the Germans are vigorously protecting the northern flank of their withdrawal against the British First Army. Between Vire and Mortain. where the Germans’ exposed western flank is particularly vulnerable, the Americans are advancing in the face of minefields and delaying forces. while American armoured forces along the southern flank are attacking northward. A correspondent says: “It would be S misleading to say that the gap is being i closed. We hope it is. but all we know is that substantia] American forces have reached the Argentan area, while at the northern end the Germans still have a very strong defence wall.” In this gap the Germans cannot use the main highway to Paris because it is covered by the Americans, but there are many minor roads, now packed with vehicles of all kinds. The aerial attack over these roads continued last night in spite of low cloud, and fleets of planes are out to-day. The weather in the Straits of Dover this morning has been clear and sunny. The Stockholm correspondent of "The Times” says Berlin commentators frankly admit that Allied troops have burst the dam which German armies formed to cover, Paris and are nowsweeping over the broad countryside.