NORMANDY BATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 16 August 1944, Page 2

NORMANDY BATTLE

ALLIES STRONGLY ESTABLISHED MAIN ROAD DOMINATED fßec. 10.55 a.m.) London. August 15. After a night of fierce fighting the Allies were strongly established this morning on high ground 2£ miles north of Falaise and dominated the main Falaise-Laize road which the enemy has been using as his main escape route writes a cdrrespondent at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The Germans succeeded in withdrawing some armoured forces from the bag. but for those troops which remain there are no other main roads between Argentan and Falaise through which they may be withdrawn. While Canadian infantry were holding this commanding high ground sol'idly their armour was pushing forward again this morning towards Falaise itself and in the valley beyond. During the night the Allies advanced north and north-east of Falaise and occupied several villages. Germans fought strongly throughout the night but were relentlessly pushed back. Pockets of resistance by-passed in yesterday's advance held out in woods and villages which they had converted into strongpoints, but during the night Canadian infantry got in among them, mopping up all of them. By this morning there was not a :':igle pocket holding out. While Canadians are driving southwards towards Falaise British troops forming part of the Canadian Army are engaged in widening the salient bv pushing eastwards. They have made quite good progress, driving the enem> from several well defended localities.