SWIFT ADVANCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 24 August 1944, Page 5

SWIFT ADVANCE

AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH OVER 17,000 PRISONERS HEAVY FIGHTING AT TOULON “American troops of the Seventh Army in a swift advance northward some 140 miles airline from their landing point in southern France have entered Grenoble,” states an Allied communique. They have had effective cooperation from the F.F.I. in their drive since the early stages of the campaign. Towns taken enroute include Digne, Sisteron, Aspres, Gap, St. Bonnet and Largentiere. French troops have cleared and occupied Liveres after heavy fighting and closed in on Toulon from the east. Within Toulon, where heavy fighting continues, the French have improved their positions and advanced further towards the port area. Further advances were made in the Durance river valley. Over 17,000 prisoners have been captured. Algiers radio announced that the Allied armoured columns are now 34 miles from Lyons and other forces are at the gates of Avignon. Americans have reached the Marne at Meux. ENEMY RETREAT line ENDANGERED The capture of Grenoble, only 70 miles south-west of Geneva op the Swiss border, marked an unexpected advance of about 90 miles due north of Toulon, says a Rome correspondent. In South France the American encirclement thrust has extended to the vicinity of Velaux, nine miles west Qf Aix. Other elements are beyond Equilles to the north-west. In the Durance Valley one column is over a mile beyond Sadenent. The German line of retreat up the Rhone Valley is now being endangered. If these forces strike west frqm Grenoble they could cut off the whole of the lower portion of the Rhone Valley. The Allies have a good road leading in the direction of Lyons. ALLIED ARMIES CLOSING IN Under 240 miles now separate the Allies in southern France front those in the north. £O,OOO. The enemy was still milling round in the pocket this morning, but made no further attempts to break out after the failures of the previpus days. Wet, unhappy Germans are coming into our lines everywhere. They drift in in small groups, usually without an officer. They say the officers deserted them trying to get out of the trap. The Canadians had taken 2800 prisoners yesterday, but were expecting a much bigger bag to-day, adds the correspondent. One brigade reported this morning that it had several thousand which it had not had time to send back to the cages. Our guns are still pounding {lie pocket unceasingly. DEVASTATION ON ROADS The British United Press correspondent says roads leading east from the pocket are scenes of unimaginable devastation. Crossroads where the German posted 88mm. and lighter antiaircraft guns have been bombed out of existence and ruins of batteries are now entombed in bomb craters. German dead are scattered for hundreds of yards around. Our roads are massed with a vast odd mixture of British and German transports, the latter flying white flags, Red Crosses and driven by British troops bringing in German wounded. Every available British, Canadian and Polish lorry has been rushed into service, bringing |n wounded enemy. Reuter’s correspondent says most of the prisoners taken since the pocket massacre began look as if they have been through a meat grinder. Their clothing is blasted to shreds. They are stunned, seared and burned and are like walking dead with no love for fight in their eyes. FLYING-BOMB SITE FOUND London. Aug. 23. British IrQqps advancing on Lisieux captured a flying-bomb site hidden in the grounds of a chateau states a correspondent. It had a concrete runway 75 yarejs long constructed between ar. avenue of trees. Nearby was a storage depot cleverly disguised as a farmhouse. Although it has never been used it appeared complete in every way. An officer said the runway was directed towards London on an almost due northerly bearing.