DRIVING AHEAD IN FRANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24971, 14 August 1944, Page 3

DRIVING AHEAD IN FRANCE

BRITISH AND CANADIAN FORCES JOIN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 13, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 13 Allied sources are still silent about the development of the American thrust from Le Mans. The Germans report bitter fighting in. the valley of the Sarthe River, where the Americans are said to have been reinforced and to be thrusting north from Le Mans in outflanking move to trap von Kluge's army. The Germans also say the Americana are fighting in Alencon and are advancing beyond it. The lightning American armoured thrust threatens the whole existence of the German armies in France says the Sunday Express. German communications are so badly damaged that the enemy are depending on hints from Allied radio transmitters for their intelligence. Quoting a High Command report the Berlin radio says British and American forces are strongly attacking between Alencon and Caen against the German salient which bulges to the \ west. The Allies are attempting to carry out a large-scale pincers movement against the i Mortain-Caen defence line. One prong from Caen is driving south and another, on the Sarthe River at Le Mans, is heading north. Great significance must, therefore, be attached to the fighting in this sector. Both sides are rushing up reinforcements and fierce fighting is going on. Progress in the far south is reported in a Supreme Headquarters communique which says: "Allied troops have crossed the Loire River and reached a point ten miles south of Nantes. Some fighting continues in the areas of Nantes and Angers." In the north the British Second Army is swinging into the battle for Falaise after linking with the First Canadian Army. The two armies are now in action along a solidly welded front east of the Orne. The junction came when Canadian armoured cars and infantry crossed the Laize River and met General Dempsey's forces advancing from their former bridgehead across the Orne. The Canadians achieved a tactical surprise. Stiffening resistance is coming from German tanks and artillery. The result of the link-up has been the wiping out of a troublesome German salient and the strengthening of the Allied wedge pointing directly at Falaise. The British troops have driven the Germans back a good five miles. They now stand almost level with advanced Canadian forces on the main road to Falaise. Further to the west British armoured columns are thrusting down toward the German lines of withdrawal in the Vire-Mortain area. Correspondents say there is some evidence that German tanks and other vehicles have begun to withdraw from this sector. Road junctions throughout the area last night were saturated with fragmentation and .other bombs. It is stated at Supreme Headquarters that the Americans have taken Mortain.