FIRM LODGMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25560, 13 June 1944, Page 5

FIRM LODGMENT

MAINLAND OF FRANCE GREAT SUCCESS ACHIEVED LONDON, June 11. "After four days of fighting the Allied armies have secured a good firm lodgment on the mainland of France,” says General Montgomery, in a personal message to the troops of the Twenty-first Army Group. “ First we must thank Almighty God for the successes we have achieved and for giving us such a good beginning towards fuli completion of our task; secondly, we must pay tribute to the Allied navies and air forces for their magnificent cooperation and support, without which the soldiers could have achieved nothing; thirdly, 1 want personally to congratulate every officer and man of the Allied armies on the splendid results of thq past four days. “ British, Canadian, and American soldiers, fighting gallantly side by side, have achieved a great success and placed themselves in a good position from which to exploit this success. Much remains to be done, but together you and I will see the thing through to the end.” The German News Agency estimates that between 350,000 and 400,000 Allied troops have so far landed in France. To-day’s German communique states that heavy fighting continues between the rivers Orne and Vire, where the enemy is continually receiving fresh reinforcements. The British in the direction of Isigny have succeeded in making a junction with the Americans north of Carentan. The Germans frustrated attempts to advance against Cherbourg. French airborne troops who landed behind the German front were mostly wiped out. The communique claims the sinking of four Allied destroyers, a 9000-ton liner, and fullyladen transports totalling 23,000 tons.*