PINCER MOVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 5

PINCER MOVE

DIRECTED AGAINST CAEN ARMS EXPANDING LONDON, June 13. Big dispositions are being made to take Caen by a pincer movement. There was a very good advance south of Bayeux and east of the Forest de Cerisy in country good for infiltration. A narrow salient has been pushed seven miles down from the bottom of the east flank, ncrth-east of Caen, and the village of Troarn, nine miles east of Caen, has been captured by British troops. The Allies have thus extended the arms of their pincers considerably during the day. Equally good news comes from the west flank, where the capture of Montebourg by the Fourth United States Division is officially confirmed. The small town of Pont Labbe,' midway between the two coasts, and Leham, on the Merderet River, were also captured. The enemy continues his strong resistance in the Carentan area, and from there to the Forest de Cerisy there is no change, but the road junction of Balleroy, just east of the forest, has been captured. A big battle seems to be raging between Tilly sur Seulles and Caen. The hustling of the Germans continues in a big way along the front. The British United Press correspondent in France says that a tremendous air blow was struck against Caen early tn-day. “I watched the bombing from a forward artillery position a few miles from the town. The bombers dropped repeated salvoes, shaking the earth.” The news from Normandy received in London to-night is regarded as gratifying. A big advance has been made at the eastern end of the front, where the British Sixth Airborne Division resisted so many counterattacks. This force is now at least seven miles inland on the railway east of Caen.

It was learned at Supreme Headquarters that on the front south of Bayeux very satisfactory advances have been made, but no details of the places captured are yet available. As the result of these advances, a pincer movement is now developing on a considerable scale on Caen, and this hedgehog may be pinched out and outflanked from the south. The country around is ideal for tanks. A big battle which may be expected to increase in intensity is taking place all the way from the de Cerisy forest to Troarn, seven miles due east of Caen. In the centre the Allied forces are getting out of range of sea fire support. Extremely heavy fighting is going on around Carentan, where the Americans advanced, but met strong resistance. The movement southward to Saint Lo is also making progress.