FIELD BY FIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25566, 20 June 1944, Page 5

FIELD BY FIELD

FIGHT ACROSS PENINSULA DEVASTATING BARRAGES LONDON, June 19. The men of the Ninth American Division, veterans of Tunisia and Sicily, fought their way forward across the Cherbourg Peninsula : field by field, orchard by orchard, the artillery layil.ig down devastating pin-pointing barrages whenever necessary. The withdrawing German forces were harassed violently from tjie air. Large quantities of ammunition and weapons and a large number of vehicles have been captured.

The Germans at Barneville were taken by surprise, and resisted only weakly, says the British United Press correspondent with the Americans. One German officer who surrendered asked permission to talk to his men on the outskirts of the town, after which he returned with another 80 prisoners. The people of Barneville are 'now feting the Americans with wine and cognac.

The German News Agency stated that the High Command had provided the fortress area of Cherbourg with sufficient troops and equipment and other weapons to enable the Germans to hold out.

Elements of two and possibly three German . divisions are believed to be cut off in the northern part of the Cherbourg Peninsula, says the Exchange Telegraph correspondent at army headquarters in France. The enemy in *he past 36 hours has been trying to save what he could and remove all the troops possible from the northern tip, but it is riot known here just what he managed to withdraw before the Allies reached the west coast in strength. The weather, however, has been ideal for the air forces attacking the moving columns of troops and materials, so the Germans must have been badly mauled. Allied troops are still along the Vire River and the Taute Canal, and have proceeded a short distance down the Vire. The advance at Saint Lo will possibly help the situation between Caumont and Villers-Bocage. On Saturday the enemy delivered a strong attack three miles east of Caumont. After some losses our troops counter-attacked, and by evening the situation was restored, with probable heavy losses to the enemy. On Saturday, also, a British formation attacked Tilly and 4 made limited gains, resulting in the winning of positions west, north-west, and north of the town, which the enemy holds. To the east of Tilly, British formations which recently arrived in Normandy made a successful attack with one brigade. To-day they attacked with two other brigades, and were again successful. The Germans launched a counter-attack with tanks against this formation, but made no progress, and lost heavily in tanks.

The position around Caf and Troarn is unchanged. Reports indicate a regrouping of the Third Canadian and the Sixth British Airborne Divisions. The tired brigades in the line are being relieved by fresh troops.