STRATEGY IN NORTHERN FRANCE CLEARER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 202, 24 August 1944, Page 5

STRATEGY IN NORTHERN FRANCE CLEARER

Reed. 6 p.m. Rugby, Aug. 22. The Allied line in northern France now runs from Engles Queville, four miles south-east of the mouth of the River Touques, to the region of Pont L’Eveque, eight miles south-east, continuing south to Lisieux, which is now in Allied hands, states a correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters. From Lisieux, it goes down to the west bank of the Orbec River to the town of Orbec, which is held by our forces, and is 13 miles south-east of Lisieux. From Orbec our position extends south-west to the vicinity of Chambois and east to Gace. Etampes, 30 miles south-west of Paris, has been liberated. One Allied drive north of Dreux has taken them to Nonancourt, nine miles west-north-west of Dreux. The whole strategy of the British, Canadian and American forces, now fighting the battle of the Seine, Is directed towards the total destruction of the German armies, which already have been shattered in the Mortain break-through attempt, and the Allies are driving toward the broad, bridgeless Seine to complete the destruction, writes another correspondent. It appears the Germans are committing the great military blunder of reinforcing failure, for new divisions have been flung across the Seine, where our forces are now closing in on those who escaped from the pocket. The significance of Paris lies in the fact that the Germans have been using it as a gigantic military warehouse, and it has been for them the most important communications centre in France.