GERMANS LOSE A FIERCE FOUR-DAY BATTLE

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

GERMANS LOSE A FIERCE FOUR-DAY BATTLE

GREAT RISING WITHIN THE CITY BRINGS BACK TO FRANCE THE “ MARSEILLAISE ” Reed. 10.30 p.in. London, Aug. 23. French Forces of the Interior have liberated Paris. The story of how they did it has been told by the commander of the French Forces, and the newly appointed Governor of Paris, General J. P. Koenig. Special orders were given to the French from the National Committee of Liberation, in conjunction with other resistance movements, to rise and take the city from the Germans. As a result of those orders, 50.000 Frenchmen rose, and on Saturday began the battle. Police departments, men belonging to which were already on strike, joined the rising, capturing an island in the Seine and creating a fortress. Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon the French were in possession of all publie buildings. The Germans had fled. They had been beaten in a dramatic four-day battle, the result of which was to liberate the city and bring the “Marseillaise” back to the heart of France.

The 50.000 members of the French Forces of the Interior who began the battle to liberate Paris were assisted by hundrds of thousands of unarmed French people. Vichy officials fled from the city, leaving the French Forces of the Interior in command of a city which has been under German domination since .June 14, 1940, when German patrols entered it. Meanwhile, the battle in Normandy is being extended, and Allied forces from the south of France have reached to a point 55 miles from Lyons. The Allied southern armies are now 240 miles away from the Allied armies in the north. Latest news of the battle west of the Seine is that German resistance there is collapsing, and Allied sources say that fighting has become sporadic, against battered remnants of the enemy which are still able to show fight. This retreat of the Germans is beginning to look like a rout. TOWARD TROYES AND GERMANY Correspondents at Supreme Allied Headquarters describe the American sweep south-east of Paris, wherein they captured Sens, which is on the road to Troyes and the German frontier, as one of the boldest moves of the campaign. Reuter’s says this spectacular outflanking thrust south of Paris, coupled with the great pincer developing south of the Seine estuary, presents perhaps the most stirring picture of the war. The speed with which General Patton’s men arc moving can be gauged from the fact that on August 21 they were reported 60 miles from Sens. The Americans also surrounded, and then bypassed Melun, 28 miles

south-south-east of Paris. Grenoble, more than 140 miles inland from the Riviera coast, has been liberated. It has been the headquarters of the French Forces of the Interior fighting in the Alps. This brings the invasion from the south within 55 miles of the big city of Lyons, in the Rhone Valley. Heavy fighting is going on within the naval base of Toulon, where the French troops investing the city are reported to be within half a mile of the arsenal. The threat to Marseilles is hourly increasing, and the attacking troops are within three miles of the city, and also advancing from the north-west. BATTLE OF THE SEINE. Reports from Allied sources confirm that oie oattle oi tne beme &oes wen, the latest move being one ol encirclement miv-ng m the oirecuon of the moutn oi the river. Lisieux is in Allied hands, mere is stm an operational oiacK-out over tne movement of Allied columns which have movea soutn-east oi Fans. United States forces, after capturing Nonancourt and Verneuil, west of Dreux, headed northward towards Evreux, near the Eure River, reports the British United Press Normandy correspondent. The Eure River is a tributary of the Seine, and is the last natural obstacle the Germans can use to check the Allied drive to the sea.

The Press Association’s military correspondent says that, instead of the Seine being a German outlet to the sea, it has become a demarcation wherein the Germans are confined.

Reuter’s correspondent with the advanced American forces reports that heavy opposition from enemy panzers has been encountered from the general direction of Mantes, along the west bank of the Seine. AT PONT LEVEQLE British troops were last reported at Pont Leveque, which is nine miles from the mouih of the Seine. N.B.C.’s Normanoy correspondent later reported that troops had advanced again ana are now only four and a-haif miies from the Seine estuary. The Geman news agency says hundeds of German bombers yesterday concentrated their attacks against th? Allied bridges across the Seine, between Mantes and Vernon, and also bombed troop concentrations and artillery in the middle of the Seine area. The Germans yesterday were hurling in tanks and planes to protect their Seine crossings north of Mantes, over which German troops were fleeing, says Reuter’s correspondent in a despatch from Normandy sent at noon yesterday. American tanks and artillery smashed up German tanks which joined in a battle for the crossings, knocking out 30 of them. While this battle was going on the Americans who crossed the river wwe steadily expanding their bridgehead on the eastern bank in face of increasing resistance from German mortars and machine-guns. “Allied armour speeding ahead of the infantry is not far from the Seine” (sector unstated), said Reuters correspondent with the British forces last night. "Our armour in some cases is ahead of the retreating Germans. It. is new too late for von Kluge to think of making a major stand on the Seine.’’ * DRIVE TOWARDS THE SEA The Americans have launched a strong offensive along the south bank of the Seine towards the sea. threatening the Germans still on that side of the river after escaping from the Argentan-Faiaise trap. The Americans yest'-rday were fighting in the Vicinity of Rambouillet. A Daily Express correspondent reports from the Mantes-Gassincourt area that a long pontoon bridge has been built across the Seine over which bur guns, trucks and jeeps yesterday pushed northwards. He adds': “Everything about Mantes and the Seine crossings ■« typical ot the war around Paris H is « vas* war of movement--! Indian war as *-h. commanders and j t'oops rail it. We assume there are C’rrown defending Paris and we run

into groups occasionally, but there is still nothing resembling an organised force oppaying us. Germans from the Argentan gap. in civilian clothes and posing as refugees, are streaming across country on foot, or on bicycles. Our patrols continue to operate up to the vicinity of the gates of Paris almost unhampered.’’ The Americans operating in the area of the River Avrc, which is a westerly tributary of the Eure, yesterday were in contact with the enemy west and north of Dreux. This enemy force came from the south to escape the net cast by the great fanning out movement. Other elements were brought across the Seine in small ■numbers during the past two to three weeks to reinforce the Germans east of Falalse, for which they were too late. The Germans have now brought these troops together in some sort of cohesive force. This er.emy development is considered to be a'protection for the southern flank of the forces now being pursued from the west, in an attempt to salvage some of the forces driven from the Falaise battle area.

One Allied column yesterday was 62 miles inland from the beaches in southern France, while armoured units closing in on Marseilles were reported to Ire- three miles from the citv. stated Algiers radio. French troops entered Hyeres. Other Frenchmen have fought their way to within three-quarters of a mile of the waterfront of Toulon. The Germans hereabouts have massed mobile guns in lhe streets and naval guns in lhe harbour for a last stafid.

The deepest Allied penetration in the whole’area of 2000 square miles now under Allied control is beyond Draqninan where one thrust is reported to be 62 miles inland.

PROBLEM OF SUPPLIES.

Reuter's correspondent at Mediterranean headquarters says that French and Americans since initial landings have been moving on at maximum speed without rest or relief. Their forward elements in some instances have out - distanced maintenance supply units, even ammunition convoys. with the result that supply has become one of the biggest problems. The Germans have been so occupied with escaping that they have shown little willingness to fight rearguard actions except on the beaches and flanks.