STORY OF LANDING GENERAL EISENHOWER

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22428, 16 August 1944, Page 3

STORY OF LANDING

GENERAL EISENHOWER

SUCCESS OF INVASION “CLOCKWORK PRECISION” (Received Aug. 16, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 15 The immense invasion force which made today’s operation in southern France, bigger than the Normandy operation, reached its target without detection or interference from either German aeroplanes or submarines, says the Allied radio correspondent aboard an Allied warship. The big Gecikan shore batteries, which withheld their fire during the Allied bombardment, were perhaps unwilling to disclose their exact positions, hoping with the aid of low r cloud to remain undiscovered. The German batteries include many deeply-embedded positions, with thick walls of steel and concrete. Ships of the Greek, Dutch. Polish, Canadian and .Belgian navies also participated in the landing. The naval authorities confirm that the assault has gone with clockwork precision. The first assault craft reached the beach assigned to them exactly on time. Minesweepers went in first to clear the way for light craft, while the navies laid down a curtain of supporting fire. The weather was clear and the sea calm, providing a perfect springboard for the assault. Tremendous Operation The Columbia Broadcasting System’s correspondent in Italy says that gliders followed our parachutists in the southern France landing. It was a tremendous effort. Convoys from Italy and Africa and from various Mediterranean islands, chiefly Corsica and Sardinia, gathered at their pre-arranged assembly points in the light of a thin moon. The commander of one Mediterranean Air Force Squadron landing paratroops in the first wave said: “There was nothing to it. We went in and dropped them and came home.” It is stated authoritatively that the first paratroop landings attracted hardly a shot. A naval communique says the responsibility of establishing the army on the shore is the navy’s and the naval commander has ordered the assault pressed home with relentless force. The Allies have a good idea of the Germans’ strength in southern France. It is believed that there are elements of only between four and seven divisions, without large tank or air forces. “No Shot Was Fired” The American Press correspondent who flew over the beachhead said: “As far as I can see from about 1000 feet over the beach where the Allies smashed ashore an hour ago no major fighting appears to have developed. The same lack of any sign of resistance marks the entire rugged landscape as far as 20 miles inland. The preliminary stages of the Allied landing—the paratroop and glider landing—were carried out successfully. We glided down to a meadow between rugged crags just within the coastline area. We sometimes flew as low as 300 feet above the tree-tops and still no shot was fired at us.” The British United Press points out that there seems to be some confusion over the number of airborne troops in southern France. The total earlier in the day was estimated at 14,000 but that figure possibly refers to the total airborne during the operation, including air combat crews. The German news agency claims that British and American troops early today made a landing attempt on Bormes with small landing vessels, but were frustrated by the watchfulness of the defensive German coastal defences. In the action one enemy group about half a company strong, walked into a Germar minefield and surrendered. The Berlin military spokesman said that the next few hours may witness yet another and even more formidable Allied action on the south coast of France.

PERSONAL COMMAND EISENHOWER IN FRANCE CONTROL OF FORCES LONDON, Aug. 15 With the great extension of the.war in western and southern Europe General Eisenhower has taken personal command of all the Allied forces in France. He commands two army groups, British and American. This in no w T ay affects the position of General Montgomery as commander of all the Allied forces in France under General Eisenhower. “This week will mark a very definite climax in one phase of the operational plan that has been in effect since ‘D Day,’ ” said General

Eisenhower in a statement issued at the Advance Command post in Normandy today. He added: “Just what will result in the sum total no one can say, but it is certain that the German forces concentrated on our front are taking a good sound beating. However, even if we realise our fondest hopes in a situation such as this we are still a long way from the Rhine.” General Eisenhower said that his Order of the Day issued yesterday was Intended to impress on the Allied troops the fact that they had a great opportunity now r to take advantage of Hitler’s mistake in trying to hold on to the area south of Caen too long. General Eisenhower cited the stem German resistance against the Canadian push towards Falaise as a damper on too much optimism regarding an early end of the war. “If the Germans knew that they were beaten they would not be fighting so desperately,” he said. “The whole German nation lies in the grasp of a group which has nothing to lose if it fights to the last man. German Manpower Shortage “Good weather is giving the Allied air forces value it is impossible to over-estimate. The Germans are admittedly short of equipment, transport and sometimes munitions, and are fighting under conditions less favourable than when the invasion began. There is a real battle out there. However, the enemy is attempting to pull back and our air forces are having a field day, but they cannot' destroy the enemy as completely as men on the ground can. “The German manpower situation is so serious that the enemy is unable to fill gaps in the ranks and is unable to provide reserves for three fronts against, victorious armies without pulling in troops from some areas ■which sooner or later he must be reconciled to abandoning. Even Hitler may finally learn.” The Berlin radio stated that the focal point of the invasion today is between Saint Raphael and Cap Camrat, on a stretch of coast about fifteen miles long, half-way between Nice and Toulon. Heavy fighting is ! progressing at a number of points, j Troops continue landing under i cover of strong forces of bombers l and heavy fire from warships.