IMPORTANT FOR ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 225, 20 June 1944, Page 5

IMPORTANT FOR ALLIES

Cutting Of Peninsula PART OF NAZI FORCES PULLED OUT

- LONDON, June IS. Having driven right across Cherbourg Peninsula and sealed off the big port of Cherbourg, Infantry and artillery of the 9th Division this afternoon 'heat off a desperate German counterattack from the north. This counterattack was designed- to break the Allied ■cordon across the neck of the peninsula, .states Reuter’s correspondent with the United 'States forces in Normandy. The Germans counter-attacked on a two-milc line running west from St. Jacques de Nehou, six miles north-west of St. Sauveur, using elements of their 77th Division behind a spearhead of tanks. The attack lasted for two hours. Tough infantrymen and murderous artillery fire finally beat off the Germans, who, once routed, came close to disaster. The-Allied air forces unloosed a terrific strafing attack against the Germans as they fell back to Briquebec. So far there is no indication of the Germans marshalling south of the American cordon for a thrust northward to release the thousands of Germans who are trapped. The swift American break-through to the west coast was achieved in an offensive of less than 48 hours across the middle section of the peninsula. It is an important victory for the Allies, and ends the first, phagfe of the Allied invasion, as the cutting off of the peninsula and the isolating of Cherbourg was one of our principal objectives. The Germans are believed to have much war material and equipment on the northern sector of the peninsula which is intended for the final defence of Cherbourg. Extrication Attempt. The German news agency stated that the High Command has provided the fortress area of Cherbourg with sufficient troops, 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 agency’s correspondent at Army Headquarters in France. “The enemy in the past 36 hours has been trying to save what he could and remove all troops possible from the northern tip of the peninsula, but it is not known here just what he managed to withdraw before the Allies -eached the west coast in strength. The weather, however, has been ideal for the air forces attacking moving columns of troops and materials, so the Germans must have been badly mauled.” Large quantities of ammunition, weapons, and vehicles were captured, in addition to the taking of prisoners. The position round Caen and Troarn is unchanged. Reports indicate a regrouping of the 3rd Canadian and 6th British Air-borne Divisions. The tired brigades in the line are being relieved by fresh troops. The advance at St. Lo will possibly help the situation between Caumont and Villers Bocage. Yesterday the enemy delivered a strong attack three miles east of Gaumont. After some losses our. troops counter-attacked and by the evening the situation was restored, with probable heavy losses to the enemy. Yesterday also a British formation attacked Tilly and made limited gains, resulting in the winning of positions west, rorth-west, and north of the town, which the enemy holds. MASS EXECUTIONS OF PARTISANS LONDON, June 18. The Germans publicly executed 15 hostages, including a Roman Catholic priest, who were taken from prisons in Annecy, capital of Haute Savoie, says the "Daily Telegraph’s” Zurich correspondent. Thu victims were executed at the gates of the city, near the highway leading to Aix-ies-Bains. All were well known and popular in the district. The Gentians also shot. 169 partisan prisoners at four French ■villages.