ENEMY POUNDED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 229, 24 June 1944, Page 7

ENEMY POUNDED

Spectacular Start Of Attack LONDON, June 22. The Americans’ main attack on Cherbourg is concentrated against a ring of defences on the heights west and south-west of the city, where the Germans appear to be in strength and well entrenched, states Reuter’s correspondent with the United States forces. The air bombardment before the attack opened was one of the most concentrated blastings of a single area m France since the invasion began thunderbolts and Mustangs poured, tons ot high-explosive bombs into the inner defences of Cherbourg between 12.55. ana 155 p.m. Heavy artillery sited in a key area in a steel semi-circle facing the city then pounded t , he _ d6f .? rifying assault, and finally the American infantry went in, leaping from their position and running for their objectives at the double. , „ ... . Describing the air attack, a British United Press correspondent at a inijnderbolt station says that the operations were the closest air support so far given to our troops. Allied planes swooped down to within 100 feet of the enemy guns. Marauders followed up the Thunderbolts and Mustangs. An American pilot said: “We went right over Cherbourg and hit the old fort behind the city; we could see the Germans firing from the gun emplacements. There were no enemy fighters.” • Other pilots reported that the defensive area south of Cherbourg has become a wasteland of rubble and flame. “Fires were everywhere, saw one pilot. “I never saw so much flak, said another. “Everywhere you looked German guns were blazing. I dropped mv bombs smack on a fortress situated on a small knoll, with guns completely surrounding it.” One Thunderbolt wave in a five-minute attack released 235 tons of bombs. „ Thousand Bombers.

Reuter’s correspondent states that for 80 minutes over 1000 British and American bombers, flying in waves, dropped deadly loads of explosives m the narrow strip separating the beleaguered German garrison from the American armoured units and infantry. “Our troops were so close to the diving planes that we could see,their guns blazing, watch their bomb-loads drop, and feel the terrific shock on the fortifications,” he says. “To the left of a hedge from which I was watching, advancing tanks were moving forward, flanked by American soldiers. Artillery not far behind us was laying down a deadly barrage. A correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the Americans says Allied air crews took precautions to avoid bombing the town of Cherbourg. The bombers concentrated on ’ strongpoints in the arc facing the American lines.

The Germans are believed to be caught as the British were at Singapore, with their naval guns unable to fire inland. Batteries of these guns, in thick concrete forts, are useless against the Americans coming on from the south. “Daily Mail” correspondent, Alexander Clifford, says: “The prepared defences of Cherbourg are considerably more elaborate than anything the invasion army has yet met, but they contain one tremendous flaw which is so serious that it may quickly prove fatal. The Germans re-sited and calibrated the guns to resist attacks from the north, east, and west, but not from the south. They envisaged that we would attempt a frontal assault from the sea or the two horns of the peninsula, and, as a result, nearly all the defences face the sea. Cherbourg’s soft spot is the south, like the underbelly of a turtle.” Enemy Supply Shortage.”

The “Daily Herald’s” correspondent says that the morale of the garrison is uncertain. It is rumoured that Rommel has ordered the German garrison to fight to the last man, but incomplete reports from front-line troops indicate that this afternoon's massive bombing struck a telling blow against Cherbourg’s weary defenders," who are reported to be short of supplies and ammunition. A party of 10 German deserters who come into the American lines, in the Cherbourg area were all n.c.o’s of an anti-aircraft detachment, 150 strong. They said they surrendered because they had been left by their officers. _ Other Germans are roaming the fields ill dispirited bands of 50 to 100, waiting for a safe moment to give themselves up. The Germans are fighting hard to hold their fortress positions, but they are getting no cover from the Luftwaffe, and their artillery did not reply strongly to the Allied barrage. A correspondent at the supreme headquarters learns that Allied troops have crossed the road leading east from St. Pierre Eglise and the enemy has now been driven from this town. United States units are also on the road from Cap de la Hague to Cherbourg, and are also reported to be in Quettehou. The troops in the centre are approximately three miles south of Cherbourg. They have also reached the village of Ruffosses, where there was strong resistance. This is due west of Martinvast, and three miles south-west of Cherbourg. Leaflets have again been dropped by the Allies, telling the Germans that Cherbourg is encircled, that no one can get out, that nobody can relieve the garrison. and that the sea, land, and air routes are blocked. “Your situation is hopeless; your leaders have written you off; you can’t save the situation, but anyone who wants to save his life can do so.” the leaflets state. The enemy is told that 15.000 of their comrades have already given themselves up in Normandy and the garrison is urged to do the same.