LIKELY MOVE SOON

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 230, 27 June 1944, Page 5

LIKELY MOVE SOON

Freeing Channel Islands (From Godfrey Blunden Special Correspondent.) STOCKHOLM, June 24. An Allied attempt to liquidate strong German fortifications on the Channel Islands is believed to be the next move on the Normandy front. These islands of Guernsey and Jersey are 35 to 40 miles west of Cherbourg. It is believed in Stockholm that once the Allies capture Cherbourg it will be necessary to make use of the small harbours on the western coast of the peninsula for reinforcing the Army. The main obstacle to this at present is German long-range artillery on Jersey and Guernsey and small naval units in the harbours of - St. Peter Port (Guernsey) and St. Holier (Jersey). . , , Once the German forces on these islands are reduced the way will be clear for large Allied naval units to approach the western coast of the peninsula. This would enable Allied warships to shell the rear of the present German positions on the southern end of the peninsula and probably to cover a landing of troops at the mouth of the River Soulle, near Coutances (40 miles south of Cherbourg) and possibly Granville (15 miles south of Constances). In spite of requests for reinforcements by Major-General Satler, commanding the Cherbourg troops, the German High Command has been unable to relieve him in any way.