Late War News BIG GUN DUEL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 230, 27 June 1944, Page 6

Late War News BIG GUN DUEL

Account Of Naval Assault OFF CHERBOURG (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.! (Received June 26, 11.55 p.m.) LOINIDON, June 20. '('lie American battleships and heavy cruisers were supported by two British cruisers anil a strong force of destroyers in yesterday's heavy battering of German shore batteries in Cherbourg says Reuter s correspondent aboard lI.AI aS. Glasgow. The bombardment lasted for more than three hours, with German long-range 18inch batteries returning the fire vigorously. , The American bombardment task force, which was under the command ot Rear-Admiral M. L. Deyo. included the battlesbrps Texas, Nevada. Arkansas, the heavy cruisers Tuscaloosa ami Quincy, with the British cruisers Glasgow and Enterprise. A flotilla ot minesweepers bleared a passage for the big ships. . . . r 1, 0 ,. The Enterprise began tiring from liei Gin. guns and then all the ships joined in a terrific pounding. Ihe Nevada looked magnificent, standing out from a smokescreen, her Stars and Stripes battle ensign flying high at the topmast as she sent in salvoes *>f Dit). shells from point-blank range. All the shore batteries eventually seemed to have been put out of action except one stubborn batterv south-east of Cherbourg. the American battleships fired a final series of broadsides against the German positions as they steamed away with their mission completed. Referring to the entry of . Cherbourg yesterday. today's communique says. •'During a- 'day of fierce fighting with the support of a naval bombardment, enemy strongpoints were reduced one by on# and the town was .entered at many points simultaneously.” , It continues: “On the eastern sector, our progress in the Fontemay area was maintained and our positions further strengthened. We repulsed further enemy- counter-attacks near Saint Honoi“Our air forces continued attacks against the enemy's supply system yesterday afternoon and evening, and also gave immediate support to the land and naval forces assaulting Cherbourg. Many attacks were made against the railway network east and south of Normandy, targets included the railway yards at Dreux and Chartres, and bridges and embankments in the same area. Airfields at Bretigny and Villa Coublay were also bombed. , “A large formation of medium bombers attacked supply dumps in the Senonches area, with good results. Enemy opposition yesterday was on a limited scale, though flak was intense at many points. ... “We bombed troop concentrations south of Caen last night.” Supplies on Fire. Supply dumps hidden in the Forest of Bretonne, on the Seine, were left in a sea of flame by Mosquitoes-of the Second Tactical Air Force last night. One Australian pilot said it was jpst like a bushfire in Australia. The fire was two miles, long and was advancing in a . series of semi-cilcles. It was the big- ’ gest he had yet seen from, the air. The air force's medium bomber operations included low-level attacks on rqil- ' ways and troop concentrations. The main ■ • attack against troops was made in the village og Evrecy, where a German force is in occupation. It is reported from the Allied supreme headquarters that the capture of Cher- • hours when it is completed will have been according to plan. The fullest credit for their difficult advance goes in the largest possible measure to the Ameri- { cans, but it is pointed out that their bril- ' liant feat would not have been possible without establishing the fighting centre of gravity in the Gaen-Bayeux area, where the operations have also been ac- ■ cording to the Allied plan. Today's reports state that there has • been some fighting in Borage and the • country between Tilly and Caumont. Infantry has made useful progress round ■ Tilly and accounted for a number of Ger--1 man tanks. It is learned that the British and Canadians between Caumont and Troarn are facing four armoured and three infantry ' divisions, apparently comprising the Germans’ main strength. Paris radio today announced that 350 Allied landing-craft carrying a quarter of a million men, protected by a powerful fleet, have been cruising in the Bay of the ■Seine in the past 48 hours.