ENEMY REINFORCED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 7

ENEMY REINFORCED

Sharp Counter-Attack

Fails Below Caen LONDON, June 30. Men of the British Second Army south-west of Caen last night beat off the biggest German counter-attack since the campaign started. A correspondent says that’in the fighting on the high ground between the rivers Odon and Orne the Germans have been forced to commit some of their reserves. The main enemy effort was made astride the road from Villers Bocage. It was the first real counter-attack against us, and was delivered at 6 p.m. by two or three infantry battalions and 25 to 30 tanks of a fresh panzer division brought up from the strategic reserve. Some of the tanks penetrated half a mile between our strongpoints but the infantry was checked while the tanks then came under heavy fire. About 12 are believed to have been knocked out, and the rest withdrew at 1 0 p.m. As the Germans reeled back our own infantry reeled forward and seized fresh ground, straightening the line to meet any further counter-attacks. 1

Today’s communique says we have extended the Odda bridgehead on both Hunks. It is reported that two forts which were bolding out on the Cherbourg breakwater have surrendered. In hampering weather, Allied planes were out again yesterday, mainly directed against German reinforcements moving to the Caen battle zone. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, June 29. On the British sector in Normandy south-west of Caen, it has been a day of what a correspondent calls “very determined consolidation.” Instead of pushing any further south for the moment,'our troops have turned their attention to strengthening, the flanks of their wedge and mopping up enemy pockets still inside it. As a'result the wedge has been widened and rid of some of its bottlenecks, and the whole position is much more comfortable, though it is likely that still more mopping up will have to be done before the southward push is continued. Individual tank encounters continued today across the Odon River, where British advanced unite are now within striking distance of Evrecy and Esquay, says a British United Press correspondent with the British forces in Normandy. There are reported to be about 150 Gorman tanks on this sector, but the enemy is using them in small parcels of 20 or 30 tanks, of which five or six at a time make individual sallies. Reuter’s correspondent says that Scottish infantry battled all day to widen the sector across the Odon River, through which British armour is moving up to the battle. The fighting was mainly concentrated in wooded, rolling country, giving plenty, of opportunity for ambushing and bayonet fighting. • _ The Germans are using what, a Scottish colonel described as “battle groups” consisting of infantry, machineguns, and tanks in small units which are able to infiltrate readily. “The Germans we are fighting are what you might call tough guys, but our boys can handle them,” said the officer. Two Bridges Captured.

The enemy has been driven from G-rain-ville and Mondrainville, where he had been resisting strongly. These two villages had been taken before, but the Germans have now been definitely eliminated.

The correspondent adds that the capture of two bridges across the Odon, one south of Grainville and another south of Mondrainville, has enabled the armour to fan out into open country. Allied guns roared all night as tons of shells were hurled against a narrow passage through which the Germans’. S.S. divisions were moving into position to meet the threat from the British southward thrust west of Caen. .Times” corresnondent says the

Germans are reacting strongly to the armoured thrust toward Evrecy. The area won since the attack began forms a salient seven miles or more deep and over four miles wide. The enemy coun-ter-attacked with his usual promptness on thp flanks, the most determined being on the west. These counter-attacks were repulsed, and our salient has been advanced. Enemy forces near Mondrainville, on the left flank of our advance, which was previously by-passed, have now been eliminated. High Ground Seized. In the Evrecy area Allied tanks crossed the Caen-Evrecy-Villers Bocage road and seized high ground, it is learned at the Allied headquarters. They are half a mile north-east of the village of Esquay, Tanks, supported by a force of all arms, moved up to Tourville. Evrecy village and the wood in the area seem to have been turned into a strong-point. The area south of the River Odon is infested with enemy tanks. The villages of Tessel, Bretteville and Le Manoir have ,been captured in face of strong opposition. The enemy has been resisting very strongly in the villages of Grainville and Mandrainville. There has been very heavy fighting in this area, and the enemy troops are of very good quality. Many places have been by-passed in the advance, and mopping up is going on. Since D-day 121 German tanks nave been destroyed. The total number disabled, including those destroyed, is 292. A bridge over the Odon at Vavrus has been taken intact. The troops who took the bridge have tried to make progress to widen the approach. So far they have been hindered by strong opposition. Oiir hold on the crossings over the River Odon have been strengthened following further heavy fighting in the TillyCaen area, says a communique. Enemy forces which had been by-passed in the area of Mondrainville and Tourville were eliminated, and counter-attacks against the base of our salient Were firmly repulsed. North of Caen Allied troops have achieved local gains against fierce opposition. Fighting continues in the Cape de la Hague area.

Less Cherbourg Damage. Mopping up continues on the Cherbourg Peninsula. Fort de Lisle Pelet has surrendered. The north-eastern part of the peninsula is reported to be clear. Encouraging reports have been received from the engineers responsible' for putting the port into operation. The city apparently has been not so badly damaged as might have been expected. The damage is not comparable with that found at Montebourg. Enemy batteries at Querqueville, three and a half miles from Cherbourg, are still holding out.. It is officially announced that the Americans since D-day have killed between 5000 and 6000 Germans, and captured 37,333. The Americans have buried 3941 enemy dead, and the Germans have buried many of their own.