GROWING PRESSURE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 239, 6 July 1944, Page 5

GROWING PRESSURE

American Offensive In Peninsula LONDON, July 4. The American offensive in the Cherbourg Peninsula has expanded, and the troops are now fighting along a front of 25 miles, states Reuter’s correspondent late tonight. Denneville, ou the west coast, north-west of La Haye du Puits, has been captured, and Saint Jores, ou the road from Carentan to La Haye, which the Germans recaptured last night, has been retaken, A British United Press correspondent says the deepest advance so far is four miles, and the fighting has spread to an area south of Carentan, where assault forces pressed forward about 4000 yards today. The Germans are resisting stubbornly, and are bringing in reserves. _ La Haye is definitely threatened. American artillery on dominating hillsides is blasting a way for the infantry, which is converging from three sides. The Americans are now within a mile and three-quarters of this important centre. The advance was carried out in face of bad weather and over difficult ground. .South of St. Lo d’Ourville American

troops have advanced to St. Remy-de-Landes. four miles south. They have also moved into Blanchclaude. North-east of this sector they have occupied Fauvrerie. La Potcrie. three miles east-north-east of La Haye, is also in the hands of United States troops.

In the .south-east of the peninsula area the advances vary from a .maximum of two miles to overall progress of about a mile and a half. The Allied forces made two major at-

tacks yesterday morning, says a communique from Supreme Allied Headquarters. In ■ the Caen area Allied .’units moving from the eastern Hank and the bridgehead advanced several miles, capturing Verson and joining with our troops on their left. In the base of the Cherbourg Peninsula, Allied forces moving south captured high ground north of La Haye du Puits. A successful assault on this dominating feature followed earlier advances near St. Remy des Landes, Blanchelands, and La Poterie. where substantial gains were made. Berlin radio quoting a late night report from the front line, says -the main weight of the fighting iu Normandy has definitely shifted to the western sector, where the Americans are attacking in force with heavy artillery support. Very heavy fighting is raging everywhere on this front.