BITTERLY CONTESTED

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

BITTERLY CONTESTED

Opening- Of Canadian Advance LONDON, July 4. The joint Canadian-British thrust on the Caen sector achieved an advance of about a mile ami a half into the area where Rommel has concentrated upward of seven German divisions, and the enemy is likely to react strongly against the threat to Caen. The Germans round Caen are being compressed into an uncomfortable salient, and a correspondent says it would not be surprising to see them abandoning this salient shortly. The Canadian attack agaiust Carpiquet followed the line of the BayeuxCaen highway and the railway running parallel with the highway through- Carpiquet, says Reuter’s correspondent. The Germans attempted to gather troops outside Carpiquet just before noon for a counter-attack, but the artillery again came into action and dispersed the concentration. The whole horizon seemed to be ablaze when early in the morning tlie Canadian and British artillery slammed more than 1000 shells into the area. The Germans replied with mortar fire, including phosphorus mortar bombs. The Allied infantry followed tanks across the fields. A number of the tanks carried flails to detonate mines, and flame-throwers were also seen in action. Two Canadians were seen bringing in four prisoners, aged 16, 17. 18, and 24. They wore the baggy camoullage uniforms ot‘ an -.S.S. division. Struggle For Airfield. The Canadians closed iu on Carpiquet airfield in spite of heavy mortar fire and succeeded in capturing hangars on the north side of the field, driving out a small group of the enemy which had machineguns hidden in damaged buildings, says a war correspondent. The Canadians also succeeded in getting round and driving the enemy out of the southern hangars, but strong resistance was put up from the office and the control tower. Fighting went on for some time before the Canadians managed to drive the enemy from the control tower. The Germans had a number of mortars covering all the approaches to the building, and put down heavy lire, in which their maehinegiins joined. British troops advanced along the line of the Odon River into a weak point in the German defences, and occupied the town of Verson, three miles south-east of Carpiqnct. 'The American Broadcasting Company has picked up a German-language broadcast stating that. Rommel is again suffering from a liver ailment, and that his personal physician has been summoned to the western front.