Evening star., 1942-08-19


Force Is Mostly Canadian.
Canadians made up the ma ajority
Of the strong forces that drove across
the Channel to Dieppe, 50-odd miles
from Beachy Head, the nearest point
in England, and 100 miles from
Paris.
Announcements from the United
States Army and Allied combined
operations headquarters disclosed
that the Americans, British special
service troops and the Fighting
French all were in action.
The Americans, specially chosen
from host of volunteers as the first
american fighting men to set foot on
the continent of an embattled Eu-
rope since 1917, proudly wore the
title Rangers s"-after the famous
Rogers Rangers whose bold exploits
made history in the French and
Indian War of American Colonial
days 180 years ago.
Nazi Battery Destroyed.
rirst-announced fruits of the raid
we're destruction of siXgun German
battery and an ammunition dump by
troops who landed on the right flank,
accomplished their mission and were
embarked by the British Navy,
which ferried all the forces across to
France.
On the left flank the Canadians
hrst were repulsed by strong German
opposition, but bounded back to car
ry the beach by assault while their
comrades were pushing tanks ashore
in the center for the main thrust.
which noon announcement said
still was continuing.
The landings were accomplished
at every point selected in advance
in carefully-planned, closely secret
operation that American officers of
ell services helped to arrange.
Second Front Ardor Cools.
Eagerness to call this second
front, a real invasion, was cooled
by repeated BBC broadcasts stress
ing the limited and temporary"
character of the action and declar-
ing "it had nothing to do with mil
itary decisions which have been
taken in Moscow recently"
The Germans, however, made no
attempt to belittle the scope of the
assault, and claimed they had
thrown even their naval forces into
the bitter conflict.
For the Canadians, thirsting for
fight for months or years, it was the
first real action against the enemy.
For the Fighting French, whose
Commando organization was dis
closed only on Bastille Day last
July IA, it was the first time they
have set foot on the soil of their
native land since the German con-
guest of 1910.
Observers on the British shore
said there were more aircraft than
ever before seen and heard over the
Channel, as bombers and fighters
shuttled across to assault or reload.
Indicating the size of the present
operation, it was recalled on at least
one previous occasion 1000 fighters
participated in sweep across the
Channel.
The raid, first announced at 6:45
am. GAS am, Eastern War time),
was still continuing at noon when
issued.
After that. as the mists burned
away and a fine, fair day developed,
persons on the British shore still
could hear the heartening sounds
of offensive battle.
Informed quarters captioned, how
ever, that for all the broad partici-
patton of troops. tanks, naval guns
and planes, the raiding forces would
be withdrawn when they had
achieved their objectives. This was
not second front.
Their objectives obviously were
extensive, since it was the first time
landing parties have used tanks.
The objectives appeared to be
these: To test the enemy's defense
organization and to test the Allied
plans for landing and the Raj
ability to cover a big landing force.
Additionally, it was bound to dis
close disposition of German troops
and equipment in the cross channel
area that once was a vacation resort
but now is a nest of Nazi fortifica-
ticns.
The British radio urgently warned
the French public that the raid
strongest of the numerous Com
mando smashes up and down the
coasts of NaZi-ruled Europe since
March, 194l-Was not an invasion.
The French were cautioned not
(See LONDON, Page A-160