Imperial Valley press., 1942-08-19

the greatest military operation
western Europe had seen since
Dunkirk-an attack that took the
Yanks back to the soil of France
with guns blazing.
Backed up by tanks and operat-
ing under clouo Oh Allied fighter
planes, the commandos debouched
on the flat Dieppe coast line in
such force that constant radio
warnings were issued to the French
populace that: This is no inva-
sion"
American, British, and Canadian
troops swarmed over the defenses
which Adolf Hitler has erected as
protection against second front
and after hours of fighting were
reported to have achieved many of
their objectives, including the de-
struction of a big battery of six
inch coast defense guns and a Nazi
ammunition dump.
FORCES REIMBARK
For the first time, commando
operatibnal headquarters issued
bulletins on the progress of the
battle. BY midday at least part of
the commando forces were being
re-embarked for the home voyage
back across the English Channel,
having successfully carried out
their mission.
FORCES RE-EMBARK
However, at many points heavy
fighting was in progress, particu-
larly in the center of the operations
zone, apparently around the sea-
shore town of Dieppe where the
commandos had the support OF
tanks.
The American contribution to the
attack was a battalion of rangers
picked volunteers trained in COM
mando tactics. Canada provided
the bulk of the raiding force but
regular British commandos and
fighting French detachments also
participated.
BRITISH ELATED
News of the attack touched off a
thrill of anticipation among the
British public where the first re-
action-despite repeated official
cautions - was that the long
awaited second front finally had
been achieved. Newspapers sold like
hot cakes. Within few minutes
all editions were sold out.
The assault was by far the big
gest ever undertaken by the COM
mandos and provided not only a
devastating test of the defenses
which a second front expedition
will encounter but a large-scale
test of second front tactics and
weapons.
British naval forces transported
the troops and backed them up
with bombardment of shore install
lations. Bombing planes attacked
known Nazi strongpoints and re-
enforcement communications lines.
PLANES SWARM AIR
So may British planes swarmed
into the air that Britons recalled
the days of the battle of Britain
when the RAFe and Luftwaffe
fought to a finish for domination
of the air around the British Isles
For the Americans, the attack
represented the first time that US
troops have set foot in France since
the first World War. 1t climaxed
months of intensive preparation
and training of volunteer special
lists with British commandos.
The chief detectives of the at
tack were believed to be stores OF
ammunition and other supplies
which the Nazis were thought to
have concentrated there to aid IN
repelling a second front attack
Dieppe also is a submarine operat-
ing base and a center for opera
tions of Nazi E-boats and armed
trawlers.
It was thought the commandos
may attempt to destroy a sealock
head in Dieppe harbor behind
which the Germans are said to have
concentrated the steel invasion
barges which they have accumulat-
ed since 1910.
TANKS LANDED
British combined operations head
quarters announced at LOS PM
(8:O5 am. EWT) that tanks had
been landed in the center OF the
Dieppe area, go miles across the
English Channel from the Sussex
coast. and that heavy fighting was
proceeding.
The communique said that land
ings had been made at all points
selected by commandos, mainly
Canadians and British special ser
vice troops, a detachment OF
United States Army ranger bat
TALON and small contingent OF
fighting French.
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