The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-28
British Troops Sweep
 Across Odon River
Ccontlnued from Page D

1 under a heavy artillery barrage which was perfectly timed and dis- tanced. AS soon as the first detach. ments stormed over, the engineers drove forward and made pontoon bridges over which our reinforce. ments now are passing"
 The fighting in the last a hours, he said, has been in the region of the villages of Pauray, Mondrau- vile, Tourville. Mouen and oros- vile, with the farthest advance Tn the Esquay area.
 The advance outdanked Caen from the southwest, engulfed high, wooded ground providing excellent gun positions, and carried on to a plain five to six miles wide between the Odon and Orne river.
 Undressing the British right flank, other Allied forces pushed ahead a half mile at most places along the line between Til-Sur. Seulles and St. Lo.
 TyphoOns spearhcad
 Six squadrons of bomb and rock et-carrying RAF Typhoons spear headed the aerial forces supporting the new British thrust by demolish- ing a German army corps headquar- ters at St. Sauveur-Lendelin, l4 miles east of St. Lo, last night.
 We left the chateau smoking ruin," one of the participating pi- lots said. There may have been single room standing in the east wing, but I doubt it."
 The attack followed the familiar Allied tactics of striking at Army headquarters at the start of an of fensive to disorganize the enemy'S defense.
 At the northern end of the Nor- mandy peninsula, It. Gen. Omar N. Bradleys American forces contin- ued their mop-up of isolated enemy pockets at Cap de la Hague, at the northwestern tip of the penin- sula, and in the Maupertus airflelds area, some five miles east of Cher bourg.
 Inside Cherbourg
 Inside Cherbourg, the German ar- senal at the northwestern side of the harbor finally surrendered Tus- day afternoon, ending all resistance in the city except for few isolated sIliperS.
 Allied headquarters estimated that the Americans had captured at least 10000 prisoners on the Cher bourg or Cotentin peninsula after severing it more than week ago. Hundreds more were being counted.
 Allied casualties for the first two weeks of the invasion June 6 through 20-were revealed to total 40,549 killed, wounded and missing, including 24,l62 Americans. The dead totaled 5,287, including 3,089 Americans.
 The large proportion of Ameri- cans was attributed to the fierce resistance they met on their beaches in contrast to the quick victory achieved by the British and Cana dians. The casualties did not in- clude those suffered in the final drive up the Cotentin peninsula and capture of Cherbourg.
 German casualties for the cam- paign to date were estimated yes- terday at 10000 men.
 British infantry punched out the nrst breach in the enemy lines be- tween Caen and Tilly-Sur- Seulles Monday, then tanks tool; over and widened and deepened 1t for over all gains of eight miles since the start of the offensive.
 Railwty Cut
 The Caen-Villers- -Bocage railway first was cut near Mouen, a little more than four miles southwest of Caen, and subsequently, at Crain- vile and Colleville farther south. west.
 Driving on, the British cut the parallel highway, forced the Odon, captured Tourville, nearly a mile south of the river, and famed out onto the plain between the Odon and Orne rivers. V The Germans resisted stubborn. ly. When concentrated artillery bar rages failed to halt the advance, they counter-attacked repeatedly, but also futilely. The Allies were supported by guns mounted on the high ground around Tourville.
 At last reports, the British were driving toward the Orne river which, like the odon, passes through Caen.
 The latest advances threw a siege arc nearly two thirds of the way around Caen at distances varying from two and half to five miles.
 Divisions Massed
 The Germans have massed four armored and three infantry divisions on the sector from Troarn, south east of Caen, to Caumont, half way between Tilly-Sur-Seulles and st. To, but the number presently op- posing the British advance was not known definitely.
 However, McMillan said at least one SS panZer division and possibly others were fighting southwest of Caen. The collapse of Cherbourg was a heavy blow to the Germans on the Caen front, he said, and more than ever convinced them that their cause was lost"
 ''Even before the seizure of Cher bourg, with its immense facilities enabling swift inflow of rein- forcements to add power to our drive, German prisoners said they realized they were beaten" Me- Milan wrote.
 "Now the conviction is double borne home to them. Nor is that ell. Not only is their morale low cred. but (Marshal Erwin) Rommel's reserves are depleted. He has lost the better part of four divisions within the Cherbourg peninsula and 1t looks as though he is unable to find any more first-class troops to bolster his forces facing the Brit ish line"
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