Evening star., 1944-07-07


American troops advanced
along a widening 35-mile
| battlefront today, sending
foot patrols into La Haye du
Puts, crossing the marshes
south of Carentan in the face
of heavily artillery fire and
smashing several thousand
yards across the Wire River.
BY the Associated Press
SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, July lit. Gen
Omar N. Bradley's American
forces, springing at dawn today
in new attack on the Nazi-
defended bottlenecks through
the marShy loWlands of Nor
mandy, stabbed forward more
than a mile across the Wire River
and captured the village of Airel
This attack toward the west
southeast of Carentan and above
st. Lo, surged forward under a con-
centrated hail from big guns which
oazed enemy machine gunners and
sent German artillery observers
scampering.
Local American attacks around La
Haye du Puts at the western end OF
the blazing 25-mile front almost
surrounded that pivotal point.
The Americans were now attack
ing along huge semicircular front
with the newest offensive pressing
in from the eastern side of the arc
and the German grip slowly melting
under the pressure around La Haye
at the western end.
Town Taken in First Hour.
Airel, 8 miles northeast of the i'm
portant road junction of St. Lo, was
taken In the first hour of the new
attack across the Wire.
The barrage which initiated 1t
was one OF the heaviest yet seen in
Normandy and the American ad-
vance was so rapid the Germans did
not have time to blow up one of the
bridges across the river.
After taking the bridge the in
fantry pushed on for over mile
toward the road junction of st. Jean
de Dave. 2 miles distant.
Around La Haye one American
column took La Sau1ellerie. less than
a mile south and only slightly west
Of the town, while the column work
ing around from the east closed in
to similar position 3 miles south
east of La Haye.
At La Surellerie the Americans
were within a few hundred yards
of the road running south from La
Haye to Lessay. the main road out
of the town and the Germans only
escape route.
A BIC broadcast as reported
by NBC in New York said La
Haye had fallen, but later BIC
broadcasts did not bear out the
report and it was not confirmed
by supreme headquarters.)
No Major Action Around Caen.
While the Germans here were in
grave danger of being trapped
headquarters announced no major
action on the British front around
Caen at the eastern end of the
battle front.
Earlier reports to headquarters
however, said one of the patrols of
the British I'd Army had reached
the dock area of Caen.
The reports said no Germans were
encountered in the penetration, but
dispatches reported no indication
that the Nazis were abandoning
their long contested eastern pivot
1t was believed they were holding
only parts of the town as strong
points as the result of severe bomb
ings.
Although all but one escape bridge
from Caen, pontoon bridge across
the Orne River, had been DESTROYED
Roger D. Greene, Associated Press
war correspondent, said the Ger
mans still were strongly intrenched
at Caen.
Prepare for New Fight.
Inc Germans were building uI
tanks and motor transport south OF
Caen and both sides appeared to be
preparing for new flareup o1
battle.
Canadian troops frightened theil
grip on Carpiquet, miles west Of
Caen. The Germans, however, still
held the prize airfield south of Car.
piQuet, and Marshal Erwin Rom.
mels panzers drove the British out
OF the eastern edge of Verson, {
miles south and slightly west o1
Carpiquet.
Yesterdays good weather faded
this morning and heavy clouds
formed low ceiling, making most
flying impossible.
A front-line dispatch from Ross
Munro, Canadian press wer CORE
spondent, said the entire Canadian
area at Carpiquet is covered with
slit trenches. Mr.. Munro declared
Carpiquet had been raked by more
enemy shellflre than any other spot
along the front.
Inside La Haye the Americans
were reported holding the northern
edge after twice being driven out
The Germans clung to the southern
portion.
To the south Of La Haye the vii
lage Of Montgardon fell into Ameri-
can hands.
Co1nterattack Fails.
To the east the Americans took
high ground in the Forest de Mont
Castro. The Germans counter
fsee INVASION. Page 4-s3