The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-25
Riflernen And Tanks
 Drive Toward City
Continued from Page ID

raging around the police prefecture. On the north bank of the Seine and a few blocks west is the Louvre and adjoining, the famous Tuileries gardens.D
 United Press War Correspondent Robert C. Miller reported in delayed dispatch from the sub- urbs that the plight Of the Patriots had become desperate yesterday.
 Tanks PreEi
 German tanks and armored cars were reported proving through the streets. shooting down poorly-armed bands of patriots and splitting them up into dtsorganized groups. Miller said.
 The situation vas believed to have been reversed with the arrival of the regulars. however. and head quarters spokesmen were optimistic that the complete and final delivery Of the first city of Europe was at hand.
 4 German radio, broadcasting on the Paris wayelength. admitted A. lied arinored reconnaissance units had broken through the NaA de. fense positions.
 A Berlin broadcast, reported by Exchange Telegraph, said fresh fighting had broken out in the south and southwestern sections of the city and claimed that new heavy German armament concentrated there had gone into action.
 The French radio claimed patriot forces had liberated Le Bourget air. field on the outskirts of Paris,
 Bitter fighting was reported rag, Ing In the streets around the police prefecture, on the Isle De Cite. with the Germans throwing tanks Into the battle in a desperate but futile attempt to stem the Patriots,
 shells Everywhere
 Flgbtlng French br0adeasts said the Germans rep0Ftedly had opened a violent b0mbardment Of the 18th AFfondissement and the shells are falling everywhere The Champs Elysees runs through the 18th dls- tFict
 Three large fires were burning tercely tD the city, the broadcast added, identifying the sites as Aus teuil, the northwestern section and the western suburban area, where the German baFrIcades were report. cd ablaze.
 There was no further word Of the fate Of Patriot unit reported ITapr ped ln the Town Hall Of the Huh ArroDdtsseineDt, Tine Fighting French transmitLer shortly after midnight said the Germans were attacking the besteged Patriots, whose ammunition was running low and indicated they eyre unable to bold out long without reinforce nlents,
 While the fighting continued ln various parts Of Paris, the fighting French radio said the Vanguard 0f Leclerc's second aTm0Fed division reached the heart of Paris shortly before 70 D, nl, last night after adr yaneing to the place De LHotel De Vile, Tine bulk of the Allied forces, which were dispatched to Paris, were blvouaeed near Porte Orleans and Porte Versailles ct the edge of the city, the radio added,
 ID driving 10 the city, . front disy patch said the French stoTmed through Nazl mineflelds, artillery baTrages and baFTieades, thrown up hastily in z defense line around Paris and were joined by patTlots al the border
 At the Seine prefecture, the broadcast said the troops were met with joy and emotion by members Of the national council Of resist, aHee and the provisional liberation committee, together with French Ins teTi0F forces.
 News Of thelF arrival spread like wildfire throughout the city, the radio added, but because Of danger fTeD German anlpeEs, crowds were kept at a safe dlstanee,
 Detaehments Of the French troops proceeded to the police prefecture