Evening star., 1944-07-14
Important Towns
In France Taken
By yAmericuns
BY the Associated Press.

QUARTERS, July 14.-Americar
infantry and tanks driving doWr
the Cherbourg Peninsula have
advanced from to 3 miles, anc
the supreme command an
nounced today that "the whole
United States Army front from
st. Lo to the sea is on the move
Headquarters said the Germans
apparently were conducting "an
orderly withdrawal"
The Americans occupied several
important villages. Advancing on
10-mile front on the west coast
they closed in more tightly against
the German stronghold of Lessay
some elements approaching to with
in 1000 yards Of the town. In
the fighting for strategic St. Lo. on
the inland end of the American
front, the 1st Army made progress
to the south in a drive flanking the
city from the east.
British Lose St. Honorine.
On the eastern sector OF the Nor
mandy battle-ground there was little
activity, but it was revealed the
British had lost St. Honorine, a mile
north of Colombelles, in recent
counterattacks.
While the Caen sector remains
the same the Germans can continue
their southwark withdrawal as far
as Granville-25 miles from their
present positions-and when they
reach that point their front line
would be shorter by 80 miles. This
would allow a greater concentration
of troops and make the Allied task
of offense more difficult.
Only an advance in the Caen sec
tor-dormant for the third conse-
cutive day as Gen. Sir Bernard L.
Montgomery regrouped his forces
could prevent Marshal Erwin Rom
mel's defense position from becom-
ing easier. A successful attack
there would again spread the Ger
man front.
Yanks Advance 3 Miles.
1t. Gen. Omar N Bradley S
forces pushed 3 miles down
the west coast of the Cherbourg
Peninsula to st. German-sur-A -Ay, )
miles northwest of Lessay. A few
miles inland along the highway from
La Haye du Puts to Lessay. ad-
vanced units approached the village
of Beauvais, mile and a half from
Lessay.
In the fighting south and south
east of Carentan. the Americans
captured Auxias and Les Champs
de Losque. 9 miles southeast oi
Carentan. Two hamlets, Es-Aubrias
and La Vincenterie, 4 miles south
east of Sainteny, also were taken.
Earlier the villages of Tribehou
Gournay and lie Hommet d'Arthe-
nay in the Carentan were engulfed
Pushing through the wooded section
known as the Bois de Hommet. the
Americans were approaching Les
Champs dLosQue
T~OUI VI tIlc lllIlC IOduS lcdulIlS
into St. Lo now are under American
control
The drive against this most i'm
portant of all Central Normandy
highway functions advanced on the
east beyond captured La Barre de
Semilly, 2 miles east and slightly
south. At last report the Americans
were only a mile and a half from
the town on the north.
No Indication of Breakthrough.
Despite the widespread American
pressure along the whole front
there was no indication that q
breakthrough had been achieved
anywhere. Progress was being made
in costly short pushes against
strong German rear guards, who
fought desperately for each foot OF
ground while the bulk of the forces
withdrew.
BY paradox of terrain, the more
the Germans withdraw in the Cher.
bourg Peninsula the easier theil
task of defense becomes, because
each mile they go back they shorter
the front-which now extends about
100 miles.