Evening star., 1944-08-14
y. S. Forces Gain 7 to II Miles
As Canadians Launch New Drive:
German Escape Route Narrowed
Eisenhower Sees
Opportunity for
Major Victory
MAP on Page A-3.J
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, Aug. 14.-American
tanks and infantry advanced
to IL miles and Canadian ar
mored infantry leaped forward
in new offensive today, striking
for destruction of the cream of
GermanyS forces in Western
Europe, caught in closing ring
with an escape hole less than 16
miles wide.
British, Canadian and American
troops were swiftly collapsing a
huge Nazi pocket, spurred by Gen.
ElsenhoWer's declaration that they
had f1eeting opportunity to score
their greatest victory in the West,
a victory which might bring the fall
OF Paris like ripe plum.
American armored spearheads,
which had swept dramatically be-
hind the Germans from lie Mans.
forming the southern jaw of an Al
AASN AAaeSA oShSl, lldNC COlllplSIely
closed around Argentan.
Canadian tanks and infantry, car
rled forward in tough armored track
vehicles called priests Jumped off
IN major attack which gained 2
miles and crossed the Laison River
toward Falalse, the northern Jaw of
the clamp. Falaise is l3 miles north
of Argentan.
Gap Cut to Is Miles.
The effect was to cut to less than
l6 miles the gap through which
Marshal Guenther Won Kluge was
making frantic efforts to extricate
approximately 100000 Germans-a
fourth OF the entire force with which
the Allies have come in contact
since D-day.
Allied bombers pounced on every
German in sight and the enemy
fought a bitter, tangled battle to
escape determination.
American troops, closing in on the
30-mile deep pocket. found Germans
moved down by the hundreds. The
American advance was so fast the
infantry found the enemy's smok-
ing machine guns with belts still
loaded.
So confused was the enemy that
remnants of six divisions were found
on one narrow 3-mile front
The greatest American advance
was along the middle of the con-
tracing claw east of Mortain where
the infantry bore down on the vi
clnlty OF Domfront in smash which
gained up to II miles by noon TODAY.
Domfront is 13 miles east of Nor
tain.
Barenton Captured.
fThe German radio said there
also was violent fighting near
Carrouges, l3 miles southwest of
Argentan, with approximately
four American divisions blocking
the Germans chief escape routesD
The Canadian offensive got off
at noon after an attack by hun
dreds of heavy and medium bomb
ers which smashed enemy strong
points within 5000 yards of the
Allied front lines.
The Canadians, who had been 5
miles north of Falaise and H. to 2
miles north of the LaiSon River
pushed across that major barrier.
Capture of Falaise. 3 miles south
OF the river, would close another
German escape point.
The British on the Canadians
right flank also scored gains of 3
miles and more, capturing Martain-
vile and pushing on to near Bon
noeil. 7 miles northwest of Falaise
and taking Proussy, miles north
OF Conde-sur -Noireau, Is miles west
of Falaise.
Seven-mlle spurts were made by
the Americans on the west side Of
the pocket along the -Tinche-
bray line.
2,S28 More Prisoners Taken.
1t was announced that American
troops on Saturday had taken 1928
more German prisoners. bringing
their four-day total to more than
$4,000. German prisoners taken in
France since the beginning of the
campaign have now mounted to be-
yond lis 900.
Gen. Eisenhower, in one of his
rare orders of the day to all men
OF the armies. air and naval forces.
asserted yesterday that there is a
(See FRANCE, Page A-3.)