Evening star., 1944-07-31
u. S. Tanks Close
New Trop With
18-MiIe Gain
MAP on Page A-4.)
By the Associated Press,

SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, July 3l.-An Amer
lean armored force, slipping into
high gear after the virtual de-
struction of six German divisions
and the mauling of two others,
drove deeply INTO Avranches III
a dash OF 18 miles from last re-
ported positions and threatened
today to break into the interior
of France.
The Yanks were fighting the Ger
mans in the streets of Avranches
tonight.
Thirteen miles to the northwest
the Americans seized Granville.
A dispatch from the front said
there was not yet the slightest sign
of any German defenses capable of
checking the offensive, let alone
stopping it.
On the left flank the Americans
also captured the obstacle city of
Torigni-sur-V Wire, 27 miles inland,
after threatening its isolation by
taking the hamlets of La Reaviere
and La Frectiere. front dispatches
said.
Even 1st Army headquarters In
the field admitted it was behind
time with the situation at the front.
Advancing columns pushed south so
rapidly they were temporarily out
stripping their communications.
60-MiIe Penetration.
The entry into Avranches marked
a 60-mile penetration from the
D-day beachheads.
The force entering the city at the
west base of the Normandy Penin-
sula was described as fairly strong
and Its position as well into the
town.
The sensational burst to Avranches
at the angle formed by the Nor
mandy and Brest spurs, closed a
new trap on Germans fighting to
the north around Granville and
along the line of Gavray to Tessy-
survive, threatening to add to the
l0,500 prisoners taken since the start
of the American offensive Inst Tues
day.
Seizure of pivotal Avranches
would place the Americans on a
springboard for an eastward drive
for Paris, l60 miles away, outf1ank-
ing the remaining German forces to
the north, or southwark plunge to
lop of the Brest Peninsula.
Nazi Divisions Identified.
The German 5th Parachute Di-
vision and the 77th, 91st, 243d, 352d
and 353d Infantry Divisions were
said to have been virtually knocked
out of existence by 1t. Gen. Omar
NJ Bradley's smashing offensive.
In addition. the crack I'd Elite
Guard and Lehr Armored Divisions
were believed to have been badly
smashed, but with enough of their
original equipment and personnel
to retain their identities.
Thus the remnants of at least
eight divisions were being rapidly
ground up in the American ma
chine, which appeared to be rap
idly completing l05 mile arc
across the base of the Normandy
Peninsula from which to break into
Central France
More thousands were threatened
with capture by the advance south
east of Torigni. where the Germans
were being pushed back against the
Wire River, and newly blossom
ing British offensive to the east
which had scored an Smile advance
on 7-mile front south of Caumont
Highest Peak Seized.
This British drive-which began
yesterday-had taken Hill 500. the
highest point of land YET seized
in the invasion-a 900-foot height
just east of ST. Martin des- -Besaces
the hamlet of Galet at tine point
of the salient, and a dozen other
villages.
Already termed a success by the
British, this offensive was rolling
ahead with the support OF a sky
full of aircraft.
Back of the most advanced Av-
ranches spearhead, more American
armor was splitting a corridor be-
tween the Wire and the sea. driv-
Ing to within 2 miles of Villedieu
IL miles northeast of Avrancnes
The reach to Avranches was de-
scribed by qualified observer as
creating immense possibilities.
600 Tanks in Drive.
At least 600 tanks were disclosed
officially to be participating in the
American drive
The advance, to Avranches cut
the highway to Paris, l80 miles due
east.
On the American eastern flank
the 1st Army crossed the Torigni-
sur r-Vire-Caumont road, north and
3 miles east of Torigni.
Avranches is in the right-angle
corner formed by the junction Of
the bases of the Cotentin and Brest
Peninsulas If the Americans break
through there, they could push
straight ahead. cutting off the Brest
Peninsula, or swing eastward, which
would start them into Central
France, and with the Allied opposite
anchor at Caen start to close the
pincers on the Germans in a great
70-mile bulge in between.
A pocket Of Germans trapped in
the Soulles area east of Coutances
was being cleaned up quickly. Three
times the Germans tried to break
out yesterday, losing heavily in men
and armor.
In one sector on the American
front 80 enemy tanks were knocked
out yesterday. The Germans have
lost more than 400 tanks since
Tuesday.
The American drive rolled past
(see INVASION, Page A-4)