The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-26

ArtttSn &nu Army. Aat0 Bfttlsn anu Canadian eorcoe appeared to have reached the main enemy defense line in their offensive thrust toward FAiaige and the heart of Normandy, with German troops fighting gae natically under threat Of death C they attempt Co surrender.
 The German high command ae- knoWledKed ln a communiQue that both the American lst and British 2nd Armies had penetrated thelr lines, but asserted the lost position below caen had ueen regainea bg ''our fanaslcally fighting troops" Eighteen British tanks were knock- cd out. the communique said.
 Nanls 0ambllng
 Reports reaching Allied head quarters indicated the German command was gambling everything on containing the Allied bridgeheao in the Normandy Peninsula after dlscarding a proposal by Marshal 0erd von Rnndstcdt. former coila- manGer la the west, to withdraw behind the Seine and Loire Rivers to take advantage O. shorter con- municNtions.
 Adolg Hitler's advisers feared that such a withdrawal. coming on top of the German reverses in the east and south. would spread panic through Germany despite It's stra- tagic advantages, informants said. AS a result. all available reserves were shifted to Normandy with as many at IS to 90 crack panzer and infantry divisions being concentrat. ed along a i2-mile front around Caen.
 McMiilan said sgae Germans threw 90 Co 60 tanks of all types into the counter-attack that forced the Can. adians from the center of Tilly-La Campagne Almost continuous counter -attacks yesterday also fore. ed the End army to yield advance positions in May-Sur-Orne. five and a half miles south Of Caen. but 1t still was holding firmly to newly captured Et. Martin.De F0ntenay and Verrieres. between May-Sur. Orne and Tilly-La Champagne.
 British artillery was giving the Second Army 'thunderous support" McMillan said. but aerial Lombard. ment was needed to turn the tide of battle decisively. The Germans were reported moving additional armor into the sector below Caen from the caumont area. west of the Orne.
 James AcGlincy. United Press War Correspondent with Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley's First Army, said the new American as- sault began early this morning with close air support. though not on the scale of yesterdays record 3.O00- plane bonbardment.
 He identified the scene Of the att tack as on the left flank" but it was not clear immediately whether 1t vas on the American or the enemy's left flank.
 Americans Gaining
 Other front dispatches said the Americans were gaining momentum in the offensive launched yesterday
 While still refusing to pinpoint the focal points Of the new Amer ican offensive, supreme headqnar~ ters acknowledged that Bradleyg forces had made Eeverel new cross ings of the St. Lo-Reriers highway in an apparent thrust toward the communications hub of Coutanees and were assaulting an enemy bulge 1 Ave miles northeast of PeFiers.
 The Americans squeezed the mouth of the German bulge to tw0 | miles and reduced its depth to one | and a quarter miles preparatory to l a frontal attack on periers, pine miles north of Coutances
 The American attack got of to . slow start shortly before noon yes. terday after 5000 bombers had blasted q path Ave miles wide and two miles deep with nearly 5000 tons of bombs in an unprecedented bOmbardment.
 Germans who survived the rain Of steel and explosives laid down heavy artillery and mortar croRs-flTe on the main roads of advance. forcing the Americans to fight cautiously along fields and hedgeTOys.
 Other Germans moved into poBi, tons abandoned by the Americans just before the aerial bombardmept and further slowed up the advance, Several hundred Germans led fans atac lieutenant e0loped held out ii' q by.passed pocket until at were killed.
 Once the troublesome enemy pockets had been cleared out, the Americans advanced into the no man's land of huge eraters, buFned' out vehicles and se,tilied foE- holes ehuFped up by the massive aerial honlbardnlent and began to pick np momentum,
 James McGliney, United Press War Correspondent gltb the Ainegy leans, said encouraging reports began te reach field headquarters around dinner time last night and "gsors than one generals elnm sooS disappeared"
 An Exchange Telegraph dispatch said the ABleTieens began to move more rapidly Tuesday evening n nearly al active steeT0ts' German resistance, the dispatch eatd, was sweakeping under pressure"
 lee Takes RTisemegs Only k20 pras0nefs WeFe takep " the early stages Of the American at' tack, most Of them stunned by the massive aerial beDlhsrdment, Some reported that German officers had abandoned thelr troops RfteF 0rdegg ing acting commanders to shoot 'any man ip the back who attempts to suTFendsr,9 Me0llney said.
 Richard D, MeAillap, United Press War Correspondent with the End Army, said the battle for Nay euVs0Fne end Tllly-kA campaene, on either side Of the GaeDrF Falalse | highway, had developed Into a1 ar' filleTy and infantry rsl0egipg match, |
 Germans end British or Canadian troops occupy opposite ends Of May end TIlly, as well as several other emhattied villages 0p RD aFe five le six miles southeast of caen, Nc. AAillaaa aaiA