The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-06-08
BY VIRGIL PTNKLEY


London, June 8. - (UP)
Allied invasion troops struck
out beyond captured Bayeux
today in an apparent at
tempt to isolate the Cher
bourg peninsula, and air
sources revealed that planes
already had begun to operate
from air strips in the Nor
mandy assault area.
Developing Allied sue
cesses on the third day Of the
invasion were reflected In q
statement by General Dwight
D. Eisenhower that his con-
f1dence in the armed forces
under his command had been
completely justified" and
that the troops were ''per-
forming magnificently."
British troops astride the Paris
Cherbourg railroad were reported by
the Nazis to be striking southeast-
ward from Bayeux in the general
direction Of Caen, II miles distant,
where a violent street battle was
going on.
German broadcasts told Of
movement Of British troops south
west Of Bayeux, indicating that o
drive had started to seal off the
Normandy Peninsula, on which the
Nazis said American forces had es-
tablished footholds, an disolate the
big port Of Cherbourg.
Landing Strips Set Up
The United States Ninth air
force disclosed that the Allies had
established landing strips in Nor
mandy and an at least limited aer-
ial service to the beachhead had
been opened with the moving In Of
supplies and the evacuation Of cas-
lalties.
At least one high ranking officer
already has flown in and out Of the
assault area. He was Mai. Gen. Err
nest E. Down, Commander Of q
British air-borne division, who land
ed and after q considerable" stay
returned aboard q Mitchell bomber.
There was no indication whether
the Allies captured coastal airsield
or established temporary landing
strips, but it was believed likely
that big transports were landing on
temporary steel mat strips probably
laid down by sea-borne engineers.
The establishment Of fully disable
air strips would mean greatly IN
creased support for the land armies
by short range fighters which could
move 100 miles closer to the battle
front.
AS a result Of the first 81 hours Of
the invasion campaign, Eisenhower
said in a statement at an advanced
command post, my complete conf
dence In the ability Of the Allied
armies, navies and air forces to do
all they are asked to do has been
completely justified
He said the Allied naval units In
the early landing operations Tex
celled in the high standard Of their
planning and their execution any
prior venture in which ! have seen
them engaged, and paid tribute to
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery's
ground forces in these words:
Under him all troops are perform
ing magnificently."
German broadcastS said thousands
of paratroops yesterday descended
from an armada Of 800 planes In the
vicinity Of coutannes on the west
coast opposite Bayeux in an appar-
emit effort to throw a wall across the
peninsula some 40 to so miles be-
low Cherbourg on q direct trunk
railway to Paris.
Other air-borne landings were
made at frequent intervals along
the west coast of the peninsula near
Granville, q port Is miles south Of
Countances, and the road junction
Of Lessay, Is miles north Of Cout-
ances, The German DNB Agency
said. Granville also was bombardeds
DNB said.
CThe German nigh command coma
munique reported that the Allies
were attacking toward the SOUTH
east from their Caen-Bayeux beach
head and German reserves had
opened counter-attacks. The Allies
tried to reinforce their beachheads
but attempted no new landing. the
Nazis said, adding that German
strongholds within the beachhead
area ARE maintaining themselves
in mistaken defense.w
"a BIC correspondent &c the
front reported q heavy tank bat
tie" in progress in one sector OF tho
French coast, blue network monitors
Said.)
Smooth Work
General Sir Bernard L. Mont
gomery, commander Of the expedi-
tionary force. told q correspondents
aboard British warship on the in
vasion coast:
everything Is going excellent"
Clearing weather and diminishing
winds In the English Channe. after
two days Of high surf ana 1oW-fiying
clouds speeded the landing OF rein
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