The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-20
Big Fort Moy FoII
tcontLnued frOm Paee D

The Nazi command apparently was concentrating its forces in the eastern part of the peninsula as far west as Cherbourg, leaving the west. ern area relatively weak.
 The retreating Germans appeared 50 disorganized and demoralized that they may never make their aTl- ticipated stand in long-prepared defenses in hills and woods on an eight to i0.mile arc some four miles from Cherbourf,
 Smelling CheFbourg
 American medium artillery, as well as the giant long Toms, already were raining shells into Cherbourg and the enemy's whole defense struc- tlre at the northern tip of the Nor- mandy peninsula seemed to be crumbling just as did German re- sistance in Tunisia when Allied cole umns began knifing through their lines.
 Radio Berlin quoted . German military spokesman as acknowledg- ing that the Americans were pen etrating deeper and deeper into the Qualifications system" of Cherbourg. The German high command com. munique, however, said mo major fighting" occurred on the Cherbourg peninsula through the Alliesc ''probed the southern front of the Cherbourg fortress with arraored reconnaissance forces"
 The estimated 30,000 Germans trapped in the Peninsula by the American break through to the west coast two days ago were melting away by the thousands. Many were captured outright and others were cut off by the swift series of American flanking advances that isolated them from Cherbourg as well aS escape to the south.
 Some German officers who fell into American hands said they had no idea of what had become of their men. Other prisoners said that had not eaten for several days and Nken- cd the situation to the last days of TuniSia.
 Dem0litlons Front dispatches said the enemy has been carrying out demolitions in Cherbourg, one of the best harbors in France and railhead of q double track trunk line to Paris, for more than e week-another indication ts<, Germans hold no hope of saving the city.
 The Americans ushered In the third week of the invasion by driv- ing north all the way across the 23-mile- wide peninsula and achieved their deepest penetrationS almost due south of Cherbourg.
 Ninth division veterans of Tinisia and Sicily captured Bricquebec, sev- en miles above St. Sauveur.Le w. comte, and droe on another four miles around the outskirts of Raul nle La Bifot to 6 point six miles less of Cherbourg.
 Guns UnlimbeFed
 Artillery units following close be. hind the infantry unlimbered their guns on the Bricquebec area and be- gan smelling Cherbourg with l66- millimeter Long Toms and i06- millimeter artillery rifles and Howit- gers. The Long Toms have . range of 18,0O0 yards and the Medium artillery, 5000 to l2,0O0 yards.
 Other crack American troops on the eastern half of the Peninsula pushed beyond ruined Montebourg l4 miles southeast of Cherbourg. to within ct least two miles of Val- ognes, 10 miles below the port, and some reports said the column had captured Valognes. The road be- tween Valognes and Bricqubec has been cut.
 The Germans were taking advan- tage of the cover provided by orchards in the Valognes area to lay down a crossfire of mortars and machine guns.
 Three miles north of Montebourg, another American column in the coastal sector forced the Sinope river to threaten the eastern flank of Cherbourg.
 The next 24 hours were expected to tell the story of whether the Ger mans can rally in their "festuns Cherbourg" defenses for a Savasto- pjol stand in the big port. or will yield as quickly aS did Tunis once its outer defenses had been preached.
 Same Tactics
 Ironically, the Americans were following the same tactics used by MarshalS Gerd von Rundstedt and Edwin Rommel, present Axis com. manders in France, when they hacked the French, British and Belgian resistance to pieces after the Ardennes and Sedan break. through four years ago.
 High optimism prevailed ct Su- preme Allied headquarters that the Allies would be no less successful than was the enemy In the days be. fore Dunkerque. Many observers here prophesized Cherbourg may fall within 4S hours.
 ,Odicial spokesmen said the troops left to defend Cherbourg were more distinguished by quantity than by quality" Some were members of the TODT construction battalions. Such first-class fighting units as re- mained were battered badly.
 The latest American gains widened the wedge across the Cherbourg Peninsula to between eight and 10 miles and strengthened 1t sufficient. ly to withstand any German coun- ter-attack, 1t was said.
 The AmeriacnS made no further appreciable gains southward from the wedge, but oflcial sources said the forces "in this sector are in good positions to advance" at the proper time.
 Occupation
 At the eastern end of the beach- head. British troops completed the occupation of lilly ur-Seulles, 12 miles west of Gaen, after several days of violent hand-to-hand fight- ing, and pushed on some two miles I A IA ~A