The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-22
Yanks Sweep Down
 Seine In Big Drive
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divisions pused to its aid by the 18th Army from the Pas dc Calais area, were believed to have lost 2S00O to 30.O00 motor vehicles destroyed or damaged, and more than 1000 tanks. In addition. Allied warplanes smashed some 15000 freight cars supplying the NaN armies and knocked out 2000 to 5000 locomo- tlves.
 we are now about to knockout what is left of the defeated Sev. enth German Army this side Of Paris" United Press War Core. spondent Henry T. Gorrell reported in a front dispatch.
 Showdown Rattle
 A showdown battle Co complete the annihilation of Field Marshal ounther Von Kluge's reeling die visions seemed imminent as Patton's hard-riding columns beyond the Seine famed out to the north and northeast across the path of tho retreating enemy.
 There was no official word on the progress of the American force be- low Paris, but German and Allied reports said the northern wing had moved on from the Nantes and ver- non bridgeheads toward Le Havre, 90 miles or less beyond their ad- vanced spearheads.
 The German Transocean News Agency reported heavy fighting around Limay. on the north bank of the Seine opposite Nantes. but field dispatches made it clear that the dazed NaZts were offering only the feeblest resistance.
 The original breakthrough at Nantes, it was revealed, was com- pletely unopposed and the only re- sistance came after the bridgehead was established, from a handful of tough German troopers who fought with mortars and machine guns in a futile attempt to drive the Amer jeans back across the river.
 Canadians Smash Ahead
 West and south of the Seine, the Canadian list Army smashed ahead as much as i-2 miles in a coordi- mated thrust along the channel coast toward the mouth of the Seine and inland on the important highway hub of Lsieux.
 Fierce fighting ragged in the out skirts of the chanel town of ca- bourg. but farther to the south the Canadians captured Dives-Sur-M and Dozule and pushed down to AnGebault. Bonnebosq. four miles south of Annebault also was taken. The Canadian sweep carried to with in i4 miles of the Seine Estuary.
 On the Canadian right flank, British troops captured cambrem- CT, eight miles west of Lisieux and drove up the Livarot Lisieux high way to within one mile south Of the latter town, capturing St. Martin De La Lieue.
 American and British troops slashed deeper into the narrowing Argentan- -chambois Trun pocket and swept 10 miles beyond the east ern end of the trap to capture Gace, More than $500 prisoners were taken by the British fro mthe pocket yesterday. running the bag thus far to almost 10000 men.
 UnbeaFable Weather
 Miserable weather grounded the bulk of the Allied Air Forces yester- day and gave the fleeing enemy a brief respite from the savage straf- ing that has turned their race for the Seine into a nightmare.
 4 few Allied planes managed to swoop under the low cloud ceiling to crack down again on the jumbled mass of German transport east Of Lisieug. but the total aerial activity for the day was the smallest since the invasion began.
 Official sources made 1t clear, however. that there was little hope of escape for the tens of thousands of beaten Germans in their retreat toward the Seine. Enemy prisoners still were being rounded up by the thousands and those who continued the flight faced almost eertin death or capture at the hands of the Americans moving northward along the far bank of the Seine,
 Headquarters spokesmen said the depleted German 18th Army north of the river might be unable to hold the Robot bomb coast and that the new American sweep might uphinge the entire enemy position in Bel gium and Holland,