The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-24
U. s. Shock Troops
 Storm Cherbourg
Continued from Page D

DNB estimated that the Ameri- cans were attacking with eight in fantry and two tank divisions 120,000 to l50,000 men.
 Another German broadcast said Allied warships have begun smelling the entire fortres sarea.
 South of Cherbourg, front dis patches said American forces in two days of fighting have driven nearly two miles into the enemy's Notifications to within two and one-half miles of the center of the city.
 One column, straddling the Valognes- Cherbourg road. was only slightly southeast of the strong point of Octeville.
 New gains also were reported southeast of Cherbourg. while heavy fighting continued for the Mauper- tus airport three and one-half miles east of the city. American artillery continued its almost ceaseless bombardment of enemy pillboxes, estimated by some correspondents to total as many as 1000 in and around Cherbourg.
 'It's a slamming match on a mammoth scale" Richard D. Mo Milan, United Press war corre- spondent, reported from the front. we sling thunderclaps of bombs and shells into the outer and inner forts, trying to ferret the way for infantry through the steel and con- crete links. Then the German de- lenders hurl back almost as big a tornado"
 Germans Die
 Henry T. Gorrell, another United Press war correspondent, said the Germans were dying "by the hun dreds" in the smashed pillboxes, but the survivors still were return ing the fire with all manner of small arms, backed up by 88-millimeter guns and tanks.
 "The three-mile sector to the coast lies swathed in fire, smoke cAAu dSaVAAp N1OAACh ouAd'
 b Some 10000 to 3O,000 German troops and Marine units, as well as construction workers and dock crews, were believed defending Cherbourg. Though tired and fac- ing overwhelming odds, they have shown no signs of cracking and the battle for the port may prove costly.
 The beleaguered garrison was be- lieved to include remnants of four regular army divisions, the compara- lively new 77th; the 91st; the 243rd, which includes a large percentage of Austrians and Bavarians, and the 709th.
 Fast Advance
 General Hellmich, commander of the 243d Division. and General Sal ley, commander of the 9lst, have been killed in battle, Allied head quarters sector was so rapid that Hellmich's body still was warn when found by the Americans.
 Some 20 miles south of Cherbourg American patrols drew heavy ma chine-gun fire as they probed tow ard high ground northwest of La- Haye-Du Puits, west coast com munications center.
 Even heavier fighting flared up west of Carentan and east of Caen. The Germans threw in sharp tank and infantry attack near Ste. HOnorine Chardonnenerette, four and one-half miles northeast of Caen, but Allied headquarters said the British made "a local advance"
 The weather improved along the Channel. facilitating landing opera tions. The Germans said the Bri- tish had landed another division in the Orne estauary for an impending thrust against Caen.
 East of the Orne, Allied warships bombarded German tanks and in- fantry.
 Light coastal forces intercepted a German convoy of Jersey Island, off the Cherbourg peninsula. One armed trawler was sunk and cargo vessel set afire. Coastal command aircraft sank two enemy torpedo boats in the eastern channel, prob- ably sank two more. and damaged several others.
 Tactical planes of the Allied Ex- peditionary Air Force were revealed to be operating from more than five airfields in France.