The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-23
Advance 40 Miles
 Across French Alps
Continued from Page lJ

pleled the encirclement of Marseille Frances largest port and second city. and fought through the streets Of Toulon Co within a half mile oi the naval arsenal.
 One column was within three miles east of Marseille and another Id the northwest, reached Velaux, iess than three miles from the last practical highway out of the city and a similar distance from the great salt lake which extends south yard to within a few miles of the Mediterranean.
 iS. S.Ooo Prisoners
 More than l7.000 prisoners have heen captured in the first week oi inc invasion, General Sir Henry Maitland wilson. supreme Allied commander. announced in his daily communiquc. Of these, l2.OO0 al- ready have been evacuated to Italy and Corsica. ,.. Grenohle heightened the threat ol entrapment hanging over German forees remaining In southwest France and Allied sources predicted inc early enemy evacuation ot the entire area rapidly being pocketea between the southern beachheau and Allied forces 250 miles to the north, below Paris. ,,
 Capture of Lyon. 5S miles hoF.n, vest of Grenoble. would sever all remaining railway routes between southwest France and Germany, w,,IIe in advance into Chambery' 2t miles north Of Grenoble, would cut inc railway passing through tne Modane Tunnel into mortimer italy' T'he only other railway between France and Italy runs along tne Riviera coast and was severed Oia fine first day Of the invasion.
 drenoble also lies i25 miles south. east of Vichy, seat of the Frehch puppet government. ,. ,
 wilson reported that Frenca Ma ouls-members of the French lorces of the interior-aided the Amerl- eann in their advance northwara through the Alps. Grenonle ltseii long has been one of the strohgesI centers of the French resistance
 First Effective Contact
 The advance probably established the first effective land contact with French Maquls in the Sayoie Alps, who for many months have Deei supplied with arms and ammuni- ton by Allied planes. Genoble, city of 100000, is the capital oi Isere Department. which ooruerS Eayoie Department.
 The American arniored push was made LID the Durance river and Isere river valleys, avoiding the more famous Rhone valley, some 5o miles to the west and the historica! invasion route into Central France
 The troops travelled so fast they outean their supply columns and this prompted Maj Gen. Alexander M. Patch. commander Of the ln- yasion forces. to demand yesterday in on order of the day that the columns press on regardless of fa- tigus possible shortages Of food r 'nent.'
 frenobIe lies l40 air
 7 the landing beaches,
 taaa A troops actually coV- ofG -r to 200 miles in their ft a4e trek over mountains and
 .s,agh valleys. Even if they had sfaFeled a total of only iiO miles ihey would have averaged at least go miles 8 day
 Little Resistance
 Little German resistance was met along the way and the Americans found French Maquis already had liberated many towns and villages, 4 stiff but comparatively brief bat- tie Was fought at the communica- tions hub of Digne, 80 miles south Of Grenoble and it was there that Maj. Gen. Hans Schuberth, a corps commander whose capture was an- n0uneed Monday, was taken priS- oner
 Also liberated in the advance were such towns as Sisteron, AspTes, Gap, st. Bonnet and L Argentiere.
 Mafseille was being threatened fr0ntally by forces which advanced along the highway from Toulon to within three miles Of the city and also had captured Addauch, four and 6 half miles to tine northeast, after drive across the high ground known as Chaine de LEtOiie
 Farther northwest, the Americans drove around the northern rim of the VitFolles Hills and brought the enemy's last practical escape high way and railway under artillery fire