Evening star., 1944-06-07
Vast Fleet Dominates
Channel After Day
OF Light Casualties
BY the Associated Press.


LONDON, June 7.-Successful
beyond all expectations in the
first round Of its huge invasion
task, a great combined feet of
American and British naval YES
sells dominated the invasion
routes across the English Chan
mel today, protecting the masses
of men and machines rushed to
support yesterdays successful
landings.
(The American Navy at London
headquarters said this morning
that there have been no more
casualties to United States Naval
craft since those announced yes
terday by President Roosevelt.
(The President said that up to
noon yesterday the losses in
cluded two destroyers and tank
landing ship)
British Admiral Sir Bertram RAM
say, Allied naval commander in
chief, declared his forces were 100
per cent successful in the convoy
job against an anticipated loss of
10 per cent of the assault forces. !.
"Won the First Round"
"We have won the first round"
Admiral Ramsay said confidently.
II can see no sign that the enemy
will be in a position to beat us in
the second round"
He added 1t was "remarkable" that
the Allies had lost only a few COM
bat ships and this did not affect the
result of the initial invasion assault.
The flags of two American ad-
mirals few on two United States
cruisers in the assault, in which AL
lied warships poured thousands of
rounds Of shells into German coastal
Notifications and beat off weak en-
emy attempts on the sea to FORE
stall the invasion.
Rear Admiral Alan Goodrich
Kirk, commander of a task force,
directed part of the operation from
the cruiser Augusta. Rear Admiral
Morton L. Deyo was on the Tusca-
loosa. The stanch old American
battleship Nevada, rearmed and
renovated after heavy damage at
Pearl Harbor, was in the van of
the big naval ships.
Famed Scylla Takes Part.
Among the ships engaged was the
famous British light cruiser Scylla,
veteran of many a sea fight, flying
the flag of Rear Admiral Sir Philip
Wan, who was in overall command
of the task forces engaged.
Also reported in action were the
American battleships Texas and
Arkansas, as well as the British bat
tleships Nelson, Families and War
spite; cruisers Glasgow, Enterprise
and Orion and the Canadian de-
stroyers Sioux and Algonquin.
Demonstrating anew the naval
might of Britain and the United
States. 600 ships blasted the Nazi-
held shore defenses with hurricane
of fire, pounding away with every
thing from 16-inch rifles to 4-inch-
lers, pouring In 1000 tons OF shells
every 10 minutes to prepare the way
for the landings.
Navy Casualties Every Light"
As the landing forces dashed
through gaps blasted in the Ger
mans boasted Atlantic Wall, the AL.
lied ships plowed on to shatter othel
Idef6nse areas along the coast.
Polish, Dutch, Norwegian, Frenci
and Greek ships Joined to make II
a really Allied naval show.
After the combat ships did theil
work the Channel swarmed with
landing craft of every description
bearing men and the varied equip.
ment and munitions needed fol
modern warfare.
1t was said ofacially that nava
casualties were very light"
Our plan was to set a pace ol
momentum that there was no doubt
we should reach the other side, ;
said Admiral Ramsay. There was
no opposition whatever until the
paratropers landed on the other
side, when the German coastal bat
teries opened up. Their opposition
was much less than we expected. It
is a very good augury for the future.