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SWIF~T THRUST BY
BRITIrSH TANKS
LONDON, August 1. A.A.P.-British tanks and infantry made a swift
four-mile advance in the centre of the Normandy front to-day to cross the
Soulevre River at a point two miles west of the German stronghold of Le Beny
Bocage.
This represents an advance of 11 miles since the British launched
their new drive south of Caumont on Sunday.
British forces driving south
west of Caumont and American
troops advancing south-east of
St. Lo have joined hands south
west of the Eveque forest, six
miles south-east of Torigny, and
are now driving south in a power
ful double-barrelled thrust through
Rommel's defences.
At the western end of the front,
American armour has crossed the
Selune River. last German defence
line at the base of the Cherbourg
Peninsula, at two points. Poc
kets of German resistance to the
north-east are being mopped up.
More than 6000 prisoners were
captured in the American sector
yesterday.
On the left flank of the front,
Canadian troops east of. the Orne
River have captured a bitterly
defended German strongpoint at
Tilly la Campagne, more than five
miles south of Caen.
1ritieli tanks, which continied their
drive soutlh of Caumont to-lday to
cross the Soulevre, found a weak spot
in the 'German defences 'and went
right in and exploited it.
In the vicinity of Le -Beny Bocaige.
whiere the crossi-m was made. the
Blritish havne captured high grdiand
which overlooks the main road to
the key town 6of Vire, -soven sifiles
south-south-ivest of Lee Beny lBocage.
Hurried Retreat:
The Britieli la hre i ieari?la' dubleid
the size of tth be blge liat has- beeii)
ilade suth-awest c s fet Caemnoilt .-'ALi
one point it is 10 niiles from Cauniont.:
Thlere are signs; a coirespondeint re
ports, that the enemy pulled;back
very hutrriedly. Gerrian troops did
not have timne to palo:their kits or
personal belongings. Scores oflicycles
were left behlind by the eneemy,: no
doubt in fnavour of some .fifster n eaies
of transport. ,,
Reuter's ocorrespondent 'witli the
Tactical Air Force ifi: Normandily saiid
this mornindfi thit there: siiav be fue
ther German retreats: ii thlie iext six
hours. The Genirmans, ex.tept for
certain igroups;' are hid:et fighting
strongly and not with th?samde.de
terminatiohn as they aree seditlie of
Reportis froln the Am?ri.an froit
that large quantities of motor di'fans
port have been abandon6ied- shoas
there are increasini- signsof'o danfir
?-ion , , " ., : ".''! ' :''i,,. :..:
British : infant -?y -an.- armonr
stormed nearly .enlf ?. dozsei towan
and villnees All ?ains:dre??:no
ol idl iy held aoi 'd'- forun.-o<ffi irimi.b"isn
fh; mh;mnrnii.th r -ern?:? 'cli', .
.t?acked 'in the se?e?'ofp tlue :IWtoe
rill 3) 'ehio it si.'ix i "i : ,.le hi i nti
0sieeictilr suhweet of the therm
i0ni1 Bontdee Renuine
The-: German: news ai-en - says"
"A :h'eavy srtillerr:-,inrlara'ge i-heasn
aiiinst :the :BRritisehi .sectorb at -Canen
at 8 a.m. to daiy. indihateine adn early
res?intion 'of the offensive ?in thi"
seictot."
' Americani Drive : ; -
T ao American' armoured columns
crossed the Selune.River to-day, 'ei
,veloping: Pontaubault,. four nmiles
south': of Avranches; and '.pucey;.' six
miles southl-east of Avranchies and
five'' iniles: from 'PouitaubaulbT'l. They.
have .also- reached l * the bordei be-'
tii?.e Normiahdy 'and Brittany.; ' *;,: ;
'.1lie niost sicccessful of' the Alliedle
operations in Normandy in the.ii pst
24; hours were in the area of the
Villedieu-Percy road , and in I liee.
bulge south-west of 'Caumont, be-.
tween Torigriy'anrid Galet.
' 'With Granville and Avrancihes
firnily- held: the Americans, exploit
ing their success, are now engaged
in extensive mopping up operations
east ri of bothl. towns and between
them: '.This -"area ;is ' substantially
unider Allied control, but pockets of
resistance': rhimain. Infantry opera
tions have: resulted in most of the
road from Granville to Villedieu (16
miles :to the'east) being cleared of
the enemy, il't'tivo miles. north of
Villedieii the: fighting is still heavy.
.At'meriecani forwaird elementts which
w\cre in Percy (15 miles south-cast
orCoiitahces) audulcTessy-sur-Vire (10
miles south ci St; Lo). have been
withdrawin in the fnce of fiere (er
mani resistance. Heavy fighting is
going- oni arouild, those towns. with
none Help
the line' shifting to antld· fro. TaInuks
as well as inf:ntry are engaged.
The capture of Toriguy by Aimeri
can, troops :has strengthened' their
hhol .on the country -to south-east
froni there. Pockelts of resistance
are. blieing rapidly cleared up.
A communique fromn Supreme Head
qxiarters re.iorts: ?' n the "wnes ern
sectboir, the' Allied forces which en
tered Granville have .now cleared
ibe town. An -dildvin'ice oib.ia':a Toadc
frlont towards the main Percy-Av
riuclies road has brought our:troops
close to Villedieu.n Thet:a is heavy
fighiitng tnear Percy.
r...:Si ong .ene imy resistanld e "con
tiiueis niorth-west of Tessy.
",\- Vehae mni deulb tubstautial gains
in :the TIorignl S?St. MMartin des Be
sinaees ares., Isoittedl :pockets.iit re
?staice: :thioughoit .the sector alire
eing e steadilth ieliminated: ' . .: i
A:' German Higlth Coimmand com
munique :says: "Oir tr6oops :in :or
mandy after :lieav fialitin .:with)
drewv a: feiv ' riles southwai-d in: the
sectors Ibetweefl.Hottot and the, Vire
Rihver; arid -iepelled - thel; enemy's l ig
orous attaiks figaiinst, tlie new posit
tions. : Tlhe :enemy;- who- made. a
deep penetration: intd:o outr positiciis
on the es!iters-flatiik- is shilted by
aotinlteitattac meistnel ot
.af - -vraitclies -Hea ivfiglhtinii) n
gjeifiliYncfhri ttllftbt¼ib itIefontl
i Ode Ati erican :'arnmoied; cilniti
clocklted tup 25 miles yesterday. Other
colutins:iadlviinced 12 to:15 miles, ac
eordino to a ciorrtiepondent- of the
"Daily Mai'- olin the Avianchbes roali
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