June 25, 1944; AMERICAN SHOCK TROOPS CLOSE IN ON CHERBOURG

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY JUNE 25, 1944:

SUPREME  HEADQUARTERS. ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY  FORCE.

June 25.—(Sunday)—(/P)—
 American shock troops, steadily closing in on Cherbourg, are less than two miles from the heart of the scarred city, and despite fierce German resistance, "each link in the chain of. defenses is being systematically destroyed," Headquarters Communique No. 38 announced late last night.

U. S. PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS.

P E A R L HARBOR.

June 24.—M')—

The sinking of five additional Japanese ships and destruction of 72 enemy planes by American carrier bombers and fighters, was reported today by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz.

LONDON. June 25.—Sunday—(AP)

Two mighty Red armies are closing pincers from the north and south of Vitebsk in White Russia and the Gennau-fortified town already is threatened with encirclement.

Moscow said early today.

 

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 1944

Nazi Sea Escape Attempt

From Doomed Cherbourg

Foiled by British Vessels

Picture on Page 11

By GLADWIN HILL

SUPREME  HEADQUARTERS. ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY  FORCE.

June 25.—(Sunday)—(/P)—

American shock troops, steadily closing in on Cherbourg, are less than two miles from the heart of the scarred city, and despite fierce German resistance, "each link in the chain of. defenses is being systematically destroyed," Headquarters Communique No. 38 announced late last night.

Front dispatches said American troops attacking in the center of the semi-circular

front around Cherbourg were within 2000 yards of the city after overwhelming a formidable concrete barrier in the southern outskirts and finding only four bomb-dazed Germans alive in a mound of dead.

The first German attempt to flee by sea from the doomed city was smashed by British light coastal forces, headquarters disclosed.

"Two enemy vessels were destroyed and three more believed sunk," out of an escorted convoy of seven small ships, the communique said.

PLANES' TARGETS ' -

The ships presumably were carrying key technicians and the undamaged vessels sought refuge at Alderncy Island off the northwest tip of the Cherbourg peninsula, where Allied planes or heavier Allied naval forces apparently will finish them off.

5 JAP SHIPS SUNK,

72 PLANES SHOT

DOWN BY YANKS

By LEIF ERICKSON

U. S. PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS.

P E A R L HARBOR.

June 24.—M')—

The sinking of five additional Japanese ships and destruction of 72 enemy planes by American carrier bombers and fighters, was reported today by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz.

The admiral’s": communique said a speedy Yank .task force sent it’s planes against J a p a n e s e island strongholds w t t h i n 800 miles of Tokyo in a series of aerial smashes designed to neutralize Nippon air power within easy range of Amcrican-

invaded Saipan.

The planes were from the powerful task force that earlier in the week ranged far westward to beat strong Japanese fleet units.

The latest reported aerial strikes canted American sky fighters over two islands in the Karati group south of the Boning and over Tinian. Paga  and Rota in the Marianas.

The Yanks lost five fighters.

Russ Pincers

Closing On

Nazi Bastion

By TOM YARRROUGII

LONDON. June 25.—Sunday—(AP)

Two mighty Red armies are closing pincers from the north and south of Vitebsk in White Russia and the Gennau-fortified town already is threatened with encirclement.

Moscow said early today. More than 5500 Germans were killed in this area as Soviet infantry fought its way forward with the massed support of artillery and

aircraft, the Russians asserted. In closing in around the Nazi fortress. Hitler's closest remaining outpost to Moscow. Red troops made two new bieak-throughs in Nazi defenses to the south, advanced forward up to 25 miles in the north and lengthened the whole central fighting front to approximately ISO miles.

900 LIBERATORS

More than 900 places were liberated in fighting on all fronts yesterday, including more than 200 which had been held by the Finns in the lake region to the north..

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