Anglo-American oil pact offered to other nations
Agreement is essentially a U.S. plan and approves use of petroleum sanctions
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Nazis abandoning many 88s before Anglo-Canadian rush
Germans have difficulty in retreating as Allies dominate roads, cripple transport
By Richard D. McMillan, United Press staff writer
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Yanks bomb Allies by mistake
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British seize key hill east of Florence
Allies inch forward in western suburbs
By Eleanor Packard, United Press staff writer
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Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
In Normandy, France – (by wireless)
It is possible to become so enthralled by some of the spectacles of war that you are momentarily captivated away from your own danger.
That’s what happened to our little group of soldiers as we stood in a French farmyard, watching the mighty bombing of the German lines just before our breakthrough.
But that benign state didn’t last long. As we watched, there crept into our consciousness a realization that windrows of exploding bombs were easing back toward us flight by flight, instead of gradually forward, as the plan called for.
Then we were horrified by the suspicion that those machines, high in the sky and completely detached from us, were aiming their bombs at the smoke line on the ground – and a gentle breeze was drifting the smoke line back over us!
An indescribable kind of panic comes over you at such times. We stood tensed in muscle and frozen in intellect, watching each flight approach and pass over us, feeling trapped and completely helpless.
And then all of an instant the universe became filled with a gigantic rattling as of huge, dry seeds in a mammoth dry gourd. I doubt that any of us had ever heard that sound before, but instinct told us what it was. It was bombs by the hundred, hurtling down through the air above us.
Many times I’ve heard bombs whistle or swish or rustle, but never before had I heard bombs rattle. I still don’t know the explanation of it. But it is an awful sound.
We dived. Some got in a dugout. Others made foxholes and ditches and some got behind a garden wall – although which side would be “behind” was anybody’s guess.
Too late for the dugout
I was too late for the dugout. The nearest place was a wagon shed which formed one end of the stone house. The rattle was right down upon us. I remember hitting the ground flat, all spread out like the cartoons of people flattened by steamrollers, and then of squirming like an eel to get under one of the heavy wagons in the shed.
An officer whom I didn’t know was wriggling beside me. We stopped at the same time, simultaneously feeling it w a s hopeless to move farther. The bombs were already crashing around us.
We lay with our heads slightly up – like two snakes staring at each other. I know it was in both our minds and in our eyes, asking each other what to do. Neither of us knew. We said nothing. We just lay sprawled, gaping at each other in a futile appeal, our faces about a foot apart, until it was over.
There is no description of the sound and fury of those bombs except to say it was chaos, and a waiting for darkness. The feeling of the blast was sensational. The air struck you in hundreds of continuing flutters. Your ears drummed and rang. You could feel quick little waves of concussions on your chest and in your eyes.
At last, the sound died down and we looked at each other in disbelief. Gradually we left the foxholes and sprawling places, and came out to see what the sky had in store for us. As far as we could see other waves were approach from behind.
When a wave would pass a little to the side of us we were garrulously grateful, for most of them flew directly overhead. Time and again the rattle came down over us. Bombs struck in the orchard to our left. They struck in orchards ahead of us. They struck as far as half a mile behind us. Everything about us was shaken, but our group came through unhurt.
Inhuman tenseness
I can’t record what any of us actually felt or thought during those horrible climaxes. I believe a person’s feelings at such times are kaleidoscopic and uncatalogable. You just wait, that’s all, You do remember an inhuman tenseness of muscle and nerves.
An hour or so later, I began to get sore all over, and by midafternoon my back and shoulders ached as though I’d been beaten with a club. It was simply the result of muscles tensing themselves too tight for too long against anticipated shock. And I remember worrying about war correspondent Ken Crawford, a friend from back in the old Washington days, who I knew was several hundred yards ahead of me.
As far as I knew, he and I were the only two correspondents with the 4th Division. I didn’t know who might be with the divisions on either side – which also were being hit, as we could see.
Three days later, back at camp, I learned that AP photographer Bede Irvin had been killed in the bombing and that Ken was safe.
We came out of our ignominious sprawling and stood up again to watch. We could sense that by now the error had been caught and checked. The bombs again were falling where they were intended, a mile or so ahead.
Even at a mile away, a thousand bombs hitting within a few seconds can shake the earth and shatter the air where you are standing. There was still a dread in our hearts, but it gradually eased as the tumult and destruction moved slowly forward.
Völkischer Beobachter (August 10, 1944)
Bei Caen und an der Orne –
Das Spiel mit der Zange
Im Osten Neuformierungsversuche der Sowjets
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Düstere anglo-amerikanische Perspektiven zu ‚V1‘ –
‚Der deutschen Geheimwaffe gehört die Zukunft‘
Von unserem Lissaboner Berichterstatter
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Innsbrucker Nachrichten (August 10, 1944)
Weiter starke Feindangriffe in der Normandie
Gegenangriffe fingen der Feind auf – 25.500 BRT durch besondere Kampfmittel der Kriegsmarine vernichtet
dnb. Aus dem Führerhauptquartier, 10. August –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:
Südlich Caen setzte der Feind seine starken Angriffe fort und erweiterte seinen Einbruchsraum nach Süden und Südosten. Unsere Gegenangriffe fingen jedoch die feindlichen Kampfgruppen auf und brachten sie zum Stehen. Vom 7. bis 9. August verlor der Gegner südlich Caen und westlich der Orne 278 Panzer. Auch an der übrigen Front setzte der Feind seine starken Angriffe an den bisherigen Schwerpunkten fort. Es gelang ihm jedoch nur südlich Le Plessis und südlich Vire Boden zu gewinnen. Die schweren Kämpfe dauern an.
In der Bretagne wurden von Panzern unterstützte Angriffe der Nordamerikaner in den Kampfräumen von Saint-Nazaire, Lorient und Brest unter Abschuß zahlreicher Panzer abgewiesen. Die tapferen Verteidiger von Saint-Malo stehen in schwerem Kampf mit dem von allen Seiten angreifenden Feind.
Im französischen Raum wurden 128 Terroristen im Kampf niedergemacht.
Im Seegebiet westlich Brest wurde ein feindlicher Großzerstörer durch Bombentreffer schwer beschädigt.
Durch besondere Kampfmittel der Kriegsmarine verlor der Feind in der Seinebucht wiederum sechs vollbeladene Nachschubschiffe mit 25.500 BRT sowie einen Zerstörer und ein Sicherungsfahrzeug.
Südlich der Insel Jersey versenkten Sicherungsfahrzeuge eines deutschen Geleits zwei amerikanische Schnellboote, davon eins nach Rammstoß im Nahkampf.
Schweres Störungsfeuer liegt auf London.
In Italien nahm der Feind seine Angriffe an der adriatischen Küste mit starken Kräften wieder auf. Sie brachen verlustreich zusammen.
Im Osten sind bei Sanok und Mielec heftige Kämpfe mit eingebrochenen feindlichen Kräften im Gange.
Nordwestlich Baranow wurden wiederholte feindliche Angriffe zerschlagen und die Sowjets im Gegenangriff zurückgeworfen. Bei den schweren Kämpfen wurden hier in der Zeit vom 6. bis 9. August 108 feindliche Panzer abgeschossen.
Südöstlich Warka gewinnt der Gegenangriff unserer Panzerverbände gegen zähen feindlichen Widerstand weiter Boden.
Westlich des oberen Narew wurden wiederholte Angriffe der Bolschewisten abgewiesen oder aufgefangen. Bei Wilkowischken sind Gegenangriffe unserer Truppen im Gange. Nördlich der Memel scheiterten im Raum von Raseinen erneute Durchbruchsversuche der Sowjets unter hohen blutigen Verlusten 52 feindliche Panzer wurden abgeschossen.
In Lettland blieben zahlreiche Vorstöße des Feindes zwischen Mitau und dem Pleskauer See erfolglos.
Schlachtfliegerverbände griffen vor allem im großen Weichselbogen und im Raum westlich Kauen sowjetische Bereitstellungen und Panzeransammlungen mit guter Wirkung an.
In der Nacht waren feindliche Truppenansammlungen nordwestlich Baranow und südöstlich Warka das Angriffsziel unserer Kampf und Nachtschlachtflieger.
Der Feind verlor gestern 41 Flugzeuge.
Feindliche Bomber warfen bei Tag Bomben im Raum von Budapest. In der Nacht griff ein schwächerer feindlicher Bomberverband das Gebiet von Ploesti an, wobei er 14 Flugzeuge verlor.
In West- und Südwestdeutschland wurden vor allem Saarbrücken, Karlsruhe, Pirmasens und Luxemburg angegriffen und durch Luftverteidigungskräfte 33 feindliche Flugzeuge, darunter 31 viermotorige Bomber, vernichtet.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (August 10, 1944)
Communiqué No. 124
LE MANS has been liberated by Allied forces, and our troops are in the vicinity of ANGERS in the LOIRE valley.
The city of NANTES has been reached and our columns are converging on LORIENT.
In the BRITTANY peninsula we are now in SAINT-MALO, but the enemy at DINARD is resisting stubbornly.
Along the north coastal road, we have passed through MORLAIX. At BREST, the enemy garrison has rejected and ultimatum to surrender and fighting is proceeding outside the city. Lt. Gen. Karl Spang, commanding the German 266th Infantry Division, was captured near BREST.
On the NORMANDY front, there has been no major change in the line. Vigorous patrolling is being carried out in the MAYENNE area. The enemy holds MORTAIN and heavy fighting has been going on north and west of the town. A German counterattack at GATHEMO was checked by our forces, with the destruction of five of the 25 enemy tanks participating. South of SAINT-GERMAIN-DE-TALLEVENDE, our troops advanced 1,000 yards.
The Allied advance toward FALAISE has penetrated the first and second German positions and reached the neighborhood of POTIGNY. The village of POUSSY LA CAMPAGNE and SAINT-SILVAIN have been taken and armored columns have reached ESTREES LA CAMPAGNE and SOIGNOLLES.
Our troops in the bridgehead over the river ORNE repulsed further counterattacks yesterday and have driven the enemy back. Further west, more ground was gained southeast of MONT PINCON and between ESTRY and VIRE.
Yesterday afternoon, heavy bombers attacked with 12,000-pound bombs the U-boat base at LA PALLICE. A fuel dump in the FORÊT DE MORMAL, southeast of VALENCIENNES, was also attacked in the afternoon, and last night, heavy attacks were made on two more fuel depots – at CHÂTELLERAULT, some 40 miles south of TOURS, and in the FORÊT D’ENGLOS, near LILLE. None of our heavy bombers are missing.
Railway bridges in the valley of the OISE, and at EPERNON, L’ISLE, ADAM and CHAUNY were attacked by medium and light bombers, as was a rail junction at EPONE-MEZIERES. An ammunition dump in the FORÊT DE LYONS; military building at TONNEINS on the GARONNE River; a radio installation in the ARGENTAN area and two freighters in BREST Harbor were also bombed.
Tanks, gun positions, rolling stock as well as barges on the SEINE were attacked by fighter-bombers. Fighters provided escort for bombing missions.
Barges on the SEINE were also attacked last night by light bombers. PT-boats, on offensive patrol off the island of JERSEY, intercepted a southbound enemy convoy off LA CORBIERE in low visibility early yesterday morning. One enemy vessel was hit by torpedo and one other damaged by gunfire before the convoy escaped.
Shortly after daylight, with visibility further reduced by fog, other PT-boats entered the roadstead of SAINT-HELIER and attacked two M-class minesweepers with gunfire. Many hits were observed on the enemy before our forces withdrew.
Off the port of LE HAVRE light coastal forces intercepted and enemy vessel under escort of six R-boats. The enemy vessel was sunk. One of the escorts was also hit by torpedo and its destruction is considered probable.
U.S. Navy Department (August 10, 1944)
Communiqué No. 535
Pacific and Far East.
U.S. submarines have reported sinking 16 vessels, including one combatant ship, as a result of operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows:
- 1 large cargo transport
- 7 medium cargo vessels
- 4 medium cargo transports
- 2 small cargo vessels
- 1 medium tanker
- 1 escort vessel
These actions have not been reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
Communiqué No. 536
European Theater.
The following vessels participating in the Allied operations for Europe’s liberation were lost due to enemy action:
- USS OSPREY (AM-56)
- USS PC 1261
The next of kin of all casualties of the OSPREY and PC 1261 have been notified.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 111
Organized Japanese resistance on Guam Island ceased during the afternoon of August 9 (West Longitude Date). The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, 3rd Marine Division, and 77th Infantry Division are engaged in mopping-up operations.
Nearly 60 tons of bombs were dropped on Truk Atoll during daylight on August 8 by 7th Army Air Force Liberators. Approximately 10 enemy fighters intercepted our force, damaging two Liberators. One enemy fighter was shot down and two damaged. Anti-aircraft fire was meager. Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, attacked Nauru Island before dawn on August 8, striking at gun emplacements. Nauru was also hit by Venturas during daylight on August 8. Mitchell bombers of the 7th Army Air Force bombed Ponape Island on the same day, and neutralization raids against Maloelap Atoll were carried out by Liberator and Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two. All of our planes returned from these operations.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 112
Casualties suffered by U.S. forces on Guam Island through August 9 (West Longitude Date), the day on which organized Japanese resistance ended, were 1,214 killed in action, 5,704 wounded in action, and 329 missing in action. Our troops have counted 10,971 enemy dead. Elimination of scattered remnants of the enemy continues.
Final figures covering our casualties on Tinian Island indicate 190 killed in action, 1,515 wounded in action, and 24 missing in action. On Tinian, our troops have buried 5,544 enemy dead to date, and have taken more than 400 prisoners of war.
The Wilmington Morning Star (August 10, 1944)
LE MANS, SAINT-MALO CAPITULATE TO WHIRLWIND U.S. OFFENSIVE
Drive to Paris gaining force
Nantes, Angers reported entered by Americans in swift drives
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Guam conquest ended
U.S. forces again control isle seized by Jap forces
By the Associated Press
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Allies driving Japs over Burma frontier
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