Editorial: Driving into France
With the great port of Cherbourg won, Gen. Bradley has lost no time in turning about with the American 1st Army to smash southward in a heavy new offensive designed to place the Normandy Peninsula entirely in Allied hands.
Preceded by a mighty artillery barrage, the attack is pressing the Nazis on a 40-mile front stretching from the La Haye area on the west coast southeastward to the Saint-Lô and Caumont sectors. Meanwhile, at the eastern end of the front, around Caen, the British have smashed no fewer than 25 savage counterattacks by Rommel who is reported to be grouping 11 divisions for an all-out counteroffensive in this region. It is a question, however, whether he can strike such a blow, not only because his forces have already been severely mauled but also because the British may beat him to the punch and because he must reckon with our fresh American assault.
In any event, no matter how much strength Rommel may be able to throw Into the developing battle, all the reports from Normandy confidently suggest that It will not be enough. Apparently our British and American forces have everything they need to win over the whole peninsula, so that if the Nazis really commit themselves to a showdown test of arms in an effort to contain us, they may be so shattered as to make possible a swift Allied advance deep Into France toward such great objectives as Le Havre and Paris.
Lacking appreciable air support and having to worry about possible Allied landings elsewhere, the Nazis appear to have more than they can handle in the British around Caen and in our new American offensive. The battle of the Normandy Peninsula, in fact, seems to be shaping up rapidly into the battle of France. Once our forces are able to pour out of their present confined combat area into the big broad maneuverable country, events are likely to move very fast and decisively.