28/8/1944. 6.= pm. Fred. Allen
The 1944 battle of the Marne is opening and 25 miles of the
river are already in Allied hands. American forces
pushing from Paris have cleared the river Marne to
Meaux and pressing on to Château-Thierry. American
troops are sweeping toward the river on a 70 miles
front and also advancing beyond Troyes. Nothing
has been said so far about the advance toward
Reims and Châlons-sur-Marne. Our Thunderbolts
were active yesterday knocking out 150 engines
and 800 railway trucks. An ammunition train
was also blown up. West of the Seine the German
remnants are being squeezed into the loops of
the river. They are suffering heavy casualties.
Off the mouth of the Seine and Hook of Holland
4 patrol boats were sunk. In the South of France
the Rhone has been reached near Montélimar
by the Americans. There is no definite news
about the advance through Grenoble to the
Swiss frontier. The Germans are still resisting
in the harbour area of Marseilles. Further
landings in Southern France continue
according to plan. Toulon has suffered most
in the South and there are only some 50000
inhabitants left. General de Gaulle has
talked with de Lattre de Tassigny and he has
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