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The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 3

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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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1 PLANNING DESTRUCTION OF NAZI COMMUNICATIONS THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1044 3 EXCITED CROWDS IN SYDNEY "MEN OF DUNKIRK" GO BACK Aerial Glimpse of Invasion Fleet From Peter Gladwin, representing the Combined Press LONDON, June 6. Early this morning we flew across the invasion fleet on its way to France and through rifts in the dense cloud that blanketed the Channel I caught a brief glimpse or two of the ships in the moon's spotlight. It was only a glimpse, but a thrilling glimpse, of the greatest invasion armada in history, as it swept across the Channel, carrying the men of Dunkirk, with hundreds of thousands of new comrades beside them and all the tools they needed, back to France to finish the job. WRECKING ROADS AND RAILWAYS i First News of Invasion News of the invasion, which was electrifying the whole world, caused great excitement in Sydney.

Toasts to success were drunk in all city hotels, and there was keen discussion in trams, trains, buses, and ferries as business people travelled home. Intercession services were held in a number of churches last night, and more services will be held to-day. MANY THOUSANDS HEAR RADIO (k ml; wttSi began to suspect something when the station was hermetically sealed at lunch-time yesterday. No one except with the very highest authority was permitted to enter or leave the station, and all forms of communication with the outside world were banned. Speculation reached its highest point at briefing time.

The briefing was even more detailed than usual. The target were all grouped in the Normandy area and they were all on the direct line of communication with the beaches on the central Channel coast. As we drove around ih perimelei to the dispersal bays. Phillip Creeke, of St. Peters.

Sydney, the pilot of L. for London, was warming up his cniints when the cloud broke and the full moon shone through. We were in the last wave off. Wo could see the exhausts of the kite in front of us flaring like a circle of blow torches as we raced along the runway's flarepath and banked over the wood at the field's end. Where I sat in the ro-pilot's seat the light streamed through the wide perspex.

It was easy to write. "Who said we were doing a night op?" cracked Air-Gunner Geoff. I was one of a small group of British and Empire war correspondents who went in with bomber squadrons giving close support to the invading Army of Liberation. Their mission was lo wreck bridges and road and rail junctions through which the enemy might move up their panzers and motorised infantry to counter-attack a succesfui land-ins. For weeks we had been training ir this job.

hoping we would have thp oood fortune to see and Id! tile story of the whole great armaria steaming to its la.sk of bat-lei'ln? down Hitler's Western Wall and of the Allied soldiers pouring out of thr landing barges on lo the soil of France. SCIIEENED BY CLOUD But cloud screened practically the -hole nf this gigantic operation and tins mint be the story only of the Air Day job. The air crew on the station where ve awaited the curtain's rise were not told that the climax of their months of patient work was at hand, but they Air Chief Marshal Sir Tranord Lcigh-Mallory (standing, centre), Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force, discussing with Allied air chiefs plans for the destruction of German communications in France before the invasion. Others, from left: Major-General W. O.

Butler (Deputy Commander-in-Chief, A.E.A.A.), Air Vice-Marshal H. E. P. Wigtrle-worth (R.A.F.), Major-General L. H.

Brereton (Commanding General, 9th American Air Force), and, extreme rijrht, Air-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham (Commander of 2nd Tactical Air Force). (British Official photograph.) FLEET FOR LANDINGS Pre -View of Armada ALL PLANES HEAD FOR FRANCE LONG-RANGE FIGHTERS IN MOVING WALL Air Opposition Negligible From Our War Correspondent, H. I. Williams WITH SECOND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, June 6. The invading forces from the sea went in literally behind a moving wall of long-range fighters and under a 24-hour beach patrol of Spitfires and Mosquitoes.

OUR WAR CORRESPONDENT. JOHN READING. LONDON, June 6. At one of many British ports where were gathered together hundreds of the landing craft which crossed the Channel to-day, I recently! took part in a naval rehearsal for the invasion. It was comforting to see the type of vessel in which I would be quartered when the ships set out.

although it was not quite so comforting to experience a slight foretaste of bombing at sea. Correspondents received cryptic messages by telephone and telegram instriirtinc them to rennrt. at a cer tain place with all equipment at a certain ume. it was not until we had been briefed that we knew it trv-nut. We were taken to the nerve centre of Allied naval power and saw the almost unbelievable Dreuarations for to-day.

We caught some of that deep confidence, wnicn tne Navy nao in the outcome of the landings. It on (ncrtlrintr nnri mpnannQ siBht of Altieri small shins fleet at Western Australia, described one de anchor under the protection of a bal-! manhood of the Allied nations. In-loon barrage and aircraft. eluding our Australian airmen, are As far as I could see the bav was laying down their lives in this In-packed with landing-craft of all types, vasion. Every citizen in Australia manv of them already in the positions I should put forth the maximum effort from which they would set out when to ensure that Australia pulls her "D-Day" arrived.

I full weight in events that are of Here and there among" this con-' arresting significance to every corner centration of smaller craft larger ships i of the world, and which, we hope, destroyers and depot ships looked i will be the beginning of the end of First news of the invasion came from German-controlled radio. Though this was treated i with some reserve, it stimulated i interest for the announcement broadcast later by the B.B.C., In which the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, told of the landing. The B.B.C. announcement had been forecast by local radio stations be fore s.4u p.m., ana wnen uenerai Elsenhower spoke, hundreds of thou sands of people were listening in. i Cafes with wireless sets were tuned 1 In and diners and cafe staffs listened 1 together.

At a King's Cross cafe. two French neoole went openly when General Eisenhower referred to the French nation. THEATRE CROWDS CHEER Audiences cheered and sang "God Save the King" with emotional fervour when news was read in several city theatres last night. The audience at the TIvoll rose In a storm of cheers when the English actress. Jenny Howard, interrupted the show to read news of the invasion fleet.

The audience sang the national anthem. At the Theatre Royal. Maxwell Oldaker read the news. Audience and cast joined in singing the National Anthem. The manager of the State Theatre.

Mr. F. J. Enfield, announced the news "GREATEST SINGLE "The beginning of the Allied invasion of the coast of Europe is the greatest single event in this war," the Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Forde, said in Melbourne last night.

"The whole future course of the war against Germany and Japan will be decided in the next few weeks by the measure of success which attends the Allied operations. "I am sure that everybody in this country, and. indeed, every loyal person In the whole of the United Nations, is praying for the unqualified success of the Allied operations," said Mr. Forde. "The complete success of the landings will bring the defeat of Germany within measurable i distance.

Many of our own Australian air men will be participating in the new operations in air squadrons of the R.A.A.F. and the R.A.F. They will play Iheir part in the same gallant way that the Australian fishtln: forces have played their part in operations in almost every theatre of war. "This Is a most anxious time for 1 all. Dartlcularlv for the people of i Great Britain.

The flower of the the forces of tyranny and aggrcs' sion. I have the greatest confidence that the Australian people will respond magnificently to the supreme call that is now being made upon them," Mr. Forde added. "This is the hour when all the oeonles of the British Empire and her Allies will stand shoulder to shoulder as one united body of men and women, determined to see the struggle through to complete and overwhelming victory." AUSTRALIANS' PART The Minister for Air. Mr.

Drakeford. said Australian airmen were in the vanguard of the invasion forces. Future days would be a time of anxiety for Australians and the peoples of the Allied Nations. TO-DAY'S CHURCH Arrangements for special in tercession services in the churches to-day were announced last night. Many churches will remain open throughout the day for private prayer.

At St. Andrew's Cathedral, which will be open from 7,30 a.m. till 9 p.m., services to-day will be: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., Holy Communion; 11 a.m., official service, conducted by Archbishop Mowll (to be broadcast); VI to 2 p.m., and 3.30 p.m., special Intercessions; 7.45 p.m., united service, led by the Archbishop. Services at St.

James'. King Street, will be: 7.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.. Holy Communion: 11 a.m., thanksgiving; LIS p.m., lunch-hour service. At St.

Mark's Church of England. Darling Point, Holy Communion will be celebrated at 7.30 a.m. and 10 a.m., with special Intercession at noon. A service will be held at 8 p.m. St.

Judc's. Randwlck, will be open for prayer from 6 a.m. until about 9 p.m., and there will be services at 7.15 and 10.30 a.m., 3 p.m.. and 8 p.m. At St.

John's. Darllnghurst, there will be Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m.. special Intercessions at noon, followed by Holy Communion, and special inter cessions at 7.4a p.m. At St. Mathew's Church.

Manly, there will be a special Intercession service from to 8.30 this evening. "PEACE WITH JUSTICE" Archbishop Gllroy has requested that special prayers be offered In all Roman Catholic churches In Sydney for the welfare of the Allied Invasion forces, also that a speedy peace, with lustlce and charity, be secured. The prayers will be continued each day and evening until further notice. To-day, In St. Mary's Cathedral, at the three morning Masses at 6.30, 7, and o'clock, the lunrh-nour service at 1.30 p.m..

and the evening devotions at 7 o'clock, special prayers will be recited. Archbishop Gllroy will preside at Solemn High Mass on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. On Friday morning at 10 o'clock there will be Solemn High Mass for peace, and. during Solemn High Mass on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock the Litany of the Saints will be recited, followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament In the cathedral. Each day at.

the early morning Masses, the 1.30 lunch-hour service, and the 7 o'clock evening devotions, special prayers for the welfare of the Allied forces will be continued. On Sunday next, the Te Drum will be solemnly Intoned by Archbishop Gllroy. at, the conclusion ol Solemn High Mass In St. Mary's Cathedral. of at The audience cheered loudly.

From the time the first news flash came through, switchboards at newspaper and radio offices were jammed with calls from people asking, "Is it true?" Within an hour of the announcement of the landing, leaders of all denominations had arranged services intercession for the Allied cause. Services were held at St. Andrew's Cathedral. St. Mary's Cathedral, and some churches In the suburbs.

Dr. Wilson Macaulay. Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, said he was sure that everywhere churches would be open for prayer. He asked chat prayers Include not only our anxious desire for victory, but also that, if it be possible by the mercy of God, the time of trial should be shortened and the end be swift. At the Devonshire Street Congregational Church, special prayers were said, and the Rev.

S. Clague gave a special address. At the request of the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Mowll, a large gathering in the Town Hall for the celebration of the Y.M.C.A. world centenary stood in silent prayer for Allied Servicemen taking part in the invasion.

Members of the Combined Services sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers' League, at their meeting, stood in silence for two minutes in tribute to Allied Servicemen who had fallen in the Invasion. EVENT OF WAR" 'While we should watch this momentuous event with quiet confidence, we should realise that it is inevitable there will be heavy casualties among Allied personnel." he said. "The air attack, combined with the operations of military and naval services, will be the most formidable in tne world history." Mr. Drakeford said that while he had no official advice, it was certain that Australian Spitfire and Mosquito squadrons would be In the spearhead of the attack. Thousands of Aus tralians would take part.

Arrangements had been made for Australia to learn as ouicklv as nossible of the exploits of Australian airmen. The Minister for the Navy and Munitions. Mr. Makin. said: "This is the supreme moment when the armies of victory move towards the most vital phase of the European war.

"The United Nations have pledged themselves to the liberation of Europe. These operations will undoubtedly be stupendous, and exceed anything previously known In history. The undertaking tremendous, but It gives fresh hope to a tragic and darkened Europe. "We believe before God that, our cause is right, and we are Justified in looking to Him for guidance and encouragement in this supreme trial." THRILLED BY NEWS E. T.

R. Wlckham, leader of the British Parliamentarv delegation, said last night: "My colleagues and I are thrilled by the great news. There is nothing like a good start, and that we appear to have achieved, but the consolidation and development of our landings have still to be effected. I would suRgest that we should face the future In a spirit of sober confidence rather than of unrestrained jubilation." Mr. Gordon Ross, M.P., leader of the Canadian Parliamentary delegation, said: "The Allied High Command has kept Its promise that the Canadian army should form one of the spearheads of the second front.

The invasion will bring into action the main part of the Canadian army overseas." Mr. Nelson T. Johnson. American Minister to Australia, said: "I am glad it seems to have got oft to a successful start. Now is the time for us to put our shoulders to the wheel and see If there Is anything we can do to assist.

Dr. Hsu Mo, Chinese Minister to Australia, said: "I do not call it a Second Front; I call It an extension of an existing front. It will be extended until all our enemies are defeated." ARRANGEMENTS In parish churches the Litany ot the Sacred Heart will be recited by the congregations after the principal Mass. St. Stephen's Church.

Macquarle Street, will be open throughout the day for private prayer. A special intercession service from 1 p.m. to 1 45 p.m. will be conducted by the Rev. A.

P. Tory. A service of prayers for protection during the invasion will be held In the Presbyterian Assembly Hall to-night at 8 clock. The president of the Methodist Conference the Rev. A.

E. Walker, has arranged for Intercession services to be held. In association with the Central Methodist Mission, in Wesley Chapel from 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. dally. He wili conduct the first service to-day.

Tbe Bondl Junction Methodist Church will be open for prayer from 9 clock this morning. At 8 p.m. a special service will be conducted by the Ministers' Fraternal. A combined service will be held In the Botany Methodist Church at 2 3(1 p.m.. and the ministers of the Church of England, and Presbyterian and Methodist churches will take part.

The churches will be open all day for prayer. At the Great Synagogue there will be a service of intercession at 1.15 p.m. SYDNEY'S COLDEST DAY OF YEAR Sydney yesterday had Its coldest day this year. The minimum temperature was 43.7 degrees at 7.10 a.m. This was the lowest reading since August 15, when the temperature was 41.1 degrees.

The temperature rose from 45.2 degrees at 9 a.m. to 59.6 degrees at 12.55 p.m. Frosts were reported from all parts of the State, including the far west. During the 24 hours to 9 a.m., light rain fell on Ihe North Coast. Tha highest registration was 32 points at Clarence Heads.

ACCIDENT WITNESS SOUGHT Detective Proud, of Redfern, would like to get in touch with a cyclist who Is believed lo have seen an accident In Botany Road, Alexandria, on May 20 when Ernest Vivian Parkinson, a tram conductor, was swept from the footboard of his tram by a military lorrv. Parkinson died later In the Royal South Bydney Hospital, Interval. Jacobs, of Eastwood, Sydney. which ran a river spanned by a railway bridge, with an important road on cither side of the river. We altered course and began to lose height.

Over to starboard we could see streams of brilliant tracer coming up through the ceiling like Roman candles. Farther round we could see great lightning-like flashes that lit up great areas of cloud, showing where the Lancaster's were softening up the defences close in behind the beaches. The navigator, Arthur Leonard, of Ottawa, reported that we were right on the track. "I think we had better get down nearer the deck." he said. Creeke shoved her nose down, and down we went, tunnelling blind like a mole through the murk.

Getting down towards 3.000 feet we came out of the heavy stuff. SKY FULL OF PLANES Through the flimsier cloud layers we tried to pick up the red target-indicators the Mosquitoes had dropped round the target area a few minutes before. Over to starboard yellow were coming up. Leonard was fluently cursing the cloud when we picked up our marker. We made three runs through the stuff before Leonard could be sure he was on the target.

"Old Jerry will be getting a bit tired of us soon; let's get out of here," said Creeke Leonard planted till bombs right on the marker, and then we were heading for home. We caught a glimpse of the estuary, and then ten-tenths cloud blotted out everything until we were over the English coast again. As we headed through the pink and green dawn towards our base the sky was still filled with planes, all heading in the same direction towards the coast of Prance. EISENHOWER'S MESSAGE "Liberation is at Hand" LONDON, June 6 (A.AP.i. In a broadcast this morning General Eisenhower told the people of Western Europe that the landing in France was part of a con certed United Nations' plan for the liberation of Europe in "conjunction with our great Russian ally." "I have this message for all of you the hour of your liberation is approaching.

All patriots, men and women, young and old. have a part to plav in the achievement of final victory." he added. He told members of resistance movements to follow the Instructions which they had received, and patriots who were not members ol organised groups to continue passive resistance, but not to endanger their lives needlessly. "Wait until I give you the signal to rise and strike the enemy," he said He particularly warned the people oi nance against a premature rising "Be patient! Prepare!" was his mes sage. "Listen to the orders that I shall issue from time to time.

"When France Is liberated you your. splvpe will rhnnnp vnnr renresenlfltlvpa and the Government under which you wisn lo live. "In the furtherance of this campaign finally to defeat the enemy you may sustain rurther loss and damage. Tragic though they may be, they are part or tnc price ot victory. "BUT THE OPENING" "I assure that I shall do all in my power to mitigate your hardships.

1 know that I can count on your steadfastness now as in the past. "The heroic deeds of Frenchmen who have continued to struggle against the Nazis and their Vichy satellites In France and throughout the French Empire have been an example ana an lnsniration to all. "This landing is but the opening to free Europe. Great battles lie aneao. I call upon all people to stand with us now.

"Keep your faith staunch. Our arms are resolute. Together we shall achieve victory. nuded area as big as an aerodrome. "The whole of the shore in our section seemed to be alight," he said, "and smoke was sweeping along to cover all the beaches.

It could nol have been better for the chaps down I below, FLAME-THROWERS BLAZING Flight-Lieutenant, Pat McDaid. of Casino. N.S.W.. described how the sea for hundreds of yards out was stained a dirty brown from the earth flung out by the bombardment. "Our bombers and warships must have done an amazingly good Job." he said.

"In all our Invasion area I saw only one shore battery firing. 11 did not seem to be doing very well. "Our men were actually landing as we flew over them. but. of course, you can't see much detail of ground activity on a job like this." Other pilots described how flamethrowers were blazing along the shore, while warships were pouring salvoes into the targets ahead of the invading army.

LANDINGS REHEARSED OUR WAR CORRESPONDENT. HAROLD AUSTIN. WITH THE U.S. TROOPS, June 6. Elaborate plans based on air reconnaissance of actual invasion beaches, and followed by larger.scale manoeuvres on similar beaches, assured the success of the landing.

For months the assaulting troops have been trained In amphibious operations, including how to overcome the same type of obstacles the Germans bad built. No past operation has been so exactly planned. Even at this stage full details of how the reconnaissance was carried out cannot be revealed, but it is safe to say that the Allied commanders had every material fact necessary for success. They spent months carefully examining data and checking them against, every possible weakness. Experts carefully examined the most eflectivc ways of landing and of destroying obstacles.

When their preliminary plans were complete, troon." were taken to the mock invasion beach and put to the test. Reactions of the troops and the effectiveness of weapons and equipment were closely studied. Troops were taken to the area time and time again until the commander; were satisfied that thev were thor oughly trained, and it can be safelv said that when they embarked every ana mnn khew exactly wnat was expected of him both on the beaches and farther inland. U.S. INVASION AWAITING MOVE Embarkation Suspense OUR WAR CORRESPONDENT.

H. A. STANDISH. ABOARD AN L.S.T., June 6. After all the excitement of embarkation, we are still herded together in our "Landing-Ship Tank" lying off an English har bour.

For the hundreds of men cooped up here, as probably for hundreos of thousands of others cooped up in other craft at naval assembly points, this waiting is something an anti climax. From the tension of the embarkation movement a feeling of being "on the way at last" they have had to come down to a routuie of static living that is without activity because it is with out elbow-room. Even the irritations of shaking down have simmered down. Now we watcn the sea. We count new ships added hourly to the great fleet anchored around us from horizon to horizon, and we specu late on the purpose of each additional malformed specialist invasion craft.

For the rest we do nothing as grace fully as we know how, keeping as far as possible our feet from each other's faces. There have been surprising irrita tions surprising for an operation as long-planned as this. I suppose an element of improvisation is inevitable in any complicated movement of a large body of men. but there have been some things for which I was unprepared food deficiencies, for in stance. I cm speak only for this crait, Dut not until to-day was an adequate and properly balanced meal served to military personnel.

Earlier there had been no fresh meat or vegetables except potatoes, and no fruit expect dried- apple tart served once. STEW AND SAUSAGE Tinned stew and sova sausage have been the staples, and none of the troops failed to onserve. emerging from the same cookhouse, Infinitely more varied and better-balanced meals for the ship's crew. An Army doctor, asked his opinion of the soldiers' diet here lor men suddenlv deprived of exercise and about to tackle the most strenuous lob of their live, replied: "Biooay awful." Dinner to-day was Rood, dui me evening meal will be cheese, pickles, and biscuits. The ship has settled down to a routine designed to make living as tolerable as possible when several hundred men are crowded Into a space designed for a fourth of their number.

Most of the troops have to sleep on the deck in the small space that is free of vehicles. The men wrap themselves in tarpaulins, aas canes, and anything else to escape the biting Every man knows that this Is no exercise, and a commander who Just Inspected the ship told me every man in the operation will be told Just what we are doing. He emphasised the need for the public to understand the difficulty and complexity of the operation and not to expect the Impossible, either In scope or speed. BRITISH SUBMARINES ACTIVE LONDON. June 6 (Official Wireless).

British submarines have scored more successes against enemy ships in the Mediterranean and Aenean Sea. An Admiralty communique says that two large supply vessels, two meaium shins. 22 small vessels, and five naval auxiliaries have been sunk. Seven sunnlv shins have been damaged. Among the ships sunk was a large strongly escorted supply vessel bound for Crete with munitions.

Another large supply ship waa torpedoed and small vessels were destroyed by gunfire. The submarines also successfully bombarded shore targets. Including an oil refinery on the Italian coast, a railway goods yard, a seaplane hangar on the south coast of France, and a radio station in Crete. allies, already established by uniting our air forces on Russian soil, has been strongly cemented. Now all our efforts will be directed against the enemy, "A wrv grave future faces the enemy.

The end of the domination of the enslaved peoples ot Europe Is In sight. "We know that the struggle will be hard, but our will to destroy this nightmare will be stronger and harder and. togerner with our allies, nothing shall daunt us." As we circled, saining height, we cnuld see a Thunderbolt silhouetted ESSinst the magnificent moon, for the- coast. The sky beneath thr cloud ceiling was hung with the crern and red navigation lights of aircraft, all heading in the same directionfor the coast of Prance. We set course for the coast, too, and no through the ceiling until we planing along on top of the TOilly taycr.

like a motor-propelled on snow. Then, suddenly, we were out over th? Channel. Through gaps in the rcilin; we could see the cliffs of England, like a whitewashed fence behind us. Down below the calm surface of the Channel was dappled with moon-lljht and cloud shadows. Then the ceiling closed in and.

(hough we (trained our eyes until they ached, tc caught only a glimpse of the ship-pin: down below. We saw some ol the tow planes that took the gliders on their way home again. We passed over the French coast seeing it. We were wondering iiat the flak would be like and T'viher the Germans would throw in rah of their mystery fighter force. so long not seen over northern The tail-gunner.

Ed. Connor. iio conies from the United States. Mini over the tnter-com. "Aircraft 'iming a light coming up fast astern 1 o'clock.

I can't see what he Is." Keep your eye on him. Ed." Creeke Kid. LANCASTERS THERE We had been warned that the air out France would be thick with friendly night-fighters, and to go easy on the trigger. We weaved into cloud Bnd the kite disappeared. Like the filling in a cotton-wool sandwich of cloud we flew across the fstuary of a Normandy river towards our target a wooded defile through MONTGOMERY'S CONFIDENCE "We Are Terrific Team" LONDON, June 6 (A.A.P.).

"I have absolute and complete confidence in the outcome," said General Montgomery, addressing ar correspondents on the eve of battle. "The party is In Aral-class shape. To r.in the match I believe Rommel aim at defeating our operations on the beaches. "We are a terrific Allied team, and 1 So not believe the Germans can go much longer with this business The German soldier is terribly good, fcut I do not think the German genc-tal is as good as he used to be. He kis been on the defensive for a long hmc.

and I believe It must affect his mentality." "GOOD HUNTING" "The time has come to deal the 'ncmy a terrific blow In western Europe," says General Montgomery, in a message to his troops. "On the eve of this great adventure, I send my best wishes lo every olo'ier In the Allied troops. To us Chen the honour of striking a blow Inst will live in history, and In the Ktter days that He ahead people will J't will live in history, and In the oi our aoings. "We have a great and righteous fjuse and must seek God's help so His special providence will aid is in the struggle. "I want every soldier to know thai nave complete confidence in the With slout hearts let us no forward vlciuiy.

"Good luck to each one of you, and twii hunting on the mainland of Europe." Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay. Allied "val commander-in-chief, in a mcs-8c to ihe Allied naval forces before ilcd said: "Our task is to carry Allied Expeditionary Force to the ontinent. establish it there in a secure Wqehcnd. build it up. and maintain rate which will outmatch the ntmy.

Let no one under-estlmate the of this task." SOVIET HONOURS U.S. GENERAL Washington, June 6 (a.a.p..-Jlw Soviet Ambassador, M. Gromyko, Kcareted the U.8. Chief of Staff, Gen-Q. C.

Marshall, with the Order Snvornv, first degree, the highest "usstan honour. -Spiking at the ceremony In the Embassy. General Marshall nuuoii in ine tcrrioie S2pcaJl WBr now focused on a uV. wmcn every A1Ilctl kf It would f. thr 'r 'be Naals iMiue to victory lor th Allies.

like custodians watching over a valuable flock. Minesweepers and converted trawlers fussed In and out of the lines of vessels, cutters ploughed speedily about their business, smarl corvettes and frigates lay at anchor, and motor torpedo-boats rode high after patrolling the harbour entrance. Above periodic flights of Fortresses testified to the thoroughness with which the Channel coast was being softened up for the naval operations, on which depended initial success. SPECIAL CRAFT The landing vessels were an ugly but very efficient looking collection. In addition to numerous specialised craft for landing men, armour, and vehicles, there were craft armed and armoured for fire support in landing areas and craft with the sole duty of combating low-Hying aircraft.

There was an amazing amount of space in mast of these landing craft, many having been designed to bring back wounded in comparative comfort after discharging their cargoes. Some had come from America, a few from India, and other spheres of war. A prized possession in one tank landing ship was a Jeep, a souvenir of India, which the commander had fond hopes of driving to Paris. We were quartered on a converted liner, which. In peace-time, plied to China, whose captain hod served in the Greek, North African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns.

We had not been long In our when we were awakened by heavy gunfire and could feel the ship quiver slightly as her guns opened up against enemy raiders making one of their very few attempts to put out of action the port Installations or sink some of the Invasion craft. They did not achieve much damage. The guns of numerous ships and shore batteries put up a tremendous barrage, coinciding with a pungent smoke-screen spread by several ships. TROOPS READY Yet not one of our returning pilots has reported enemy craft in the air, and even the antiaircraft fire met by our low-flying Spitfires has been described as scrappy. Enemy air reaction is rarely immediate in an invasion of this kind, but it was anticipated that the Luftwaffe would have shown some activity by midday.

Up till then, however, no air engagement had been reported. From an airman's point of view the weather favoured the Invaders. This side of the Channel was clear, but over the French coast low cloud extended up several thousand feet, making an imposing barrier through which reconnaissance by German planes would have been almost impossible. FIGHTERS AND FLAK Cloud banks extended far enough to sea to prevent useful reconnaissance even If the German pilots had been willing to face our fighters and our flak from warships. The wind blew consistently parallel to the French coast, so that smoke from grass fires started by the bombardment formed a screen for the beach operations.

Pilots describe as "fantastic" the scene In the Channel, where almost innumerable craft were seen moving for hours. I didn't know there were so many craft in the world," said one wing-commander. "It was an unforget- able sight." Pilots of an Australian Spitfire squadron began to take part directly in the invasion yesterday evenins. with escort duty for convoys moving to France. "It was rcallv something to marvel at." one of them said.

"You could look as far forward and as far back as you liked, and there were still ships." This morning with other squadrons of the Tactical Air Force Australians maintained a constant cover over a wide section of the landing area. They flew in and out of the clouds, but low enough to observe much of the ground activity. Above them was a top cover of Thunderbolts. Perhaps by contrast to our own air activity, they found the French scene curiously peaceful, although some were able to see sporadic ship and shore gun duels. Signs of the terrific effect of the heavy bombers, however, were visible.

They had left great gaps in the Ger man snore deiences. and nuge areas had actually been wiped clean. "PEELED LIKE ORANGE" "I saw two areas a few miles apart which were used by German heavy shore batteries," said Squadron-Leader Donald Smith, of Victor Harbour, S.A., commander of an Australian Spitfire squadron. "This morning there was absolutely notning leit of tnem. It was Just as If you had peeled the earth like an orange." Plylng-Offloer Michael West, from HEAVY TANKS IN ACTION Russians Firm at Jassy LONDON, June 8 (A.A.P.h The battle north of Jassy has developed Into a heavy armoured action, according to Reuter's correspondent In Moscow.

The Germans, taking advantage ol the atony ground, are throwing In groups of heavy Tiger tanks and mobile guns, and the Russians, after bearing the brunt of a seven-day attack with their artillery, are now using armour on an equal scale. Heavy casualties were suffered by Rumanian divisions when the Germans flung them In to try to over whelm the Russians with a weight of numbers. To-day's Moscow communique says that Soviet troops north and northwest of Jassy successfully repelled large enemy tank and Infantry attacks. On Sunday in this area 41 enemy tanks and 33 aircraft were destroyed, and another tlx aircraft on other sectors. I RUSSIANS REJOICE AT NEWS LONDON, June 6.

Moscow Radio this afternoon broadcast the following message on the invasion: "With great Joy we announce a landing on the coast of Prance by British, American, and Canadian forces. It la with fluttering hearts that we embrace this hour. The second front has begun! "It. la an occasion on which the union between the Red Army and It The British Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, Inspecting U.S.

Invasion troops in England last month. The letters AAAO on their helmets stand for "Anywhere, Anytime, Anyhow, bar Nothing.".

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About The Sydney Morning Herald Archive

Pages Available:
2,319,638
Years Available:
1831-2002