1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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almost to Poggibonsi on W and to outskirts of Castellina
in Chianti on E.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, NZ 2d Div
pursues enemy northward toward Arezzo, taking
crest of M. Castiglione Maggiore without opposition.
Corps is directed to press NW to Alpe di Poti
with Ind 4th Div while Ind 10th Div protects right
flank.
NEW GUINEA—On Noemfoor, 1st Bn of 503d
Para Inf encounters main enemy forces remaining
on Noemfoor at Hill 670, some 3 miles NE of Namber
airdrome. In Aitape area, PERSECUTION Covering
Force attacks to restore positions along the Driniumor.
North and South Forces succeed in reaching
the river, but broad gap exists between them. 1st
Bn of 128th Inf, while clearing coastal sector from
Anamo to the Driniumor, on N flank of North
Force, decisively defeats enemy’s Coastal Attack
Force and destroys most of its arty. In region W of
the Driniumor, Japanese make a number of small
attacks on 2d Bn of 128th Inf, in Tiber area, and
are driven off.
SAIPAN—3d Bn of 6th Marines, 2d Mar Div,
occupies Maniagassa I., in Tanapag Harbor without
serious opposition. This concludes Marine activities
on Saipan.
U.S.—President Roosevelt, preparing to depart
for Hawaii to discuss Pacific strategy with Gen Mac-
Arthur and Adm Nimitz, replies to Chiang Kaishek’s
letter of 8th, agreeing to choose a political
representative and urging that the way be quickly
cleared for Gen Stilwell to take command of Ch
forces.
14 July
FRANCE—21 Army Group: In U.S. First Army
area, VIII Corps closes along Ay and Sèves Rivers,
where forward movement is stopped by army order.
In VII Corps area, 9th Div continues to clear Les
Champs-de-Losque–Le Désert area against tenacious
resistance. In XIX Corps area, 119th Inf of 30th
Div captures Pont Hébert, concluding bitter struggle
for this objective. Just across the Vire, 35th Div
breaks through to Pont Hébert–St Lô highway.
29th Div maintains positions NE and E of St Lô.
In V Corps area, commander of 5th Div assumes
responsibility for former zone of 1st Div on left
flank of corps.
USSR—Broadening offensive southward, troops
of First Ukrainian Front attack above and below
Brody, in region E of Lwow. Pinsk falls to First
White Russian forces.
ITALY—AAI: Directs Br Eighth Army to take
Ancona and Florence and U.S. Fifth Army, Leghorn;
later, attack is to carry through the Gothic
Line between Dicomano and Pistoia to the Po R
line, where bridgeheads are to be established.
[ 14–15 JULY 1944 ]
In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 135th Inf
of 34th Div meets little opposition as it continues
toward Leghorn; 442d takes S. Pieve di Luce; 133d
is approaching Usigliano. Elements of 91st Div’s
363d Inf take Chianni without opposition early in
day; patrols of 362d find that enemy has abandoned
Terricciola. 88th Div gains about 4 miles on right
flank of IV Corps, overrunning key positions at
Belvedere and Villamagna. In FEC area, as enemy
resistance collapses, French take Poggibonsi and
continue toward Certaldo.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, NZ troops
gain summit of M. Carmucino, but German opposition
then stiffens all along line.
CBI—In NCAC area, request by Maj Gen Lentaigne
for withdrawal of Morris Force (of Ind 3d
Div) from positions across the Irrawaddy from
Myitkyina is denied. By this time the force has only
3 platoons left.
11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army area,
33 Corps completes envelopment and elimination of
Japanese force on Ukhrul–Imphal road, completely
clearing Ukhrul area. 4 Corps, pressing down Tiddim
road, has been stubbornly opposed thus far, but
Japanese are beginning to weaken under attacks of
Ind 5th and 17th Divs and aircraft.
POA—CINCPAC-CINCPOA issue Joint Staff
Study for STALEMATE (invasion of the Palaus).
NEW GUINEA—Gen MacArthur orders TF
CYCLONE to have Kornasoren airdrome ready to receive
50 P–38’s by 25 July in preparation for invasion
of Vogelkop Peninsula. Rcn party moves by PT
boat from Noemfoor to Cape Opmarai, N coast of
the Vogelkop, where it stays for 3 days gathering
information upon which final plans for the operation
are made. In Wakde-Sarmi area, 31st Div (less
RCT 124) begins unloading at Maffin Bay to relieve
6th Div. In Aitape area, South Force narrows gap
between it and North Force along the Driniumor
by moving 3d Bn of 127th Inf northward, but the 2
forces are still out of contact with each other. 3d Bn
of 124th Inf, North Force, kills about 135 Japanese
in the gap, night 14–15.
15 July
FRANCE—21 Army Group: U.S. First Army
halts offensive W of Taute R while regrouping extensively
in preparation for COBRA. 4th Armd Div
is temporarily held in reserve. VIII Corps, now holding
initial objectives along Ay R except for town of
Lessay, maintains current positions while regrouping
to include 8th, 79th, 90th, 4th, and 83d Divs.
VII Corps continues offensive with 9th Div while
regrouping on rest of front to include 30th and 1st
Inf Divs and 2d and 3d Armd Divs. Zone is extended
E to Vire R when 30th Div is transferred to corps