 The next day , although U.S. VIII Corps continued to advance west through Brittany toward the ports of Brest and Lorient , Bradley ordered Patton to drive eastward with the main body of the U.S. Third Army , around the open German flank and into the German rear areas . U.S. XV Corps advanced no less than 75 mi ( 121 km ) during the next three days , and by 7 August they were approaching Le Mans , formerly the location of the headquarters of the German 7th Army , and still an important logistic center . 
