The Republican., 1943-12-23
DIARY OF The WAR

FRIDAY-Bombers and fighters of
L. S. struck northwest Germany and
battered sub and shipbuilding area
FOR third time in week More than 300
planes from Mediterranean bases
smashed enemy communications at
Innsbruck in Austrian Tyrol and at
Italian end of Bremen pass. Reds re-
gained several places following tank
battle west and northwest of Kiev
Artillery broke German counter
offensive Gains were made in Dniep-
er bend British cut a lateral road on
Adriatic coast in drive for Pescara
Yugoslavs gave way under crushing
German pressure. Churchill was i'll
of pneumonia for second time in ten
months. American amphibious forces
stormed ashore on New Britain island
at Arawe, near western end of island
and began working toward Rabaul.
Jap mid-pacific islands were given
another heavy pounding by American
bombers
/ SATURDAY-Germans told of Red
attacks in northern areas of White
Russia but Moscow reported gains
only in Dnieper bend area. French
forces, crushed in 1910, were back
fighting against Nazis on Italian
front. Land fighting in Italy was
| limited. Bombers hit enemy rail COM
munications in that area Raj again
plastered Berlin, the sixth "satura-
ton raid in less than month Japs
struck at beachhead on New Britain
island but lost IA planes. American
planes for eighth straight day
bombed airdromes on Marshal island
group. Eight more Jap cargo ships
were reported sunk. Partisans de-
feated Nazis in Balkans battle.
SUNDAY - Russian attacks cap
tured several Nazi strongpoints
around Krovograd in Dnieper bend
while Germans reported 100000 Reds
had crashed through German lines
near Newell, 70 miles from Latvian
border. There was no mention of the
kiev sector where Germans made fu-
tile effort to break Red almy's main
Dnieper salient In Italy American
fighters closed in on a segment of
Cassino-Rome road near San Pietro
Casino was virtually surrounded
Americans also battled for Nazi bas-
tions on Mount Lungo. Allied flyers
continued their campaign in Balkans
and were joined by few Italian
fighters. New Zealand and Canadian
troops were bearing brunt Of Nazi
counterattacks on Adriatic side
Americans spread out on New Britain
island and cleared Japs from Cape
Merkus peninsula, east of beachhead.
American plane activity kept Jap
countcr-attacks from forming. Aus
tralian fighters in New Guinea cap
tured coastal supply base on the
Huoon peninsula. Oil centers on Jap
held islands were bombed.
MONDAY-Moscow announced Of
ficiaIly the drive in White Russia
which had enveloped 500 villages, and
had won an 18-mile breakthrough. to
within 81 miles of Latvia; 10000 Ger
mans were killed and 1000 captured.
In Italy Americans captured San
Pietro in bloody battle and also took
another point three miles northwest
Of FihgnanO. Heavy fighting con-
tinued on southern end of pinccr at
Mount Lungo. British captured Pog-
gio Fiorito and improved positions
along Adriatic. Yugoslavs announced
further success against Germans.
American planes appeared over Ger
many from Adriatic area Daylight
Sortics were made by Allied planes
across Channel from England A few
German bombers flew over England.
Southeast Asia air units of Allies
were merged. Six zero planes were
downcd as Americans kept up pound
ing Of Marshall islands American
planes swept over Rabaul and kept
constant guard over American beach
head at AraWe.
TUESDAY - Reds with cavalry,
tanks and ski troops in Newell sector
captured 10 more towns. A new soviet
thrust in south pushed Germans back
] to west bank of lower Dnieper near
Nhrrson. Red forces rcpelled German
thrusts west of Kicv and in Dnieper
bend American planes from England
nit at northern France and northwest
! Germany. A raid from Mediterranean
area covered Nazi industrial and
armament center of Augsburg. also
| Innsbruck at Brcnncr pass. They de-
Stroyed 37 probably % more and
winged another score while losing II
hombcrs. Rombers again hit Bulgar-
ian capital. Allies made painful prog