The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-10-12
y. S. Bombers
Hit Enemy
Air Base

rRy irtsrnstio1s News Service
Hltlers hordes applied the torch
to still another city that he must
evacuate and the important White
Russian communication center OF
Gomel today became funeral
pyre for German hopes OF stem,
ming the Soviet forces short OF tho
Polish border
AZ units Of the Triumphant Red
Army battered their way into the
suburbs Of The city. tho German.
prepared 10 eyacuate the import
ant stronghold on the banks of
the SoZh River. Just az IN Naples.
which was set aflfe by the enemy
as Anglo American forces ap.
preached that ancient city. Hitlers
sappers blasted and burned Gomel.
Fall OF the town became i'm.
minent when Soviet troops captn-
ed Noyobelitsa. vital rail junction
lust across the river. The Red
Army controlled the entire south
bank OF the Sozh River while oth.
er Russian forces extended their
recently won bridgcheads across
the mighty Dnlepcr River.
Increase Threat
In forging ahead on the west
bank OF the Dnieper. Stains sol.
diers increased the threat 10 Kiey.
third largest Russian city which IL
still held by the Germans Lon
don reports, said the enemy was
evacuating this important Nazi
bastion. too, but this was not Inn.
mediately confirmed by the Soviet
high command
Another enemy base was tlam.
ing ruin today. but IL was not self.
inflicted devastation. On the con.
trary. the fires kindled al Macas.
sar, Jap oil supply base on CelebcS
Island in the Dutch East Indies.
were set by American bombers
Con Douglas Macarthur. said
four motored liberators had made
their fourth 1900 mile round trip
10 pound the port with q tons or
high explosives
Returning airmen said they
could see fires 30 miles from the
targets, which included fuel tanks
and warehouses near the Juliana
and Wilhelmina wharves and Fort
Rotterdam A half dozen other jap
targets throughout the Islands
north and east OF Australia were
blasted by Allied airmen while the
enemy made two Intellectual raids
against our positions In New
Guinea
Positions Improved
The Allied positions on this lat.
ter island, were improved as Aus.
tralian jungle troops forced a
further Jap retreat toward MsdanR.
Surging up the Ramu Valley. the
Aussies pressed TO within 90 miles
OF that enemy stronghold
Macarthur said the enemy stll
continues TO withdraw TO ths
north
Tmor. hslf.Dutch and halfPor.
tuguese island north OF Australia,
attracted much interest in world.
wide diplomatic circles. II was re.
ported 10 be the crux Of Jap.Portu.
guese tension, with Lisbon report.
eddy seeking 10 effect a Jap with
drawal from the island occupied
early in 1912.
Slowed by Rain
The Allied drive in italy. intend
ed 10 liberate Rome next. was
slowed down somewhat by heavy
rain. As the Germans and the Al
lies faced each other across the
rain-swollen Nolturno River. al
ready crossed by some American
patrols. the Allies brought up 70
inforcements for the impending
all out thrust across thar stream
Artillery pieces OF Nazi Field
Marshal Albert Kesselring sough,
10 hamper these reinforcement ef.
forts The siX-mile advance Of an
Allied spearhead on the central
part Of the front north Of Beneven-
to threatened to turn the enemys
defense line. and the German.cou-
trolled enemy radio said British
fleet units bombarded the Adriat-
IT, port OF Pescara. next objective