The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-06
| THE WAR ON
 MANY FRONTS
(Ry United Press)

United Nations armies captured the Japanese base of Munda in the Central Solomons today, struck pow. erfully at the vital German defense bastions of Kharkov and Bryansk ir Russia, and rolled back the stiff fened Axis defense line across northeast Sicily.
 Gen. Douglas MacArthur's head quarters announced the seizure o1 Munda by American jungle fighters year short of a day after the Americans landed on Guadalcanal in the South Solomons. It was the first major objective taken in the South Pacific victory drive launched on June 30.
 Russian dispatches said the Red Army, inspired by it's first great summer victories at Orel and Bel gorod, was plunging in behind by passed Kharkov and to the north was aiming pincers campaign against Bryansk.
 Stiff Opposition
 Unexpectedly stiff opposition in Sicily put a damper on hopes for an immediate conclusion of the in- vasion campaign. The Allies bat tered forward, however, and ob- servers agreed that complete victory was a matter of days.
 Lieut.. Gen. George s. Patton's Seventh Army found the going tough in the area of Troina at the cen- ter of the Eetna Line, once re- ported captured, but now revealed to be in German hands. To the southwest they captured Gagliano while advances of two to three miles were scored on the north coast.
 Canadians on the American right flank drove to within five miles ot Adrano, key transport center on the outer rim of Mount Etna, threat ening to cut the German communi- cation loop around the volcano.
 Military sources in London said the estimated 60,00O to 80,000 Ger man and Italian troops in Sicily "can be regarded as doomed" and that it was only matter of days before organized resistance ended.
 Flying fortresses, Wellingtons and other Allied bombers focused a mighty bombardment on Messina at the northeastern tip of Sicily, leav- ing massed evacuation ships and harbor fixtures Welter of flaming destruction.
 Crumbling Axis Defenses
 Aground, the American, British and Canadian forces chopped stead fly deeper into crumbling Axis de- lenses. The British Eighth Army pushing on from captured Catania moved up the coast against Acirea!e and polished off the rough spots ir the crumpled Catania- Gerbini-Pat- .erno zone anchoring the Etna line
 American troops were meeting strong resistance in the area ol Troina at the center of the Etns Line, where German forces, solidly entrenched amidst precipitous noun. tains, were battling tenaciously.
 On the Russian front Soviet forces wheeling south-westward from cap. tured Belgorod by-passed in g flanking drive threatening to en- circle the great German held base.
 Northeastward 250 miles, Red army forces advanced in a pincers move against Bryansk, lower central front stronghold.
 Premier Joseph Stalin hailed the Red Army conquests in its first summer offensive with special or der of the day announcing not only the previously reported capture oi Orel, but also the surprising con. quest of Belgorod, 40 miles above Kharkov.
 The impact of the stinging defeat. on the Nazis was reflected by Der. lin broadcasts reporting massive at. tacks all along the southern front ir Russia and a developing Soviet of' fensive aimed at Kiev, capital ol the Ukraine.