The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-29
War

Continued from Page one)
Of the strategic Southwest Pacific
island. At the same time. troops OF
the United States Sixth Army were
staging a comeback. having TEN
porarily yielded ground before
strong Japanese counter-action.
The Army forces. which had re-
tired to Amtingalu Village on the
southern coast, were again within
one mile OF the important Arawe
airstrip.
Softened by 6arrAse
Preceding the advancing Marines
were tank forces. The way had
been softened by strong artillery
barrage. which also helped the
Yanks repulse four enemy counter
thrusts. American casualties in this
action were said to be extremely
light. SO far.
In the west sector Gen. Doug
Las MacArthur's official commun-
ique said, "our troops have estab-
lished their positions and are pa
trolling enemy territory"
In the AraWe sector. the Japs Dol.
stored their defense with a 50.plane
attack upon American positions
The assault cost the enemy heavily,
though, and 81 of the raiding forma
ton were downed. Allied losses
Wara form, "a slf ght
Meanwhile. heavy and medium
bombers supporting the Yank
ground forces dropped $50 tons OF
high explosives on the japanese
defenses and strafed the Cape Glou
cester airdrome area WITH machine
gun fire.
Across the Dampier and NitiaZ
Straits from Cape Gloucester. yeter-
an Australian jungle troops extend
ed their control of the Huon PENN
sula. The Aussies captured both
Ago and the Jap barge and supply
base at Walingai, while other Al.
lied units blasted the enemy from
a steep ridge north OF Dumpu.
In the central Pacific. Army Lib
orator bombers and Navy dive
bombers hammered the Jap-held
Marshall Islands in two more
raids. On December rs. a commun-
ique from Admiral Chester w.
Nimitz revealed, the four-motored
craft dumped more than 50 tons OF
! bombs on the Wolfe Atoll. while
Ventura diyebom bers escorted by
Hellcat fighters made a low-level
attack upon nearby Jaluit Island.
Two OF the Liberators were lost,
but all naval craft returned to their
base.
Another blow was dealt the Jap
anese, this one by submarines of
the United States fleet. Official
sources revealed that the American
subs sank another Jap destroyer
and II other cargo and transport
vessels, bringing TO 3S6 the number
OF enemy craft sunk since outbreak
Of the war.
Setbscks Likely
That other decisive setbacks may
be in the making for the Japanese
/
Secretary Frank Knox who re.
vealed that the American fleet now
has more than seven times as many
aircraft carriers in operation as II
| did before Pearl Harbor. That
means at least AZ such vessels are
plying the seven seas, looking for
| action,
The Germans, meantime, sui
fered additional setbacks. In Russia
strong Red army forces OF tanks
| and infantry dashed aside desper
| ate Nazi resistance in White Rus.
STA and the Ukraine to momentari
ly increase their threat Of envelop
ing several key functions on the
vital Leningrad-Odessa Railroad.
Spearheads OF the Russian arm
les were reported within artillery
range Of Zhitomir. and Korosten. In
the kiev area, as well as near the
White Russian communications
center OF Vitebsk, some $500 Nazis
fell before the seady Soviet ad.
vances, which also knocked out lO5
enemy tanks and captured vast
quantities OF war materials and
took substantial" numbers OF pris.
oners.
In Italy. an unconfirmed Ger.
man report said, the British Eighth
Army captured strategic Ortona af.
ter eight days Of street fighting.
The American Fifth Army inten.
sified its drive toward the Casino
gateway to Rome. moving up to the
outskirts Of San Vittore at the foot
OF the captured Sammucro Noun.
tain peaks.
Another unconfirmed German
claim said Allied planes bombed
Rome. causing numerous deaths
and injuries.