The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-18
Russians Start Big Fires
in Minsk, Mass Troops For.
Decisive Summer Offensive
Jungle Action
Namows Cap
in Burma
CBy the Associated pre.O

Casino .aDd Formia. two German
strongpolnts In Central Italy. wers
captured today by Allied troops
who we're storming steadily ahead
toward Rome on a violently erupt-
ing '25.mile front
British troops captured Casino.
" ere the Nazis had repulsed Al
lied attacks with a Polish corps
which stormed hill 500. northern
anchor OF the Adon Hitler and the
Gustav line. The British had cut
the Via Casillna two miles beyond
the city on the way 10 Rome
formia. southern anchor OF thu
Hitler line, fell TO American troops
In a ilye-mile advance. Both Cas-.
sipo and Formia are ~ sirlins
miles from Rome and around 40
miles from the southern edge OF the
Anzio beachhead, where the enemy
said Allied troops were attacking.
Cruisers pumped 5000 shells into
the FormJa area before the dough.
boys stormed IL.
The old Benedictlne Monastery
on mountain towering above Cas-
sinl was captured by the Poles but
had turned II into a fortress.
Start Fires
Russian bombera started great
fires and explosions IN the White
Russian capital OF Mlnsk and
bombed two old Polish centers. The
soviets sad they killed 500 ana
captured 1850 Germans around Stan
islawow in the south.
The Firms said their port OF
Kamina was bombed. Still the
Russian armies were massing for
the great and decisive summer Of
fensive TO be cordinated with Cen.
EtsenhowsTis invasion of tins wesr.
The fall OF Casino opens the
broad and most reckoning road 10
Rome and Is a vast military Vie
tory. SCATTERING TO Germah morale.
On March 8, the town OF 5000
was reduced to ruin by $500 tons
OF Allied bombs. but yet the Ger
mans held.
All along the e5.mIle front. tina
Allies were advancing and head.
quarters said the battle for the
Gustav Line Is drawing 10 a close
and the battle for the Adolf Hitler
line Ia about to commence
Marrow Gap
spectacular jungle maneuNer
by IT Joseph W. Stilwell's Ameri-
can and Chinese soldiers has top
pied an important airdrome from
japanese control. placed the main
enemy base in north Burma uh-
der siege and narrowed the gap be-
tween conyerging Allied armies In
Burma and China to less than 50
airline miles.
Southeast Asia Allied headquar-
ters announced today StilwellS
forces captured Myitkyina ardrome
after a 20.day forced march and
now are beslcgint Myitkyina City,
terminus o. the important MANGA
lay railroad
Immediately after the airdrome
was secured. gliders and transport
planes landed American engineers
and Chinese trooTs Brig Gen.
Frank Merrills Marauders partici-
pated I'm the surprise stroke which
apparently caught the japanese
completely by surprise and only
slight resistance was offered" the
Allied communique said
To Link Roads
Fall OF Myitkyina would threat
on to collapse the entire Japanese
position in northern Burma and
remove an important obstacle IN
the campaign TO link the new Ledo
Road with the old Burma Road to
China.
Eighty airline miles east. Chi
nese troops streaming west OF the
Salween River swept through sew
eral new positions in an apparent
pincers movement on a Japanese
held segment Of the Burma ROAD.
Chinese guerrillss captured Sypi-
nav Pass.
The picture was stu grim for
Chinese defenders Of Loyang.
former Chinese capital in northern
Honan province Furious infantry
attacks both inside and outside the
city are being met but japanese
forces are spinning a gigantic web
around LoyanA Southeast OF the
CITY. Chinese troops repeatedly re-
captured 30-mile stretch OF the
railroad