The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-10
Raiders Over Reich, France
as Reverse Blitz Goes Into
TwentyFourth Straight Day
Russian Army
Poised For
Drive


tons hammered Hitler's European
of the Nazi Invasion OF France and
the low lands on the heels OF a
mighty blow which rocked the in
yasion-threatened French coast and
other targets In the occupied coun-
try and Germany itself.
As the pre-invaslon aerial offen-
si'e against Europe entered It's
2ith straight day. swarms OF Allied
bombers and fighters headed across
the Dover Straits. Shortly after
their departure. German radios au-
nounced that Allied raiders were
over the Reich and France. some
observers termed the pow erful air
attacks reverse blitz." rcmln.s-
cent OF the period four years ago
when the German air force AID
Hitler's panzer divisions overran
France. Belgium and Holland.
Offensive Expected
Expectations that the Allies soon
may attempt such u follow.up TO
the aerial mauling was voiced a
various quarters. the Axis being ex.
tremely jittery at the prospect OF
an imminent Invasion OF western
Europe.
1T Is not impossible that We now
are on the eve Of new, great Of
fensiye which win completely
change the situation In Europe
conceded an announcer for the Ger
man.dominated Vichy radio.
That portion OF northern France
commonly termed the Invasion
coast reeled under devastating
raids by nightflylng British bomb
ers.
Berlin Bombed
Among the inland targets VAS
Berlin, which was hit b. speedy
Mosquito bombers -slorlly before
| o'clock. The swiftwinged British
plywood craft dropped many" two
ION Oiock buster bombs ON The Ger
man capital.
Avery rapid attack was msds
on an al Cralt foundry and stamp
ing plant al GcuneIilliers a PAS
suburb. and the returning crew
members reported the bombing -
well concentrated. They told like
wise Of series Of explosions which
LETT the entire target area-eHycl-
oped in smoke.
A Nazi ball-hearing factory at
Annecy, near the fraucoItalian
frontier. vas &so hi and the ons
JectlFe which was clearly ideptl-
fled Was left wrealhed "a flames
Bomb Ports
Wellington bombegs Of the Med
iterlancan air force. meantime.
bombed harbor Installations in tho
German held ports OF LlNoruo and
Genoa. In northwest Italy. Huge
fires, touched OFF by the Allied
bOmbers, were visible for many
miles as the raiders turned home
ward.
The night assault agains' Llyor-
no and Genoa followed on TIE heels
OF daylight strike BY medium
and light bombers on Nlzi com
munications north OF Rome.
On the ground In italy. the Brit-
ish eighth army occupied the town
Of Palena.--2j miles west OF the
Adriatlc coast, which had been alb
andoned by Withdrawing German
forces.
On the eastern front. Russian To-
gions were poised for a possible
early assault against RomlniaS
east coast after clearing 'hs Nazis
from all Of the Crimean Peninsula
with the cyclonic capture Of Sevat-
topo,. The historic naval base, de-
sc.ibed as the "most important
on the Black Sea. fell to Soviet
troops in a three-day stormirg al.
tack this was in marked contras.
with the 2J0-day siege necessary in
1912 before the German ho-des
could occupy the strategic port.
Gen Douglas MacArthur's air.
men, pressing campaign 10 dis
rupt japanese efforts TO reinforce
air strength west Of Americar-held
Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea,
dealt twin blow against the Mok-
mer airdrome Of the enemy in the
Schouten Islands. Large fires and
numerous explosions were set OF
az the airdrome which Is situated
some 200 miles west OF Hollandia.
Disclosure that Americas three
topranking admirals- Admirals Err
nest j. King, Chester W. Nimitz
and william =. Halsey met last
week end in San Francisco. was
taken In authoritative Washington
quarters to Indicate that new heavy
blows are being planned for the
Japs In the near future.