The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-10
The War On
Many Fronts

Triumphant Russian armies
plunged deeper into Poland and the
approaches to Rumania today while
Allied troops smashed ahead in the
italian mountains and American
bombers struck q strong blow in
support Of Marshal Josip (Tito)
Brozovich's embattled Jugoslav
Partisans.
Capturing thousands Of demon
allied German soldiers and smash
ing counter-attacks that "bled the
enemy white" Gen. Nloolai F. Va
tutin's 1st Ukrainian army rolled
forward rapidly on 300-mile front
west and south Of Kiev, sending its
western vanguard into the out
skirts of Sarny, SO miles beyond the
old Polish border and situated on
the only north and south rail link
between the ccllapsing German arm
les.
To the south, Vatutins columns
swerved down within 10 miles of a
juncture with Gen. Ivan S. Konevs
End Ukrainian army that would trap
tens of thousands of German troops
in the Dnieper bend and open the
way for a joint offensive across the
old Rumanian border.
The critical nature Of the Ger
mans plight as underlined by a
statement attributed by the Stock
holm newspaper Tidningen to Of
fetal Berlin quarters that the pres
ent battles would +" decisive for
the whole war" The Nazi Paris
radio admitted meanwhile, that the
German high command would be
able to muster only 100000 men
to face the LIST and 2nd Ukranian
armies 100000
The swift advance Of the COM
bined Russian armies was over
running a network of six railroads
and menacing all the northern rail
communications SUPPLYING German
troops near Odessa, Nokolaev and
other Black Sea points. One LIST
army spearhead had pushed to with
in 20 miles Of the Odessa Warsaw
railway, the artery into which all
lines east OF Zhmerinka funnel for
the final stretch into Poland
Black Sea Coast
On the Black Sea coast IS miles
southwest OF Nokalaev, nine Soviet
landing boats mace an unsuccessful
attempt TO disembark detachment
of troops, the German DNB agency
said. Light German naval units
beat off the landing craft with
heavy losses" DNB said.
On the Fifth Army front, Ameri-
can troops stormed thre strategic
mountain heights dominating the
inland road to Rome, effectively en-
circling the strongly-fortified town
OF Cervaro, four miles east of the
main enemy bastion OF Casino.
The latest victories were won
against do-or-die German forces
battling desperately to prevent
breach in their hastily thrown to-
gether defense belt girdling Cas-
sino, bristling defense point astride
the ancient via Casilina scarcely 70
miles from Rome.
Surging forward two miles from
newly-won positions straddling
Mount Majo, American infantrymen
comprising the right wing Of the
Fifth Army offensive drove the Nazis
from Catenda Vecchio, a 3,800-foot
ridge, less than three miles north
east Of Cervero. South and west OF
the town, a second American column
cut enemy lines to capture Mount
La Chiaia. Still farther south, other
American units gained the 90Ofoot
peak Of Mount Porchia.
On the left wing Of the Fifth
army line, British elements crossed
the tiny Peccia river under heavy
shellfire rad established a beach
head Just west of Maggiore.
Deep Snowdrifts
Deep snowdriftS stalled the Brit
ish Eighth Army's advance on the
Adriatic front, combining ground ac-
tivity to exchanges Of artillery and
mortar fire and sporadic patrol
patrol clashes. Prior to the present
lull, the Germans had been thrown
back IA q Line running some eight