The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-05-16
BY LOUIS +. KEEMLE
limited Press War Editorl

American French Fifth Army
forces in italy widened and deep
ened the hole they had torn In the
German Gustav Line today, advance
inf along a front eight miles wide
to gain another two miles toward
the enemy's second defense system,
the Adolf Hitler Line.
On the right of the Fifth Army
in the Liri river valley southwest
Of Casino, the Eighth Army made
slower progress but communique
announced 1t had expanded its
bridgehead over the Rapido river
and taken more strong points.
The Allied air offensive against
western Europe diminished in in
tensity for the time being because
Of the unfavorable weather but the
invasion fever which gripped Eng
land and the continent continued
to mount. AS the British permit
ted publication of photographs
showing part of big invasion ar
mazda massed off the coast, the
Germans sent over an increasing
number of planes in quest for in
formation.
Progress on the italian front was
marked by stout German resistance
along the Eighth Armys sector, but
the Line appeared to be crumbling
before the onslaught Of the French
and Americans down towards the
sea. Another 1000 prisoners and six
more towns were taken.
French Advance
The French advanced more than
two miles beyond captured Ausonia
to take Mt. Fammera while the
Americans occupied Spigno, aban-
boned by the Germans. Spigno lies
mile and a half beyond the road
from Casino to Formia on the
coast. This road Is out Of enemy
hands, disrupting their forward sup
ply system. A communique said
all organized German resistance had
ceased up to the road.
The Fifth and Eighth armies to-
gether captured 81 more square
miles Of territory yesterday for a
total Of 81 sincet he fofensive start
ed.
In the air, Allied medium and
light bombers continued to pound
the enemys transport system
throughout Italy, apparently with
good results. Italian civilians and
German prisoners taken at Spigno
disclosed that food had been short
for some time and the Germans
were living almost entirely off the
country.
Air activity from England was
confined during the night to forays
by Raj twin-engined Mosquito
bombers which attacked Ludwigsha-
fen and several other points in
western Germany and an air field
in France. The Germans for the
second night in a row sent more
than 100 planes over England. They
did some bombing butt heir main
purpose apparently was to spot
shipping movements in southern
coastal waters. At least five of
them were shot down for total Of
20 in two nights.
Allies Feed Fears
The Allies were making no eff
fort to ease German invasion fears.
Not only were photographs of tank
landing and other invasion fleets
published, bunt the American radio
broadcast the fact to Europe.
The Russian Air Force also kept
reminding the Germans that in
vasion is in prospect from the east
Moscow disclosed that long-range
bomberS were out on Sunday for
the fourth successive night to attack
food and supply depots and railway
centers. Four rail centers were hit
in the Lwow district of pre-war Po-
land and another far to the north,
in Latvia. In the BarentS Sea,
Soviet planes hit large enemy con-
voy, sinking three transports and
three smaller vessels.
Reds Massing
A United Press dispatch from
Moscow said the Red Army was re-
ported to be maSsing forces deer
in the interior, in the Ukraine ano
the Crimea for an about summer
offensive along the central front
towards Germany proper. Reserves
were reported moving up to the GEN.
trail front from depots far back ir
| Russia.
The war in the Pacific wa
marked by extensive Allied air OPP
erationS from the Kurile Islands u
! - $500.