Evening star., 1944-03-19

but did run into considerable flax,
two planes failing to return.
Tuesday night, taking advantage
of a bomber's moon, British planes
hit the railroad facilities at lie Mans
on the shortest route between the
west and south coasts of France.
Gripping the ability of the Nazis to
move supplies and men back and
forth between these two potential
invasion areas.
Wednesday American heavy
bombers smashed at Central Ger
many objectives, the raid being fea-
tured by heavy air battle over
Hanover.
London, in the meantime. was
digging out from the wreckage
caused by the heaviest German raid
in many months when a force num-
bering between $50 and 200 German
planes swept in to attack. Damage
was extensive and there was some
loss of life.
Thursday came the big raid on
unspecifled objectives, during which
"a American planes were lost but
which cost the enemy 125, including
black-painted night fighters.
Action Light in Pacific.
Action was relatively light in the
Pacific though Allied forces i'm
proved their position at many points
and the japanese paid heavily for a
desperate effort to dislodge the AL
lied troops from their positions
around Empress Augusta Bay on
Bougainville Island.
Rsbaul was further softened
toward the day when it will be oc-
cupied and Wewak on New Guinea
underwent similar treatment. Amer
can hold on the Marshalls was i'm
proved and far off in India, Allied
forces gained considerable success
in Burma as they hurried to consol-
idate their gains before the arrival
of the rapidly approaching monsoon
season. Paratroopers were landed
behind the japanese lines for the
first time and posed a threat to
the Japs seeking to prevent access
to the Burma road, Saturday new
raids on the Kuriles were reported
Wotho, an atoll lying between
EniWetok and Kwajalein, was seized
by the Navy Monday in a bloodless
landing while down on New Guinea
WeWak was bombed with the loss
of Is japanese planes and the de-
struction of fuel and ammunition
dumps, losses which increase in Sc
riousness as Jap shipping is sent te
the bottom.
Tuesday Toxic claimed that Jap
anese troops were taking over one
American position after another. re-
! ferring perhaps to the hundreds OF
japanese dead who now occupy
areas just beyond the American
lines. AT least 1000 of the enemy
were killed in a week with very light
American losses.
Truk Hit Again.
Friday it was reported that NOR,
units of the dismounted 1st Cavalr,
Division had landed on Manus Is
land. last Jap strong point in tn,
Admiralties and that the air f1elt
is in imminent danger of falling t,
the Americans. 1t was reported alst
THAT Truk again had been bombet
; by land based bombers and that al
fields, fuel and ammunition dump
and other facilities had been badl,
hammered. No fighter resistance
was encountered
Giving no least speck OF comfor
to the enemy was the announce
ment during the week by Secretar,
of the Navy Knox that every tw,
hours another warShip OF one typ
or another joins the United State
Navy. The strength of the Navy in
creased from 913 ships on Januar
l, 1912, to 4,l67 on January / of thi
year. The Navy, including marine
land coast guardsmen, will numbe
3,700,0 900 men by the end OF tn
year.
Mr.. Knox also stated that the los
OF aircraft in fights with the Jap
now Is running at the rate OF on
American plane for each 13 Jal
planes, gratifying ratio, especial
in view Of the comparative abilitie
to produce planes.
Gen. Macarthur, commander Il
the South Pacific, in a statement to
; ward the end of the week reneWe
, his promise that he would return t
the Philippines, promise which n
longer refers to vague future dat
: but rather to some time no longe
too far distant, especially in view o
the tremendous accomplishment
this year which have placed the wa