The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-01-03
New Raid Blasts German CAPITAL
Soviiets Near
Old Polish
Border

81 (By International News Service)
The announced British plan for
"pulyerlIation" OF Berlin moved
further toward fulhllment today as
the German capital reeled under
the impact OF a second, successive
early morning air raid
Full details were lacking, but
London suspected the Royal Air
Force had blasted the burning Ger
man metropolis with another loo
American tons OF explosives. TWEEN
ty.eight Britiah planes tailed 10
return. exactly the same number
as on Sunday.
Stockholm reported that Berlin
lay under a heavy pail OF smoke as
the result OF Sunday mornings ear
ly raid. and Sweden heard that
Nazi authorities had ordered a
mass evacuation OF the burning
city.
An indication OF the severity OF
the second Berlin assault was seen
In broadcast assertion by the
German DNB agency that the raid
was IA terror attack. The air
ministry termed the raid heavy.
influenza
Decision OF German authorities
TO evacuate Berlin probably stem.
med partly from an epidemic Of NJ
ness said 10 be sweeping the city.
Thousands Of buildings and dwell
ings have been demolished by AZ
lied bombs, according 10 dispatches
from neutral sources. and other
thousands OF buildings are with.
out windows or heat The weather
for two weeks has been bitter cold
and an outbreak OF influenza could
not be prevented.
Coupled with this, Berlin trans
portation has been crippled. water
mains and power lines are out
OF commission. and the city Ii suf-
fering from lack OF fuel and food.
German morale, II seems oh.
vious, must be suffering from these
latest blows.
Little Opposition
As In Sunday mornings raid, tha
second attack on Berlin apparent
ly aroused little German fighter
opposition. Whether this was dus
| TO lack OF planes or a desire 10
keep aircraft In reserve remains to
be seen Returning pilots sfter
Sundays sweep reported that very
few enemy fighters were seen. a
small number which met the raid
ers 1850 miles from the target were
| driven on
Instead the Germans concentrate
ed an anti-alrcraft FIRE. which at
times resembled a barrage. Nail
searchlight batteries. usually sf'
lective in spotting Allied planes.
we're ineffective because Of cloudy
weather.
Two-thlrds OF the German fighter
strength. from previous reports,
has been grouped for the defense
OF Berlin, which makes the nom
appearance Of Nazi fighters all ths
more curious. But one thing APP
parently can be taken now as n
certainty The Germans are out
numbered In the air and no long
er can look to the Luftwaffe for the
victory which they counted on so
heavily at the outset OF the war.
Near Border
On the Russian front. spearheads
Of Gen. Nakolai Vatutln's hrst Uk'
rainian army were reported within
striking distance OF Olevsk, on the
KEW arsaw Railroad only I'VE
miles east OF the pre-war boundary
Of Poland.
This report. received from Lon
don. followed the official Soviet
midnight communique which placed
the Soviets within IA miles OF the
Polish frontier following capture
OF the rail station OF Poyaski.
The communique said Vatutins
men have liberated an additional
$50 localities and killed more than
1000 Germans In the last "a hours
in the mighty Red army offensive
west OF Kiey. The announcement
also said furious fighting was in
progress in the Newell sector at the
northern end OF the long Russian
front. where another 40 commune
ties we're recaptured.
Continue Advance
Canadian troops Of the British
Eighth Army in Italy meanwhile
continued their advance northward
along the Adriatic coast toward the
Port OF Pescara despite bad wealth