The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-24
The WorOn
Many Fronts
By LOUIS F. KEEMLE
UNITED Press War Editor

Allied land, sea and air power
carried the war to the enemy with
gathering might on both sides of
the world today.
In the Orient in the skies over
Europe and on the Russian front
the avenging forces made giant
strides towards the final day of
reckoning. Developments in the
principal war theaters were:
/. In the Pacific and Far East,
an invasion army under General
Douglas Macarthur moved 500
miles closer to the Philippines with
landings along the northern New
Guinea coast which completed the
cutting off of the Japanese forces
in the southwest Pacific. Allied
troops in northwestern India broke
the siege Of Kohima and were clear
ing the Japanese from the entire
Kohima-Imphal area.
2. In Europe the great Allied air
offensive went into its second week
with powerful blows at Germany,
Italy and the Balkans.
3. On the Russian front, Ger
man counter-blows diminished as
the Red Army threw in reserves
and re-grouped for powerful Of
fensive towards Germany from Po-
land to the Black Sea.
The New Guinea offensive COIN
cided with statement by Admiral
Ernest j. King, commander-in-
chief of the United States fleet that
Japan's defensive power Is dwindl-
ing and that her future Is dark
and threatening.
The largest amphibious force yet
used in the southwest Pacific, with
powerful naval and air cover, made
three landings on New Guinea
which Macarthur said will free Bril-
fish New Guinea from enemy con-
troll and constitute the first RECAP
ture of Dutch territory in the war.
Declaring jubilantly that the Sit
uation "reverses Bataan," MacAr-
thur pointed out that the new land
ing completely isolates the Japanese
18th army of 10000 men from Hol-
landia, in Netherlands New Guinea,
to Madang, 400 miles away in Bri-
fish New Guinea.
Another 10000 Japanese of the
71th army ALREADY have been isolat-
ed in the Northern Solomons and
Bismarck archipelago. The remain
ing 10000 Of the 250,0O0 which the
Japanese originally had In the
southwest Pacific have been killed,
died of disease or taken prisoners.
The new landings on New Guinea
were made above and below Hollan-
Ola, Japan's principal air base in the
area, and at Aitape, 1875 miles south
west of HollandiA. Three air strips
were seized in preliminary opera
tons and the Americans were clos
ing in on the Hollandia air base.
In the European air war, power
full bomber forces from Britain and
Italy carried on the continuity of
the offensive which has been under
way night and day without break
since last Monday.
The latest attacks, which included
southern Germany and Romania ir
their scope followed Raj night as.
saults on the important German
air base at Vilvorde In Belgium, anc
Mannheim, transport center in thu
Rhineland.
All day yesterday, bombers shut
tied back and forth across thu
channel to blast aid and transpor
detectives in northern France anC
Belgium, while 500 to 750 big Ameri'
can bomberS struck at three air.
craft factory areas around Weinel
Neustadt in Austria. Raj nigh
forces attacked enemy supply port
and railway detectives in centra
and northern Italy. carrying on q
hours Of steady bombing. On Sat.
urday night, more than 1000 Allied
bombers hit at Dusseldorf. Bruins
wick and Mannheim In Germany
and at the railway center Of Laor
in France.
The offanaiva was MAKING a,lrf