Evening star., 1944-06-18

heavy raids, preventing any inter-
ference from these bases. a
/ On Biak, the Allied forces are
steadily improving their positions
and complete domination of the
island is not far of.
The japanese, seeking to capture
Changsha and thus divide China,
are hurting zoo, 900 troops into their
fourth attempt and have the city
at least three -fourths surrounded.
The desperately fighting Chinese
are still holding out but the city
appears doomed this time because
of the weight Of the japanese force
attacking.
In the India Burma campaign,
the developments are good though
slow. Further progress has been
made toward capture of Myitkyina
while a sudden offensive by Chindits
and Gen. Stilwell's Chinese threat
ems capture of Mogaung in North
Burma.
$4,000 Normandy Casualties.
The Army yesterday issued figures
on the losses in the fist IL days Of
the invasion of France and while
the totals are large, considering the
extent and difficulty of the opera
ton they explain the optimism of
the high command which declared
they were far less than expected.
Approximately 5000 were killed and
around $4,000 were wounded.
Overcoming stiff German opposi-
ton, Americans troops Monday
moved Is miles inland, capturing
the forest of Cricy and the i'm
portant town of Carentan, thus
cutting the main railroad and high
way leading from Cherbourg to
Paris. Tuesday one American
column drove ahead reaching a
point only S miles from the last
rail line in German hands and only
IA miles from the west coast of the
peninsula.
BY Wednesday the fighting be-
came furious with the Germans
throwing four divisions into the
fight in the Caen area but failing
to dislodge the Allied troops near
est Paris. Montebourg, stronghold
guarding the approach to Cher
bourg was the scene of other fierce
fighting with the city changing
hands several times but, as the
week ended, in possession of the
Americans. Yesterday it was stated
that the remaining Germans in
the Cherbourg area are pinned in
trap, the last escape highway now
being under American artillery
domination. There were signs of
disintegrating morale among the
trapped enemy.
During the land fighting, Allied
aircraft pounded heavily at the
German lines and especially the
supply routes leading up to the
rocket coast from which the new
robot planes are probably launched.
Taking up the task of smashing
Germany's industry deep in the
country or in Austria and Czecho-
slovakia, the Italian-based Allied
planes raided many important cities
such as Munich, Innsbruck, EN-
merich, home of number Of oil
refineries, and other places in mid
Europe.
Germans Surrender in Droves.
Ground forces in Italy pushed
northward rapidly, smashing almost
without slackened stride a feeble
German effort to hold in the Orte-
bello area. After the fall of that
city, German morale broke badly
and the fleeing enemy surrendered
in such numbers that the British
9th Army had to call for help to
handle them. Great quantities OF
equipment were abandoned in hasty
fight which put considerable strain
on the advancing 5th and 9th
Armies as they sought to main
tain contact. Friday an advance
of IS miles in "a hours indicated the
speed of the movement. A complete
rout seems imminent.
The Russian front which famed
into action in the opening of the
drive on the Karelian Peninsula ir
Finland about a week ago, is ex.
pected shortly to see further actor
at other points.
In Finland, where one report indi.
Gates there may be 100000 German
troops, the Russians are pressing
home their attack so vigorously Fin.
land Is likely to be out of the wal
within month and perhaps sooner
A four -pronged drive is underway
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