The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-01-29
Severe Maulings Dealt to
Nazis in Russia, Italy as
Japs Feel Slashing BloWs
Fifth Army %
Miles From
Rome

fHy International EeNh teINAtef
Berlin reeled today under It's
thirteenth saturatIon raid, and even
those Germans who deny being SUI
perstltious were ready TO admit
last night was not a lucky one for
the Reich capital.
While huge fires ragged In Berllp-
from the previous nights raid.
mighty formations OF British heavy
bombers returned 10 heap even
more destruction on the bomb.bat-
tered city.
Severe maullngs were dealt the
ground forces OF Germany. mean
while, in both Russia and Italy at
the same time that aroused Allied
forces to vent their anger for Jap
atrocities against war prisoners by
slashing raids against key enemy
positions in the central and south
west Pacific.
The battle Of Berlin went on n
day.to-day basis when large Royal
Air Force armada. requiring 4b min
utes TO pass given point, soarc3
over the English coast and churn Y
up the fires loft by the Thursday
night cascade OF $50 tons Of ex-
plosiyes on the Nail capital.
No Details
The official announcement OF the
Berlin raid gave no details, merely
identifying the German capital az
the target. Though not announced
in the communique, the northern
coast of France also was believed
to have been hard.hit with night
raiders blasting the same snti.inva-
sion defenses pounded during am
earlier mammoth daylight attack.
NaZi fighter-bombers In retalias
ton stabbed weakly at England
during the night, but none OF the
raiders managed TO pierce anti-airs
craft defenses In the London area.
Several persols we're injured when
bombs fell on county districts ana
Thames Estuary town.
Closing Trap
In Russia, tank-paced Red Army
columns were racing to close a trap
about some 100000 German troops
in the north. One Soviet spearhead
drove to within 2S miles OF the old
Estolion town. and cut the Lenln-
grad-Vitebsk railroad which was
one OF two remaining escape routes
for the threatened Nasi forces.
The fall OF Chudovo, last enemy
held rail center on the Leningrad.
Moscow railroad, appeared immin.
ent as the Russians occupied all OF
that rail line except an ll.mile
stretch in the vicinity. There, how
ever an official Soviet bulletin
said:
THE enemy block Is being exter.
minated"
Desperate Struggle
Meanwhile the Germans still put
up a desperate struggle in the lower
Ukraine where Soviet forces
sought TO break through TO the old
Romanian border More than half
the 1900 Nazis killed in one day on
the eastern front fell in futile
counter-attacks east OF vinnitsa.
Anglo-American forces south OF
Rome were firmly In control OF a
bridgehead some S5 square miles
in size. having beaten back the Sec
ond strong counter-attack by Nazi
Field Marshal General Albert Kes-
settings forces.
Spearheads OF Lieut.. Gen. Mark
Clark's Fifth Army were within 10
TO 81 miles OF Rome. after beating
off Nazi attempt to recapture
Carroceto, ten miles north OF Net
tuno. The Anglo-American units
consolidated their positions in that
coastal town on the Via Anziato
shortcut road" 10 the Eternal
City. Meanwhile the rumble OF ar.
tillery exchanges was audible with
In the German.held Italian capital.
The Allies were operating under
nearly perfect aerial umbrella
which flies nearly l.400 sorties
daily.
While the United States and 9TH
er Allied countries seethed with in
dignation at the disclosure Of jap
anese atrocities deal to war pris-
oners, and the United Nations pub
lie called for mighty furnishing
blows against Nippon, the enemy
took plenty OF battering in the Is
lands north OF Australia and in the
Central Pacific.
Allied airmen destroyed or dam.
aged 80 enemy warplanes and bat
tered five Jap ships. including o de.
stroyer and gunboat. in strong raids
against the Admiralty Islands and
Rabaul, on New Britain. The Tokyo
radio admitted the situation at the
latter base was grave"
Nauru. west Of the Gilberts, was
hammered by American heavy
bombers at the same time the other
Yank fliers pounded the Marshalls