The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-01-14
Allied Forces
Moving up
in Italy

The bleak and desOlate Pripek
marshes we're the scene today OF
extremely violent tank battles with
German for ,es striving 10 prevent
two Russian armies from closing a
plncers about them.
Gen. Konstantin Rokossovsky and
Gen. Nikolai Vatutin pushed their
offensive westward along vital
east-west railroads. and observers
believed the Red army chleftains
hoped 10 close the arms Of their
growing enlightenment about NAH
remnants near Pinsk in old Poland.
One spearhead OF Vatutins force
was some 10 miles west OF tho old
Polish frontier. and was tanning
out to the north as well as tho
west In n drive that may be aimed
at the key rail and river town OF
Pinsk.
Meanwhile. the upper arm OF tho
developing pincers was being forg.
ed by Rokossoysky's tanks and In.
fantrymen. Supported by Red az.
my heavy artillery and sabre-toting
cavalry men. this force was be-
sicglng the twin enemy bases OF
Molyr and Kalinkoylchi in White
Russia although spearheads drove
In west OF the former town.
II was apparent that the Germans
realized importance OF their de.
lenses In this sector. for the OF.
fetal Russian communique told Of
extremely ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ems
placements around Mozyr.
The Germans had as many as 200
artillery pieces concentrated In n
single small position. but even such
| difilcult barriers failed to stem tho
viotoriol Russian tide. A ''wither.
ing fire" from Red army batteries,
together with banking movements
/ in which charging Cossacks took
| part. wreakod heavy losses on tina
enemy and forced the Germans to-
| retreat.
Mozyr was quickly encircled and
front dispatches said the chances
Of reinforcing the enemy garrison
were decreasing rapidly Several
towns to the west already were
taken. as the Russians swept along
the Gomel Warsaw railroad toward
Pinsky.
Resist Desperately
Not only IN White Russia were
the Nails resisting desperately.
East OF Ninnitsa where the Red
army was developing a very Sc
lous threat 10 the key Odessa-INov
railroad. large enemy tank and in
fantry forces pressed countless
counter.thrusts All the German
drives we're repulsed. though. and
heavy losses inflicted by the So
yiets.
The land action In Italy was ~.
ported increasing in intensity. too
The Algiers radio said that Allied
forces along the whole trans-pen.
insular front moved forward
This report followed an an
nouncement by the Nazi-controlled
radio that heavy artillery lombard
ments marked action on the Eighth
Army front. leading TO the expecta
ton that the British force wax
about 10 ess forward again IT.
also follow ed additional gains OF The
Fifth Army. which was developing
frontal aud thanking assault
against the outskirts of Casino.
This town is considered a gateway
10 Rome, % miles TO the northwest.
Ready TO Move
The Italian capital meanwhile
was about TO be evacuated by the
German military stats. according
TO the Paris radio. The broadcast
said the Fascist chamber al-o
was ready to move from the eternal
city as the Allied armies approach
ed closer.
Sofa, capital OF Bulgaria. was
said in neutral quarters TO be in
a state OF panic with residents
fleeing by the thousands" after
heavy Anglo-American air raids.
In the Southwest Pacific. mean
time. the Japanese appeared try
ing TO clear out OF the Sio area OF
New Guinea. Light Allied naval
units sank three troop-laden barges
and damaged two others in that
section. as American aud Austria
Ian foi es continued their advance
on the Huon peninsula.
On nearby New Britain. the Unit
ed States Marines we're unable u
contact the Japs near captured
Cape Gloucester. The enemy has
lost heavily in that area, and on
the southern coast the Yanks car
ried out three successful raids on
Japanese positions near Allied
held Arawe. Allied. planes blasted
the Aledshafen and Rabaul bases.