The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-04
The War On
Many Fronts

BY LOUIS F. KEEMLE
United Press War Editor

| eTS resumed LIIc Aul1-oSuAS "VVSANN
against northwestern Europe on the
18th day OF the great pre-invasion
, offensive, indications mounted that
the long stalemate on the Italian
front was about to be ended by a
major Allied offensive.
After a comparative slackening
In the air war for brief period
because Of the weather. fleets OF
American bombers with Anglo
American fighter escore pounded
military and traffic detectives along
the invasion coast today, while other
formations were reported over the
Reich.
During the night, force Of about
300 Raj heavy bombers overcame
fierce opposition by German night
fighters to drop more than 2,24O
tons OF explosives and incendiaries
on three important munitions and
supply depots in France. Points
hit were mainly, Montdidier and
Chateaudun, all well to the rear
Of the Atlantic wall defenses.
The British loss was 40 bombers,
their greatest yet suffered over
France by night, as the Germans
sent up the largest force of night
fighters they have yet used in that
area. Subsidiary Raj forces at
tackled the munitions center Of Lud-
wigshafen in southwestern Ger
many and unidentified targets ir
the western Reich.
In another operation, a Large
force OF Raj bombers from Italy
made their first night attack Of thu
war on Bucharest, copital Of Ro
mania, doing extensive damage ant
starting large fires in the railwa,
/, yards there.
{ Italian Front
! On the Italian ground front
e strong British and American force
! we're reported moving into positio
, for the assault after weeks of prep
I, aration during which constant pa
: troll activity by both sides resembles
boxers sparring for an opening.
Axis statements that the Allie
have taken up battle positions
and that large achievements o
men and supplies had been brough
up appeared to be borne out by thu
Canadian army newspaper Maple
Leaf and the Badgolio government
newspaper Corriere of Milan.
Maple Leaf said General He'll il
going t otake over and bust thing!
wide Open" Corriere described
preparations for new operations "or
vast scale" Similar predictions
. were made by the German DINE
News Agency and the German.
controlled Paris radio.
The statements concurred with ;
front line report that the German!
had flooded Mussclini's laboriousl.
reclaimed Pontine Marshes between
/ the Anzio beachhead and the Cas-
, sine sector of the southern front
: The Germans evidentl yexpept al
attempt by the Fifth Army to over
run or bypass Casino and effec
a junction with the beachheal
forces for resumption of the delayed
March towards Rome.
Preparations
Another indication Of preparation
net only for the battle in southern
Italy but perhaps for much NOR
extensive operations later on ha
4 been the ceaseless Allied aeria
bombardment of German communi
cation lines in Italy and at frequen
intervals in the Balkans.
VNinl,fsc akkanir an ns,nI,o Vae
followed sweeps by American ant
, British bombers against railwa.
: yards, bridges, supply depots an,
. other targets all through centra
' and northern italy. According u
, Allied sources, enemy communica
, tions have been snarled badly aloni
the l00-mile coastal invasion ION
J in northwestern Europe from tn
. Bay OF Biscay to Cologne.
!. On the Russian front also. prep
arations appeared to be in progress
for a massive offensive. perhaps Il
conjunction with the Allied blow
: In western Europe and Italy. Lat
est Moscow reports said Sovie
forces are pushing methodicall
along the Carpathian foothills 1
Romania. probing repeatedly int
Axis territory. while Berlin sal
Russian activity had increased !
pre-war Poland.
Red Air Force
The Red Air Force meanwhil
! was strongly attacking enemy com
Q munications In that area. La
: nights MOSCOW eomimunique sal
: destructive raids had been mad
b on the important rail center {
> Lwow and SamboE, - miles south
9 west Of there. The community
: added that IL German aircraft ha
= been destroyed In combat or on n
ground.
u In the Pacific. the aerial offensil
!. was maintained in the Caroline
Q the Rahaul area on New Britain ~
}. along the northern New GUM
: coast. IN action OFF New BFitai
. two American planes and two p.
Q boats we're wrecked when III
. fought each other through q mix
OF recognition signals.
: on the continent, heavy actil
: was reported on the Arakail fro
= Of southwestern Burma, but ten
|. was q temporary showdown
q northeastern india IN the area b
!. tween Iinphal and Kohima. r
y japanese attempted counters
s. attacks IN the Mogaung valley
a northern Burma but were beat