The Republican., 1944-04-06
DIARY OF THE WAR

4
ng Balkan gateway city of Cernauti
md were only IS miles from Tatal
lass into Czecho-Slovakia. They
waited on Prut river for Rumania to
make up her mind. American bomb
ars from England smashed NaZi air
lromes in Holland, as bombers from
Mediterranean bases blasted rail
yards and other targets in Sofia, capi-
tai of Bulgaria Patrol activity was
the order at Casino. U. S. Bombers
battered Japs at Truk and Ponape.
Admiral Nimitz launched attack on
Palau islands, Jap center of Caroline
group. and only 460 miles from
Philippines. Russia renewed its fish
cries pact with Japan.
SATURDAY - American planes
from two directions gave Truk in Pa
cific a terrific pounding. Jap columns
were forcing British back in India,
Ground fighting practically ceased
around Casino. Russians captured
Ochakov and pushed Germans back
into Odessa 38 miles to the west.
Reds were ~ miles from Hungarian
and North Rumanian frontiers. The
Russ-Jap agreement forced Japan to
surrender coal and oil concessions on
Sakhalin island. RAF suffered record
loss of ninety-four planes as they
bombed Nuremberg and other Reich
targets. General Wingate, Burma jun
gle fighter, was killed. Knox revealed
so U. S. carriers were now plying
Pacific. British sealed a 10 to 30-mile
belt of their invasion coast facing
Europe.
SUNDAY-Reds overran 200 viii
lagos in pursuit of retreating Axis
troops around Odessa. They also were
advancing through Tatar pass; 200,-
600 enemy troops were threatened
with disaster in lower Russia. Allies
in Italy seized a mountain point Is
miles northeast of Casino. American
bombers hit southwestern Germany
and Swiss reported the city of Schaff-
hausen had been bombed with 27
Swiss persons killed. Army bombers
gave Truk its fifth pounding in three
days. Allies in New Guinea were ad-
vancing in double drive toward Ma
dang area. Japs advanced above I'M
phal in India.
MONDAY-Rcds invaded Rumania
and also broke into Tarnopol and
Kovcl in old Poland They also pressed
their offensive upon Odessa. Ameri-
can bombcrs from Italy hit ball-bear-
ing plants at Steyr in Austria, and
communication centers in Yugoslavia.
Truk was bombed eighth time in four
days Glider-bor Allied commandos
cut Jap railroad in North Burma, but
British base in India was menaced by
Jap soldiers. War department said
100000 isolated Japs faced death by
gunfirc, starvation or disease on by
passed Pacific islands.
TUESDAY = Reds claimed their
first Ukrainian army killed 1880
Germans and captured 24,950 in %
days of March. Reds drove through
50 places in Rumania to within nine
miles of Jassy In old Poland they
aimed push at Lwow, As miles away.
American bombers from Italy bombed
Budapest, Hungarian capital. Ground
fighting in Italy lapsed. British
planes from carriers bombed German
battleship Tirpitz in its hideaway in
northern Norway YankS were holding
IA atolls in Marshall islands with
Japs still remaining on Jaluit in west.
Yanks and AuSsies convergcd on
Madang in New Guinea. British sup
ply lines to Imphal in India were cut
by Japs Bougainville Japs were with
drawing. U. S. was developing longer
range fighter planes. Aircraft produc
tion reached a new monthly peak of
9,11S planes in March.
WEDNESDAY - Reds captured
greater part of Tarnopol and were
mopping up remnants of Is enemy di-
visions trapped in southwestern Tx
rainc. There was no additional prog
rcss reported on Rumanian. front.
American bombcrs from Italy struck
Bucharest, capital of Rumania in di-
rect assistance to Reds, disrUpting
troop and supply trains. Reds were
only two miles from Odessa escape
line. British announced war casual
ties for four years of war az 667 ,l59,
including l5S,74l killed, not including
civilians. Bougainville victory in Pa
cific was declared complete by Mac
Arthur. Army bombers pounded two
Truk atoll isles More than 800 planes
bombed Hollandia in New Guinea for
largest single raid attempt in Pacific
area. 1t was disclosed that u. S. Navy
task force hit every Jap ship found
AT Palau, Vocal and zap in Carolines,
THURSDAY - Reds captured rail
junction of Razdelnaya, 30 miles
northwest Of Odessa, reducing escape
route Of Germans into Rumania They
have a rail-ferry line across Dnicster
remaining for escape. Reds were in
possession Of most of Tarnopol
Americans flew into Rumania again
from Italy and hit rail yards and
! trains in FloeSli NaziS sent up 2Ol