Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-03-12
War Review
Air Raids and Red
Drive Blast Nazis
By Ho,card p. Bailey.

the heaviest series OF air raids OF
the war, which made a shambles OF
Berlin and went far toward de-
stroying the enemy's waning all
strength.
In surprising show of power, the
American 9Th Air Force followed UP
the first daylight raid by Flying
Fortresses on Berlin, which occurred
Saturday, March A, with three more
raids last week, to bring to four the
number of daylight attacks on the
German capital in a span of six days
and to 10 in Is days the number of
raids in force by the heavy bombers
Flaming, devastated Berlin was
said to be counting its dead in thou
sands when the last of the raids was
over, and great fires started by
$4,000 incendiary bombs dropped
during single raid and scattered
by 10000 high-explosive bombs add
ed terror to the shock of the attack.
The second of the series of raids
last Monday developed into the
greatest air battle of history, which
began when the first of the inter-
ceptors rose to greet nearly thou
sand bombers and another thousand
fighters as they crossed the Dutch
coast. For $50 miles inland to
Berlin the fight ragged, continuing
as the bombs were dropped and then
back again to the coast.
1000 Tons Dropped.
When il, WAS over. So of the big
bombers had been shot down and
IL American fighters went down
with them. However, 1000 tons of
bombs rocked Berlin and the bomb
ers' gunners shot down SO of the
enemy and the fighters accounted
for SO more. The 176 planes the
Nazis lost we're estimated to repre-
sent about two weeks of production
under present German rates OF
manufacture.
Wednesday came the big fire raid.
It struck a further heavy blow at
the Luftwaffe for not only were 125
additional German planes shot down
but the great VKF ball-bearing
plant, declared to be the source of
nearly half of all German ball and
roller bearings which are vital to
the manufacture of planes, tanks,
submarines and other mobile weap-
ons, was SO badly smashed its future
functioning becomes doubtful. All
four buildings were hit, one turn
ing into an inferno of flame with
the other three too obsured by heavy
smoke to determine the exact ex-
tent of the damage.
American bomber losses in the
Wednesday raid we're SO and the
fighter loss Is.
With amazing recuperative pow
ers, the 9th Air Force sent $50 more
bombers over Berlin Thursday with
an equally strong fighter escort and
smashed again at the city which
was reported no longer to be a cap
ital or even a city. Reports reach
Ing Sweden declared that there has
been no water, electric or gas serv-
ice for week. 1t was further
stated that the VKF ball-bearing
works was completely ruined and
that tank plants in Erkener, a sub
urb OF the city, and torpedo manu-
featuring establishments had been
eliminated by the pin-point accur-
acy OF the bombers. Hanover. also
felt the weight of American air
strength on Thursday.
Russian Gains Impressive. a
Summarizing the cost of the raids
1t was stated Friday that the 9th
Air Force lost 1877 bombers and Sc
fighters. The enemy lost at least
1924 planes.
Throughout the week, obscured by
the spectacular attacks on Berlin,
but nevertheless damaging to the
enemy, were series of raids on mil
1tary detectives in France and Hol-
land, adding emphasis to state
ment by Secretary of the Navy Knox
before the House Foreign Affairs
Committee that the Allies biggest
drive against the Axis is impend-
ing.
In Russia, especially in the
Ukraine, the position of the Ger
man armies has become precarious,
with fresh offensives by the Reds
threatening to trap hundreds of
thousands in what is left of the
Dnieper bend area in enemy hands.
Many thousands of Nazis and
their satellites are said to have per-
lshed in the intense fighting now
going on. Climaxing a three day
drive Monday, the 1st Ukrainian
Army drove into Volochisk cutting
the last remaining rail line from
Southern Russia which the Ger
mans controlled, the Lwow- Odessa
railroad, Volochisk is only go miles
north of the Rumanian frontier.
Possession of the city paves the way
toward general rout of the enemy,
who soon may have no path of
escape excepting into Rumania, for
the Carpathian Mountains rise as a
barrier farther to the west.
At least II enemy divisions were
routed in the fighting around Volo-
chisk.
Taking quick advantage of the
DIedk-tETOuSn, the Red forces
pushed forward into the outskirts
of Tarnopol
Co-ordinating with this drive, the
Sd Ukrainian Army opened a strong
attack down in the lower end of the
Dnieper bend and captured Novy
Bug and Groshany, threatening
to encircle the Nazi garrison at
Kherson.
Imam Abandoned.
Friday came the pleasing an
nouncement that the Nazis had
been forced to abandon Uman. a
rail head south of Vennitsa and only
about Is miles from the Bug River.
These three campaigns, all NOV
Ing forward rapidly, pose a serious
threat which the Russian high
command hopes will eventuate into
the decisive battle of the eastern
front. All German forces north of
the Dniester River are in jeopardy
and Moscow reports that the re-
treat toward Rumania in many
sections approaches a rout, with
large quantities of equipment and
supplies being left behind by the
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