Evening star., 1944-04-09
War Review
Trapped Nazis Facing
Disaster at Odessa
By How0rd p. Bailey

Disaster just experienced and
fresh disaster indicated for the
weeks to come were the Axis bitter
portion in another week Of war.
The steadily shrinking moose
which the Red armies are drawing
around the Nazis trapped in and
close by Odessa is nearing the
point Of annihilating around 200, 900
Of the enemy.
Allied planes. mostly American,
based on the Foggia network OF air.
fields in Italy are carrying destruc-
tive war to cities in the Balkans
largely immune from attack in the
past.
In England. Easter holidays for
the armed forces were called of,
giving rise to new expectations OF
the launching Of the long-awaited
invasion of Europe from the west.
1t. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, in COM
mand of American ground forces in
England, addressing q gathering of
infantry officers, told them that all
this talk about heavy losses in as
sailing the Atlantic Wall Is a lot of
tommyrot, Some OF you," he said,
won't come back, but the number
will be small" He added that
when the attack is launched the
infantry will be surprised at the
strength Of the naval gunfire which
will be IN support and he promised
powerful air cover day and night.
The accompanying mud map" of
Europe Is worthy of study in ar
irving at opinions as to the likely
points of attack.
Palau Raid Results Revealed.
In. Washington the announce
nnent was made that the Army has
now reached its planned strength of
f,700, 600 men and that by the first
Of July the Navy will have reached
its proposed strength of $500, 600.
Over in the Pacific, radio silence
was finally broken by the powerful
task force, the mightiest armada
ever sent into action by the United
States, which attacked the Palau
Islands. 1t was revealed that 2s
Japanese ships were sunk and IS
damaged, some of which we're burn
ing and probably sank later. One
battleship, fleeing with an escort
before the task force was within
striking distance, was damaged by
a torpedo hit scored by a submarine
which slipped through the defen-
sive screen. The battleship, m-
identified, was badly damaged but
managed to escape.
More than 160 japanese planes
were destroyed during the action,
which lasted three days. and the
damage to shore installations in
the Palaus and on Yap and Woleai
was terrific.
American losses were as planes,
all the personnel of which except
ing IL were rescued. No American
ship was damaged.
Important revelation in the situa-
ton was the ability of an American
naval force to penetrate to the heart
Of the Japanese administration Of
the Caroline Islands, In fact, to with
in less than 500 miles Of the Philip
pines, and spend three days in sys-
tematic destruction with little or no
enemy opposition.
The almost complete freedom now
enjoyed by American naval forces in
the Central Pacific adds logic to
Japanese predictions that a general
offensive against Japan will be un-
day way by July / and more than
justifies the intensive efforts now
being made by the japanese to for
tify their main cities on the home
islands.
Italian Front StaIemated.
Only on the italian front, where
the stalemate continues, and in In
dia where the desperate japanese
gamble for Imphal grows more
threatening, was the situation any,
thing but bright on the war fronts.
The Russian drive on Odessa
which moved steadily forward had
cut the last rail line Of escape to-
ward Rumania on Wednesday and
by Friday some units were fighting
In the suburbs Of the Black Sea
naval base. These forces were re-
ported to be only about 10 miles
from the heart Of the city.
Hitler, ordering Odessa held at all
costs. was said to have rushed new
units over the narrowing corridor
connecting Odessa with Rumania to
bolster the waning strength Of the
garrison.
However, the direction of German
troop movement was reversed yes
terday and several large units at
tempting to retreat overland to-
ward lower Bessarabia were believed
trapped by the Reds. Their num-
ber may run as high as $4,000.
Escape by water is held doubtful,
now, because OF the concentration
Of Russian air power to prevent that
maneuver.
Other Russian units, fighting in
Rufnania, were reported nearing
Iasi, important railroad center,
though news from that front has
not been too detailed. The Rus
SLAMS, with the mobility they now
possess, are pursuing their policy OF
powerful blows at any points on
the long front which may show
signs of weakness when the Nazis
shift reserve forces to meet q
threat in any particular area OF
heavy fighting.
Hitler in Raided Budapest.
Hitler was said to have been in
Budapest or one Of the suburbs for
a conference with military leaders
on Monday. II so, he was there for
a heavy raid by American bombers
which struck in great power at
Hungary's beautiful capital, the first
American raid on the city.
Particular attention was paid to
an aircraft factory and to the rail-
road yards through which much OF
the supplies moving to the Axis
forces in the Balkans must pass.
The Russians having bombed
Budapest the week before, the raic
from the south Monday was dis
concertins, smackins OF the OLE
"one-two."
Sunday American flyers, 5Ot