The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-08
Industrial Targets In
 Berlin Area Attacked
Continued from Page D

dramatically, apparently as a result of a sudden reduction in power, about the time Berlin was reporting the presence of the United States raiders over Germany, but no ex- planation was forthcoming immedi- ately.
 A United States raid In force to- day, as reported by the enemy, would be the first operation by the neavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force since about 800 of them car- ried out the first mass daylight raid of the war on Berlin Monday.
 American bomber formations "in considerable strength" flew in over the western border of Germany about 12;30 p. m. (Gerinan time) |, the Nazi raido said, and strong fighter forces went up to challenge them and their escort.
 Fighting now is progressing over northwest Germany" one broadcast said, adding that weather condi- tions were similar to those of Mon- day, when the American raiders found them agreeabl eenough for the mass assault on the capital.
 Well after the first German radio reports of the American penetra- ton, the TranSocean News Agency failed to broadcast a scheduled pro- gram, giving no explanation.
 Holland Attacked
 Meanwhile Mauauder medium bombers of the U. s. Ninth Air Rorce attacked German targets in Holland, taking over from British night raiders which smashed in force at the Le Mans railway yards no miles southwest of Paris.
 The MarauderS which took over the day shift of the nonstop Allied offensive were escorted and covered by Royal Air Force, Dominion and Allied fighters in the morning bom- bardment of objectives in Holland.
 The Stockholm newspaper Afton- tidningen published dispatch date lined Bern which said that German authorities conferred all day yes- terday on 8 proposal for the total evacuation of Berlin. The discus- sion was reported prompted by the first mass bombardment of the capi- tai by daylight Monday. carried out by hundreds of American heavy bombers.
 The newspaper said German ofii- cials were convinced that further heavy raids on Berlin could be ex- pected Ill the near future.
 For the second straight night the Royal Air Force focused the weight of it's attack last night on French transport centers, intensifying an of- fensive to cripple German commun- ications in advance of an Allied in- vasiCn.
 CF'CC monitors reported that the Hilversum radio in occupied Hol. land went off the air at 5:45 a. m. EWT, while the Bremen radio in Germany and the Friesland trans hitter in Holland failed to broad cast as scheduled at 6 a. m. Radio silence in Europe frequently is a sign of Allied air attacks.)
 Bombs ripped up tracks, fired rail- way cars and locomotives and wreck ed installations at the important yards, through which pass supplies and achievements for German forces defending the Bay of Biscay and the Brest peninsula.
 Twin -engilied Mosquitoes simul- taneously attacked objections in western Germany presumably war factories. also without loss.
 The attack on Le Mans followed by only 24 hours another heavy night raid on railway marshalling yards on Trappes, IS miles southwest of Paris.
 It was believed possible that Allied reconnaissance planes may have spotted heavy rail movements to- ward the Brittany peninsula. where the Germans have built some of their strongest anti-invasion de- lenses, with the result that the boeoher command diverted its attack 6c:::g the tUl..moon period to ob- tain maximum destruction In the shortest time.
 Camping an aerial pincers on France, a big force of American Flying Fortresses from the 18th Air Force in Italy blasted the French Mediterranean naval base of Toulon, blowing up medium sized vessel and scoring direct hits on dTydocks, jetties and a muri- tions factory area.
 Reconnaissance photographs also showed damaging near misses along side submarines and other war ships and freighters, while return ing crews reported large explosions and several fires in storage areas.
 All fortresses returned safely de- spite a half-hour air battle with in- creeping German planes. two Of which were shot down, and heavy anti-aircraft fire.
 Fields Attacked
 While fortresseS were attacking Toulon. strong forces of Italian. based Liberators attacked four afr fields north of Rome and three rail- way yards within 15-mile radius of the big Italian communications hub of Florence.
 The combined forces of fortresses and Liberators numbered in the hundreds and their sorties reached the second highest total ever achieved by the 18th Air Force in a single day.
 Marauder medium bombers of the Italian based 18th Air Force joiner in yesterdays offensive with attacks on the Littorio and Ostiense railway yards on the outskirts ofb Rome. Heavy bombers raided the same yards last Friday.
 British-ba flying fortresses and Liberators were idle yesterday. but