The Wilmington morning star., 1945-02-12
(By United Press


Allied and Russian forces closed
in on Germany from west and east
today III final realization Of CO.
ordinated two-Way offensive as the
Big Three. meeting in the Black
Sea region, agreed fully On joint
military operations to finish off
the Nazi enemy.
Japan, too, could sense imperd-
ing doom in the loss of Manila
and the roar of great American
Superfortresses over her capital.
The full offensive against Ger
many from the west began to take
form as the Canadian First Army
smashed into the northern end Of
the Siegfried Line from Holland
and the American First and Third
Armies hacked at its center. In
between, the Germans expected
the British Second and American
Ninth Armies to go into action
across the Roer at any moment.
The Russians forced the line of
the Oder opposite Berlin and were
battling for Kuestrin and Frank
furt before marching on the capt.
strides were being made in Sile-
tai. On either flank, important
STA. Pomerania and East Prussia.
Major fighting was still to be
resumed on the Italian front.
where fighting was frequently stiff
but local in character IN the air,
Allied bombers hammered merci-
lessly at German communications.
Oil centers, and battered Berlin it.
self.
In the Pacific. Gen. Douglas
Macarthur entered Manila and
thousands of captives were re-
leased from Japanese prison
camps. TIL enemy destroyed
much of the city and was still
battling in the southern half. AS
the week ended. American B-29's
were over the Tokyo area in great
force and their visit was accom-
panied by sharp earthquake.
Developments of the week IN
cluded
On Sunday, American troops
broke into Manila from the north
and east and among other objec-
tives, seized the San Tomas con-
centration camp where American
and Allied prisoners were held.
Superfortresses bombed the Japa-
nese port of. Kobe in the Home
islands and set many fires. The
Russians outflanked the Oder river
fortress Of Kuestrin in a 19-mile
advance in the great bend of the
river northeast of Moscow. The
American First Army on the west
ern front broke through the first
belt of Siegfried line defenses east
of Monschau and pounded at the
second fortified zone. British
bombers struck Berlin again in the
wake of Saturdays tremendous
American smash at the capital.
On Monday, American troops
rapidly extended their occupation
OF partly wrecked Manila after
freeing some $500 American and
other Allied prisoners from the
San Tomas camp. London an.
nounced that the source of an esti-
mated IS per cent Of Japan's avia-
ton gasoline had been knocked out
in two attacks by British carrier
planes on Palembang, Sumatra.
Soviet forces reached the Oder riv.
er line east of Berlin on a 75-rnile
front and one column was report.
&c fighting for crossing 80 miles
t,cm the capital. The American
Third Army pushed into the Sieg,
fried line to within : IL mites q;
truem and the FIRST Army en-
tered the Roer river dam zone.
On. Tuesday, Premier Stain an
nounced that the Russians hac
forced the Oder in Silesia and ad
vanced IL Ia miles into Germany
on a, front SO miles wide. The 81
lesian stronghold of Steinau wa:
captured. Th e American F'irs,
Army gained positions dominating
the largest of the Roer dams anc
the Third edged closer to Pruem
More than 1900 American heavy
ho,nbers smashed at rail and in
dustrial targets deep within tn.
Reich. Gen. Douglas Macarthur
proclaimed the fall of Manila an,
said his motto. was ''on to Tok
yo.' The Japanese still were hold
ing out in the southern part o
the Philippines capital, however
and were causing great destruc
ton. More captives were rescued
from the Bilibid prison, making ;
total of about 5000 freed. 1t wa
disclosed in London that the BIZ
Three meeting was in progress a
an undesignated place.
i, On Wednesday, the America
tr,,:1 h..,,, ooepod q Now d1-iV