The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-01-18
DIARY OF THE WAR

FRlDAI-Germans quit their sail
ent west Of Ourthe river in Belgium
and dug in on new line. The salient
around Bastogne was reduced. Ger
mans attacked between Saarbrucken
and Rhine. No Nazi gains were re-
ported around Strasbourg. Russian
troops in Italy, transferred from Nor
way, were ordered to hold the line at
all costs. American beachhead on
Lu-on was widened to % miles and
were nine miles inland. Planes kept
up heavy air blows at Jap positions.
uperfortresses from India hit Singa-
pore and nearby points. Other planes
hit Kurile island bases and Two lima.
SATURDAY - Twenty-Five jap
ships We're sunk off French-Indo
China coast by Halsey's fleet; thir-
teen others were hit. Japs were APP
parently enroute to relieve Philippine
situation. Nazi resistance ended at
western end of salient and three AL
lied armies were in pursuit. Axis
leaders had saved most of their armor.
A junction of two Allied armies cut
off 7 miles Of salient. Nazi troops
were driven from Alsace road. Rus
SLAMS began winter offensive in Pc
land. Macarthur was II miles inland
on Luzon. Civil war in Greece was
scheduled to end officially Monday.
SUNDAY-Patrols pushed 20 miles
inland on Luzon as Japs were still
unable to challenge Yank advance.
Carrier planes for second day pound
ed 4 Jap conveys along Indo-China
coast. Reds gained % miles on wide
Polish front and We're n miles from
German Silesian frontier. Reds had
$500, 900 men in action. First army
hit Nazis around Ardennes region and
made gains up to two miles. Allies
made new landing in Burma but met
firm Jap opposition.
MONDAY - Americans on Luzon
crossed Agno river, % miles from
gulf, and widened beachhead to As
miles Two forces of B-29's hit For
mosa and Honshu One from China
and one from Saipan. British COM
mandos occupied Myebon on Burma
west coast Americans fought stub
born Nazi rearguard action north Of
st. With, Belgium. Allies regained 20
Belgian towns. British based planes
destroyed 189 German planes. Reds
continued drive in southern Poland,
cutting railroad between Krakow and
Kielce. Another 200 blocks of Buda-
pest were captured.
TUESDAY - American fleet hit
Hongkong, Swallow and Annoy along
China coast, damaging Japan's life
line. 1t was revealed that Al Jap
ships were sunk and % damaged in
the bold strike off Indo-China a few
days previous. Americans were now
fourth of way to Manila, twenty-eight
miles inland from Lingayen gulf. OPP
position was still weak and disor-
gained. Planes kept smashing high
ways, railways, troop and supply con-
centratiOns of JapS. u. S. First army
drive into Houffalize in heart of Bel
gian bulge and were 6 miles from St
With American loss in Ardennes area
during German counter-offensive were
below 10000, and less than half those
of enemy.
WEDNESDAY-Allies seized in
itiative once more on western front.
British hit north of Maastricht. First
and third armies Joined forces at
Houffalize virtually eliminating Ger
man Ardennes salient. There were
small gains in Alsace. Macarthur
forces were third of way to Manila
and first Jap counterattack was re-
pulsed. Jap shipping was dealt heavy
blow by continued action of Halsey's
fleet in China sea. Russians were 80
miles from Reich border and gaining
steadily. British launched new Of
fensive to north Of Aachen. Chinese
were driving to reopen supply route
in north Burma.
THURSDAY-Warsaw fell to Red
army; also another town Is miles
from German border. Krakow, Pc
lands second largest city, also fell.
2 ode ,rnrn OGn 10 900 ~ ilnc from Rnr