Current Events March 18, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, MARCH 18, 1944:

Vienna, capital of Hitler's own Austria and one of his principal railway junctions and aircraft and

munitions manufacturing centers. was attacked for the first time in the war yesterday by a strong force of American bombers.

The Germans still maintained a toehold on the southwestern outskirts of Cassino, in Italy, yesterday, as veteran New Zealand troops, transferred from the Eighth Army front to lead the offensive which started Wednesday, mopped up among the ruins and fought through to the town's fringe as other Allied troops clawed their way within 100 yards of the top of Monte Cassino which is blocking the road to Rome.

 First Division cavalrymen of the U.S. Sixth Army have landed on Matins Island, the Jap's largest base and headquarters in the Admiralty Islands north of New Guinea, and! last night were reported within a half-mile from Lorengau village and airfield, dispatches from the South Pacific said.

CANBERRA, Australia, Mar. 17—

Gen. Douglas MacArthur, speaking here on the second anniversary of his arrival in Australia, pledged again that the "Allies will return'; to reconquer and liberate the Philippines in one of the war's great offensives."

 NEW DELHI, India. Mar. 17 (AP)—

Airborne British troops have landed deep in north-central Burma to join in cleaning the Japanese out of the territory through which the new Ledo supply line from China to India is being built.

New York, N.Y,—London, England Saturday, March 18, 1944

Vienna Is Raided For First Time

As U.S. Heavies From Italy Hit

Austrian Rail, Aircraft Center

B26s Bomb Rail

Center 20 Mi.

From Paris

Vienna, capital of Hitler's own Austria and one of his principal railway junctions and aircraft and

munitions manufacturing centers. was attacked for the first time in the war yesterday by a strong force of American bombers.

Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the 15th Air Force soared over the Alps from their bases in the Mediterranean area to strike the once-gay Danube city of 2.000.000 population. They met no fighter opposition, possibly because of the weather.

The first waves met intense flak, but later planes found the defenses light. The losses and the specific targets were not immediately announced.

Meanwhile. Ninth Air Force Marauders kept up the aerial offensive from Britain with a blow at

Creil 20 miles .north of Paris an important junction in the railway lines to Belgium.

Crews reported that bombs fell among long lines of freight trains, tore up rows of tracks and damaged many buildings.

 New Zealanders Battle

To Clear All Of Cassino

The Germans still maintained a toehold on the southwestern outskirts of Cassino, in Italy, yesterday, as veteran New Zealand troops, transferred from the Eighth Army front to lead the offensive which started Wednesday, mopped up among the ruins and fought through to the town's fringe as other Allied troops clawed their way within 100 yards of the top of Monte Cassino which is blocking the road to Rome.

It was a yard-by-yard advance in Cassino against dogged resistance. Using wreckage as strongpoints and sniping nests, the German remnants held their southwest corner with a determination that left doubts as to whether they could be routed in short order.

A tremendous role was being played by Allied engineers, who worked under constant fire to clear a way for tanks. They built one 70-foot bridge and several of 40 feet across enormous craters left by Wednesdav's record air assault.

Rome Road Still Blocked

Yanks Invade

Largest Island

ln Admiralties

Losses Minor'; Capture

Of Manus Would Close

Jap Supply Line

First Division cavalrymen of the U.S. Sixth Army have landed on Matins Island, the Jap's largest base and headquarters in the Admiralty Islands north of New Guinea, and! last night were reported within a half-mile from Lorengau village and airfield, dispatches from the South Pacific said.

Going ashore at dawn Thursday under covering fire from 105mm. artillery on two newly-won neighboring islands and supported by light naval and air attacks, the Americans! met opposition described as ''not stiff" in yesterday's official communique.

Main objectives were won with "minor losses," The communique added. Capture of  Manus will seal off the Japanese supply line from New Britain and New Irelanad to the Philippines and will give the Allies a large island base from which new air and land blows could be launched at  Truk 675 miles north, or even against the! Philippines, 1,200 miles northeast.

Mac Arthur Pledges

Blow at Philippines

CANBERRA, Australia, Mar. 17—

Gen. Douglas MacArthur, speaking here on the second anniversary of his arrival in Australia, pledged again that the "Allies will return'; to reconquer and liberate the Philippines in one of the war's great offensives." "With God's help, MacArthur said, "it should be decisive, not only of the redemption, but will isolate Japan from her southern conquests and restore China's Pacific communications."

"Two years ago when I landed on your soil I said I shall return to the Philippines. Tonight, I repeat those words. I shall return.

Burma British Land

In Rear of Jap Lines

NEW DELHI, India. Mar. 17 (AP)—

Airborne British troops have landed deep in north-central Burma to join in cleaning the Japanese out of the territory through which the new Ledo supply line from China to India is being built.

A brief announcement today said the British were landed in the rear of the Japanese south of the line along which American and Chinese troops were advancing in the direction of Myitkina.

ejt