Current Events March 23, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY MARCH 23, 1944:

London, March 23 — (AP);

— Maneuvering swiftly to caulk his Balkan dike against the Russian flood, Hitler appeared today to be about to kidnap the Rumanian government as he already has abducted that of Hungary.

 

London, March 23—(AP)

—Striking the second day in a row in the wake of a 1,000- plane RAF night raid aimed chiefly at Frankfurt, approximately 1,500 American bombers bombarded the German air force on its home bases

in western Germany today.

Allied Headquarters, Naples March 23— (AP)—

Fifth army forces doggedly flung back German attacks yesterday on their Cassino positions while in the air war Allied bombers struck sharply at enemy supply .lines in northern Italy, Allied headquarters announced today.

New Delhi, March 23.(AP)—

Japanese resistance along the entire Burmese front appeared to be stiffening as Allied troops converged on enemy forces which have crossed the Indian border in the direction of Imphai, key road junction, 30 miles to the west,

 

BURLINGTON. N. C, THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1944

Adolf Hitler

Tightening

Nazi Holds

In Balkans

All Southeastern

Nations Facing

New Grips |

London, March 23 — (AP);

— Maneuvering swiftly to caulk his Balkan dike against the Russian flood, Hitler appeared today to be about to kidnap the Rumanian government as he already has abducted that of Hungary.

There were widespread reports that Premier Ion Antonescu, of Rumania has been summoned to

Hitler's presence as Admiral Nicholas Hortby, regent of Hungary had gone before him. There was speculation that Antonescu was likely to be kicked out because of German suspicions that he was involved in peace overtures toward the Soviet.

Warning Broadcast.

The British radio at once began broadcasting this morning to the Rumanians:

"Rumanian leaders have been called to Hitler's headquarters. If  you oppose Germany, Germany will wreak vengeance on you, but if you oppose the Allies an . even greater fate is in store x x x.

RAF Attack

Is Followed

Up In Light

Western Germany

Is Dealt Severe

Day Assault

BY GLADWIN HILL

London, March 23—(AP)

—Striking the second day in a row in the wake of a 1,000- plane RAF night raid aimed chiefly at Frankfurt, approximately 1,500 American bombers bombarded the German air force on its home bases

in western Germany today.

The American raiding force which included upwards of 500 Fortresses and Liberators, bombed the .Brunswick district, the aircraft park at Werl, 40 miles east of Essen, Acmor air force station in Oldenburg to the south and the German bomber base at Handorf, a U. S. Army air force announcement said.

Nazis Are Battling

The German air force, which avoided battle when 600 or- more Fortresses and Liberators blasted

Berlin in daylight yesterday, apparently rose to the bait o£ the bold attack today for the German

raidio said "violent" air combats were fought with the extraordinary large number of fighters which accompanied the bombers.

Fifth Army

Holds Fast

In Fighting

At Cassino

Allied Warplanes

Strike Sharply

At Supplies

BY MCHARD G. MASSOCK

Allied Headquarters, Naples March 23— (AP)—

Fifth army forces doggedly flung back German attacks yesterday on their Cassino positions while in the air war Allied bombers struck sharply at enemy supply .lines in northern Italy, Allied headquarters announced today.

In the southern section o£ the town o£ Cassino, New Zealandlers still were engaging the enemy at close quarters. Allied artillery knocked out. a. German tank emplaced in one wrecked building,

raising to five the total destroyed in the week of fighting for possession o£ the town.

Along the Slopes

Westward along' the lower slopes of Monastery Hill Allied forces kept up, their attacks along a

north-south axis. The Germans counterattacked against Hill 193, key height just northwest of

the town early yesterday, but were-- thrown back, leaving 30 prisoners in Allied hands.

Japs Putting

Up Stronger

Resistance

New Delhi, March 23.(AP)—

Japanese resistance along the entire Burmese front appeared to be stiffening as Allied troops converged on enemy forces which have crossed the Indian border in the direction of Imphai, key road junction, 30 miles to the west, Allied headquarters announced today. Japanese activity was especially noticeable to the south on the coastal plain below Maundaw in Arakan and in the western foothills of the Mayu mountain range, the communique said, with Allied bombers and fighters maintaining a ceaseless offensive against objectives in these areas, as well as positions in the Chindwin valley, the Chin hills and Kaladan.

In north Burma, Chinese forces were engaged in heavy fighting in the northern part of the Mogaung valley after conquest of the Hukawng valley, and were battling strong Japanese forces northeast of Shaduzup

Steady Course

Is Being Kept

By M'Arthur

Allied Headquarters, Southwest

Pacific, March 23.—(.AP)—

Leap-frog landings in the Bismarck archipelago and the steady attrition-of Japan's merchant Sect, vital to the supply of her scattered, diluted Pacific garrisons, are underscoring Gen. Douglas MacArthur's "cut them off and .let them starve" strategy of how to fight Japan. Since .the first of the year 227 Japanese cargo ships have been sunk in the Central and Southwest Pacific,- aside from nearly 600 barges, many of them loaded with troops and supplies. These were links-in lifelines to wide-flung defense outposts.

Particularly off the. Northwest coast of New Guinea have Japan's sea lanes come increasingly under Allied bombsights. Last week-end an entire" five-ship convoy was sunk between Hollandia and Wewak, and General MacArthur announced today that Allied bombers sank a Japanese destroyer and two small merchantmen in that same general area.

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