May 11, 1944:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, MAY 11, 1944:

(By the Associated- Press)

War factories of Budapest, four key rail centers of France and Belgium, the ripening .Invasion coast of 'France and the German chemical center of Ludwigshafen, all felt . the smashing might of Allied bombers striking last night from-Britain and Italy.

Quiet in the East

All was quiet on' the Russian front. Moscow said two 4.000-ton, transports were sunk in the Black sea off Sevastopol, the capture-'of which was called  a happy  augury on the ''eve of great events."in a week, the Russians-said-'they.had destroyed 300 German planes.

(By. the Associated Press)

A Japanese menace to all of 'north-central China loomed larger^ today than at any time in six years, with the immediate • objectives the historic city of Loyang and the rich' wheat  lands of. northern Honan province.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., THURSDAY EVENING/ MAY 11, 1944

27th Day

Of Aerial

Invasion

(By the Associated- Press)

War factories of Budapest, four key rail centers of France and Belgium, the ripening .Invasion coast of 'France and the German chemical center of Ludwigshafen, all felt . the smashing might of Allied bombers striking last night from-Britain and Italy.

Today American and British air might streamed  back and forth across the channel softening Germany for the invasion which'' Berlin now guesses will come on Monday. it was the 27th straight day of  aerial invasion and the targets were assuming more and more of: a tactical pattern in direct .support of General Eisenhower's eager armies.

As if expecting an Allied thrust toward  Rome.  German, artillery pumped 4,000 shells into the 'Anzio beachhead in a half-hour Tuesday night and laid" down strong fire "on fifth army positions at / Cassino. There was no further word of-advance near the Adriatic by . the eighth army.

Quiet in the East

All was quiet on' the Russian front. Moscow said two 4.000-ton, transports were sunk in the Black sea off Sevastopol, the capture-'of which was called  a happy  augury on the ''eve of great events."in a week, the Russians-said-'they.had destroyed 300 German planes. Marshal Tito said he had-smashed a general German offensive in-central Yugoslavia and freed a large

areas of Serbia despite opposition.

Nazis Curtailing

Train Service;

Guess 'Monday'

London, May 11 (AP)—

The importance of France's transport system in the impending invasion of western Europe was emphasized by both the Allies and Germans today as the London radio urged the French to keep off the highways after the attack starts and Vichy repeated that passenger train service would be cut Monday to .facilitate troop

movements.

The Allied request to French civillians was made in a BBC broadcast of invasion Instructions. It stressed that troop movements must have right-of-way.

The announcement by the German-controlled Vichy radio of the forthcoming passenger train reduction, made originally three days ago and reiterated today, caused many in London to wonder whether the Nazis were seizing the remnants

of the bomb-riddled railway-system for what it was worth in helping to maintain the Atlantic wall.

Japan's Menace

To China Crows

(By. the Associated Press)

A Japanese menace to all of 'north-central China loomed larger^ today than at any time in six years, with the immediate • objectives the historic city of Loyang and the rich' wheat  lands of. northern Honan province.

Chinese headquarters announced strong enemy, forces have-crossed the'-Yellow-river- from Shansi province. At  Huanchu  45 miles northwest of Loyang.  Another Japanese army ; has broken through Hulao pass ; and is within six or seven miles of Loyang from the east. Japan's northwestern attack  on Loyang threatens to outflank the stubborn defenders of the onetime Chinese capital and may force

them to retreat westward to Sian. | natural gateway to the present I provisional capital, Chungking.

Other Japanese troops appeared to have driven the Chinese from their last hold on the Peiping. Hankow railroad but Chinese reports on this fighting were obscure.

Chinese were "nailed to palm trees with iron spikes driven j through their foreheads" after the fall of Singapore two years ago rescued Indian Sikhs related in the ' Southwest Pacific. The ' Sikhs, comprising the bulk of the 707 Japanese-held prisoners of war liberated by 'Allied forces in New Guinea, were quoted by the Australian department of  information.

American planes scored with a 100-ton strike at the Wewak-Hansa bay sector of New Guinea, and raided the Schouten islands-northwest 'of Hollandia, Dutch New

Guinea.

Lt, Gen. Joseph w. Stilwell's Chinese troops have swept up two more villages in their drive, on the key railroad towns of. Myitkyina and Mogaimg;-in: -north-central Burma

Dive bombers "in great strength are helping Allied defenders fight off the Japanese invaders of India around Imphal and Kohima. Central Pacific planes raided Ponape. again and also struck isolated Japanese positions in –the Marshalls. Ponape, Caroline island guardian to Truk, 440 miles to the west, has been" hit every day since March 31 with but two exceptions.

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