May 18, 1944; Yanks Win Formia:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY MAY 18, 1944:

 The British radio said Naples headquarters announced that American troops bending back the other end of the battle _line captured Forrnia,, coastal anchor position of the Adolf Hitler line.

Naples—(U.P)—

A huge fleet of Italian-based American warplanes, possibly 1,500 strong, struck deep into the Balkans today in a smashing triple blow at the "Ploesti oil fields in Romania and the Belgrade and Nis railway yards in Yugoslavia.

Austral in—(U.P)—

Missionaries rescued from Jap imprisonment at Hollandia disclosed today that Allied airmen in an attack on an armed refugee ship off New Guinea, killed 70 refugees, but, turned aside immediately when they saw the nature of the target.

 MOSCOW — (U.P) —

Red army troops, taking advantage of heavy German losses on the lower Dnestr river in Bessarabia, pierced the enemy line at Severn I points Wednesday to expand the month-old Russian bridgehead on the west bank northwest of Tiraspol, it was announced today,

 

MADISON, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1944

Naples Reports Yanks

Win Formia, Coastal

Hinge of Hitler Line

By REYNOLDS PACKARD

(United Press Staff Correnpondent)

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Naples—

The British. Eighth army today captured Cassino, most formidable German stronghold on the road to Rome, scoring the greatest victory of the new Italian offensive in a brilliant outflanking maneuver.

The British radio said Naples headquarters announced that American troops bending back the other end of the battle _line captured Forrnia,, coastal anchor position of the Adolf Hitler line. 'A Naples report said the capture of Formia had not been announced, indicating that it was imminent.

Monastery Hill Taken, Too

A special communique announced the capture of Cassino and the nearby Monastery hill, and said that a "substantial portion" of the first German

parachute division was destroyed in the six-day battle after being trapped by a pincers movement.

Italian-Based

U.S. Planes Blast

Ploesti Oil Fields

'

Great Fleet Also

Strikes Belgrade,

Nis Railway Yards

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,

Naples—(U.P)—

A huge fleet of Italian-based American warplanes, possibly 1,500 strong, struck deep into the Balkans today in a smashing triple blow at the "Ploesti oil fields in Romania and the Belgrade and Nis railway yards in Yugoslavia.

Almost 750 Flying Fortresses and Liberators, one of the greatest raiding fleets ever dispatched from Italy, spearheaded the attacking force, accompanied by Lightning, Mustang, and Thunderbolt fighters, probably in equal strength.

Some enemy fighter opposition was encountered, but there was no immediate word on the strength of the German aerial resistance. The main weight of the American

attack apparently fell upon the Ploesti oil fields. Returning crewmen said heavy cloud formations prevented full observation of the bombing results.

Unable to Spot Type of Ship,

Allied Fliers Kill 70 Refugees

By DONALD F. CASWELL

United Press War Correspondent

AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL in

Austral in—(U.P)—

Missionaries rescued from Jap imprisonment at Hollandia disclosed today that Allied airmen in an attack on an armed refugee ship off New Guinea, killed 70 refugees, but, turned aside immediately when they saw the nature of the target.

Had Jap Troops Aboard

Seventy refugees and many Jap troops were killed on deck before the Allied airmen saw the women and children and promptly turned aside to destroy another ship.

"They could have destroyed us easily," said 'Sister Ottonia. "Our ship looked  just like another small Jap coastal vessel, and had Jap troops and machine guns aboard.

Seventy missionaries, including nine Americans, are resting at this a r m y hospital, regaining lost weight and recuperating after 17 months in Jap hands. They were

among the 123 missionaries and mission workers rescued when American troops invaded Hollandia. . • •

Reds Expand

Bridgehead

On Dnestr

MOSCOW — (U.P) —

Red army troops, taking advantage of heavy German losses on the lower Dnestr river in Bessarabia, pierced the enemy line at Severn I points Wednesday to expand the month-old Russian bridgehead on the west bank northwest of Tiraspol, it was announced today,

A Soviet communique also disclosed that ground forces made small gains in strikes from their lines southeast of Stanislawow, in southeastern Poland, and Russian long-range bombers carried their aerial offensive on German communication lines into the sixth successive night.

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