August 8, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, AUGUST 8, 1944:

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1944

Yanks Smash

On for Le Mans

Secret Armored Troop Carriers Aid in Smash

Following History's Mightiest Air Blasting;

154 Enemy Tanks Bagged in U. S. Offensive

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY:

FORCE. Aug. 8 (U.P.)—

Two Canadian and British i armies, striking behind a tremendous rolling barrage of

aerial bombs and artillery fire, crashed deep into the German battle lines below Caen in a full-scale drive on Paris today while American flying columns from Brittany converged on Le Mans, little more than 100 miles from the French capital.

At both ends of the twisting 100-mile front Allied armored forces were tearing to shreds the long-prepared German defenses barring the western and south western roads to Paris.

JAPS BREAK INTO HENGYANG, KILL

MOST OF CHINESE ARMY GARRISON

U. S. ARMY, MARINE TROOPS SQUEEZE 'DOOMED

NIPS IN GUAM POCKET; YAP GETS FINISHING BLOW

CHUNGKING, Wednesday, Aug. 8 (AP)—

Japanese troops have broken into Hengyang and a message from the Chinese commander there said his soldiers had been killed virtually to the last man. The high command announced today. The commander's message, received at 7 p. m.. Monday, by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-«hek said: "I amafraid this may be my last message to you. ' (Tokyo radio said Tuesday that the Japanese had completely occupied the important city on the Canton-Hankow railway in Hunan province).

By ,J.B. KRUGER

Associated Press War Editor

With New Guinea lost and a third Marianas island. Guam, about to

fall. Japan's 100 millions were on notice today that their empire confronts

"national difficulties of unprecedented seriousness.'1 and that Japa- jPremier General Kuniaki  Koiso, said a Tokyo broadcast, told his people the Americans "have encroached upon Ihe .Marianas in an attempt to obtain a quick decision in

the war and, by present appearances, as if to strike at our homeland

in a single blow."

In one of the rare Japanese references to General Douglas MacArlthur's

southwest Pacific domain. Koiso added: "in the New Guinea area, too, they have made gradual advances and have revealed their plan to threaten our lines of communication with the southern region."  He called on the people to arm.

Claims  Hengyang  Occupied

Another Tokyo broadcast declared Japanese forces luu. completely occupied Hengyang, Chinese rail city which has been under bloody siege for six weeks. There was no Allied confirmation and Chungking reported that only yesterday United States and Chinese planes dropped supplies to the defenders within the

city.

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