December 30, 1944: NAZI ESCAPE CORRIDOR REDUCED:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, DECEMBER 30, 1944:

EMPORIA, KANSAS, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 30, 1944

Nazi Escape Corridor Reduced to

13 Miles Now Under Fire of Yank

Artillery; Enemy Must Strike So

Or Withdraw Forces from Pocket

By James M. Long

Paris, Dec. 30— (A.P.)—The German winter lunge into Belgium recoiled bit by bit today under triphammer American blows which 43 hours ago had sliced the width of the Nazi bulge to 13 miles, and flung its deepest spearheads buck

12 miles.

The Allied security cloak concealed later developments, except for telling of additional strengthening and widening of the U. S. Third army's corridor to Bastogne by Friday mornng.

The Third army had fought four miles above Bastogne by Thursday, within 13 miles of First army troops hitting Field Marshal Karl von Rundstedt's northern flank. For close to three days, Yon Rundstedt had been held without gain.

The most acute question today was whether the German commander was pulling his armor out.

U.S. Invasion of

Japan Essential

To Win Peace

Nimitr Points to

Possibility Result

Of Steady Attrition

Of Japanese Navy .

Saipan, Marianas Islands,

Dec. 29—(Delayed)—(A.P.)

— (Via Navy Radio)—

The Japanese "fleet will continue to attack when conditions are favorable, but we will be ready.  Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said today as he spoke of winning- air bases closer to Japan preparatory to eventual invasion of the home

islands.

"Japanese naval strength  is gradually being reduced," the five star admiral said. "I think the Japanese will continue to use the remainder of their fleet when the opportunity offers, such as the recent

Mindoro raid (ii the Philippines) in which they suffered losses and did very little damage.

Pouring It On Now

We are just commencing a phase now where we are pouring it on Japan. We are still some considerable distance away but with passing time we will hit from

bases much closer to Japan with a rate of delivery of bombs -to Japan increasing..

"I still believe that we have to have bases close enough to Japan to bomb at a rate comparable to that to which Germany is bombed "Definitely Japan will have to be

occupied to win the peace. Just how much we will have to do to occupy it I don't know but we must prepare to invade Japan by assault."

To Move Headquarters

Nimitz made his remarks in a 10-minute interview with correspondents while on a flying tour of the Marianas. He reiterated that he planned to advance his headquarters to the Western Pacific to be closer to the fighting.