December 31, 1944; New Attack at Bastogne:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, DECEMBER 31, 1944:

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, DEC. 31, 1944

3 Divisions in

double Drive

To Spring Trap

By EDWARD KENNEDY

PARIS. Dec. 30.—(AP)—Field Marshal Karl von Rundstcdt has struck with three divisions at both sides of the Bastogne salient, pointed like a dagger at the heart of his shrinkng.

Belgium and Luxembourg conquests,  late front dispatches tonight.

Two German divisions drove from he west and a third from the east it the corridor supplying Bastogne. from whose apex American artillery fire is raining on the 16-mile wide waist of Von Rundstedts hour-glass shaped front.

The renewed attacks—breaking a four-day lull—came as Lieut. Gen. George S. Patton's hard-driving forces broadened their front along the south of the German bulge to nearly 50 miles, struck west of Bastogne, sheared supply roads and threatened to cut off enemy armor thrust to within 23 miles of Sedan at Libramont.

TERRITORY RECOVERED

American counterblows had rewon nearly one-third of the territory overrun in the Germans' surprise counter-offensive, badly narrowing the maneuvering ground for

Von Runstedt's three armies. Progress of the new battle was not at once disclosed, nor was the time at which it broke.

FALSE HOPES OF

1944 GIVE WAY TO

REALISM OF 1945

By JAMES M. LONG

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS.

ALLIED E X P E D I T I O N A R Y

FORCE. PARIS. Dec. 30.— (AP)

Hopeful 1944. a year when the Allies might have won the war by collapse within the Reich, has given way to a realistic 1945. when the Allies expect to win by hard and costly battles.

Convoy Running

Jap Air Attack

Mac Arthur Silent On

Nips' Sinking Claims;

116,770 Die on Leyte

By SPENCER DAVIS

GENERAL Mac ARTHUR'S

HEADQUARTERS, PHILIPPINES

Dec.31.— Sunday)—(AP)—

Gen. Douglas MacArthur disclosed today a new Mindoro-bound convoy pressed on under Japanese attack to reinforce his conquering forces, that  the enemy had drawn troops from Manchuria in an effort to stop him on Letye Island.

JAP TOLL: 116,770

Total Japanese losses, including (iOl more killed in recent mopping

up operations, reached 116,770, the communique said.

The opposing forces on Ley! were declared about equal in number.

The communique said Japanese planes attacked the Mindoro-bound American convoy off PanayIsland the night of December 28-29.