February 1, 1945:Allied Prisoners Rescued Near Manila:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1945:

Soviets Reported

Within 40 Miles

of Nazi Capital

Russians Mass Power

On Edge of Stream

For Final Assault

London, Feb. 1 (UP)—

Russian forces drove to the Oder river less than 40 miles from Berlin today, and 175 miles to th3 east captured the long-encircled Polish city of Torim, killing or capturing the German garrison by-passed in the lightning sweep westward. Russian and German reports agreed that powerful soviet forces were massing  on the east bank of the Oder in evident preparation for storming the last natural defense line athwart the approaches to Berlin.

The fall of Torun. Polish fortress city on the lower Vistula 80 miles northeast of Poznan and 25 miles southeast of Bygoszcz, was announced in a special order of the day by Marshal Stalin, broadcast from Moscow

The German high command admitted that Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov's forces had swept to the east bank of the Oder northwest of .Kustrin, 42 mües east of Berlin.

from Kustrin the river angles northeastward to its right-angle elbow, an even 30 miles from the capital.

Third Army Units

Overrun Four

German Towns

American Divisions

Fight Into Outposts

of Siegfried Line

Paris, Feb. 1, (UP)—

American First army headquarters today reported Signs that the Germans were withdrawing from some sections of the Siegfried line, against which United States divisions were closing on a 40-miIe attack front in Germany,

Belgium and Luxembourg.

Paris, Feb. 1 (UP) —

Lieutenant General George S. Patton's Third army assault forces overran four

German towns today and broadened their front inside the reich to four and a half miles.

United States First and Third army divisions were fighting flank to flank into the outposts of the Siegfried line along a 40-mile attack front winding through Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany.

At the southern end of the western front, the French First army opened a new attack in Alsace that appeared to have broke the German threat to Strasbourg.

Commandos Dart Behind Jap Lines In Surprise Attack

510 Prisoners Freed In Daring Raid

Two men from Minnesota and two from North Dakota are included in the list of American prisoners released in the attack on the prisoner of war camp at

Cabanatnan. They include Emmet Manson, United States navy, Worthington; Private Loren G. Fierce, Princeton; Sergeant Edward A. Bumes, Bowman,

N. D., and Corporal John T. Reeff, Glen Ullin, N. D.

 Allied headquarters, Luzon,-Feb. 1 (UP)—

A daring commando raid by American rangers and Filipino  guerillas last night staged the first mass rescue of allied prisoners in this war, bringing 510 captives from 25 miles behind the Japanese lines to safety. General Douglas MacArthur announced today.

The raiders, composed of 121 picked men from the sixth ranger battalion and 286 guerillas made the rescue in a surprise attack shortly after dark on the Japanese

prison camp at Cabanatuan, some 70 miles north of Manila in Nueva Ecija province.

MacArthur Jubilantly announced the rescue and said the American forces achieved complete surprise over the Japanese guards, who were annihilated. Then the rangers and guerillas with their column of ragged, weary liberated prisoners engaged in a running fight with Japanese infantry and tanks, Mac-

Arthur declared in a special press release.

Some of the prisoners were captured by the Japanese when Corregidor surrendered nearly three years ago.