Current Events February 9, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY FEBRUARY 9, 1944:

PEARL HARBOR. T. H.—(UP)—

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the Pacific fleet, revealed that his forces intend to drive straight across the Pacific to China to gain bases for the final defeat of Japan, and challenged the Japanese fleet to try and stop them.

 Feb. 8.—(Delayed)—(U.P,)—
The Germans on Mount Cassino have been firing deliberately on American litter bearers and using the shield of the Red Cross for military purposes, two American officers reported today

 (Br Tb≪ Associated Press

ALLIED planes destroyed the greater part of Cisterna. Main German strong point in the siege lines around the Rome bridgehead into which the nazis said officially today they had advanced "several miles."

                  RACINE, WIS., WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 9, 1944.

Battle For Beach - Head Grows Hotter

Bases for Blow

Against Japan

Are U.S. Goal

PEARL HARBOR. T. H.—(UP)—

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the Pacific fleet, revealed that his forces intend to drive straight across the Pacific to China to gain bases for the final defeat of Japan, and challenged the Japanese fleet to try and stop them.

"I believe Japan can only be defeated from bases in China." Nimitz told newsmen late yesterday on his return from an inspection trip to newly – conquered Kwajalein atoll in the Marshalls. "My objective is to get ground and air forces into China so that we can get the ball rolling. That's simple strategy. I don't believe

the Japs can be defeated at sea alone." T Nimitz said that it should be no secret that "we will try to land wherever we can in China" and implied that any interference from the Japanese fleet Would be most welcome.

                                                                                            "Ready to Meet Them."

"We are ready to meet them at any time and are very optimistic regarding the outcome." he said. Nlmitz's revelation of the main objective of his trans-Pacific drive raised the possibility that he intends to drive a gigantic wedge through the Chinese coast, covered by a tremendous armada of aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers such as enabledthe United States to wrest  control of the Marshalls from Japan in eight days.

Germans Fired

At Wounded,

2 Officers Say

(Bombed Hospital Story, Page 2-)

WITH THE FIFTH ARMY ON

THE SLOPES OF MOUNT CASSINO,

Feb. 8.—(Delayed)—(U.P,)—

The Germans on Mount Cassino have been firing deliberately on American litter bearers and using the shield of the Red Cross for military purposes, two American officers reported today. Maj. Ray Erickson of Minneapolis, Minn., and Maj. Donald Landon, of Albert Lea, Minn., told how American medical units

Saturday deposited five litter cases in a stone house under enemy observation.

                                                                                      Germans Shell House.

A German self-propelled gun promptly shelled the house, the officers said, and of eight litter bearers who attempted to dig out,the victims, one was killed and

another wounded by small arms fire from 400 yards.

Bombers Ruin

German Citadel

Below Rome

(Br Tb≪ Auocuitd Pnui

ALLIED planes destroyed the greater part of Cisterna. Main German strong point in the siege lines around the Rome bridgehead into which the nazis said officially today they had advanced "several miles."

Headquarters at Algiers gave no confirmation of the German communique claim and spoke only of enemy patrols probing positions below Rome. Dispatches told of increasing German pressure and intense artillery fire against the American and British troops in the pocket, last reported 14 miles long and eight miles deep.

                                                    Cliff Positions Attacked.

Some advances were claimed on the main Fifth army front. 60 miles below the Rome sector, where the Americans had occupied a fourth of the ruins of Cassino

and climbed at one time to within 75 yards of the Benedictine abbey on Mt. Cassi.