Vienna, capital of Hitler's own Austria
and one of his principal railway junctions and aircraft and
munitions manufacturing centers. was
attacked for the first time in the war yesterday by a strong force of American
bombers.
The Germans still maintained a
toehold on the southwestern outskirts of Cassino, in Italy, yesterday, as
veteran New Zealand troops, transferred from the Eighth Army front to lead the
offensive which started Wednesday, mopped up among the ruins and fought through
to the town's fringe as other Allied troops clawed their way within 100 yards
of the top of Monte Cassino which is blocking the road to Rome.
First Division cavalrymen of the
U.S. Sixth Army have landed on Matins Island, the Jap's largest base and
headquarters in the Admiralty Islands north of New Guinea, and! last night were
reported within a half-mile from Lorengau village and airfield, dispatches from
the South Pacific said.
CANBERRA, Australia, Mar. 17—
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, speaking
here on the second anniversary of his arrival in Australia, pledged again that
the "Allies will return'; to reconquer and liberate the Philippines in one
of the war's great offensives."
NEW DELHI, India. Mar. 17 (AP)—
Airborne British troops have
landed deep in north-central Burma to join in cleaning the Japanese out of the
territory through which the new Ledo supply line from China to India is being
built.
New York, N.Y,—London, England Saturday, March 18, 1944
Vienna
Is Raided For First Time
As
U.S. Heavies From Italy Hit
Austrian
Rail, Aircraft Center
B26s Bomb Rail
Center 20 Mi.
From Paris
Vienna, capital of Hitler's own Austria
and one of his principal railway junctions and aircraft and
munitions manufacturing centers. was
attacked for the first time in the war yesterday by a strong force of American
bombers.
Flying Fortresses and Liberators of
the 15th Air Force soared over the Alps from their bases in the Mediterranean
area to strike the once-gay Danube city of 2.000.000 population. They met no fighter
opposition, possibly because of the weather.
The first waves met intense flak,
but later planes found the defenses light. The losses and the specific targets
were not immediately announced.
Meanwhile. Ninth Air Force Marauders
kept up the aerial offensive
from Britain with a blow at
Creil 20 miles .north of Paris an
important junction in the railway lines to Belgium.
Crews reported that bombs fell among
long lines of freight trains, tore up rows of tracks and damaged many
buildings.
New
Zealanders Battle
To
Clear All Of Cassino
The Germans still maintained a
toehold on the southwestern outskirts of Cassino, in Italy, yesterday, as
veteran New Zealand troops, transferred from the Eighth Army front to lead the
offensive which started Wednesday, mopped up among the ruins and fought through
to the town's fringe as other Allied troops clawed their way within 100 yards
of the top of Monte Cassino which is blocking the road to Rome.
It was a yard-by-yard advance in Cassino
against dogged resistance. Using wreckage as strongpoints and sniping nests,
the German remnants held their southwest corner with a determination that left doubts
as to whether they could be routed in short order.
A tremendous role was being
played by Allied engineers, who worked under constant fire to clear a way for
tanks. They built one 70-foot bridge and several of 40 feet across enormous
craters left by Wednesdav's record air assault.
Rome
Road Still Blocked
Yanks
Invade
Largest
Island
ln
Admiralties
Losses Minor';
Capture
Of Manus Would
Close
Jap Supply Line
First Division cavalrymen of the
U.S. Sixth Army have landed on Matins Island, the Jap's largest base and
headquarters in the Admiralty Islands north of New Guinea, and! last night were
reported within a half-mile from Lorengau village and airfield, dispatches from
the South Pacific said.
Going ashore at dawn Thursday
under covering fire from 105mm. artillery on two newly-won neighboring islands
and supported by light naval and air attacks, the Americans! met opposition
described as ''not stiff" in yesterday's official communique.
Main objectives were won with "minor
losses," The communique added. Capture of Manus will seal off the Japanese
supply line from New Britain and New Irelanad to the Philippines and will give
the Allies a large island base from which new air and land blows could be
launched at Truk 675 miles north, or even
against the! Philippines, 1,200 miles northeast.
Mac Arthur Pledges
Blow at
Philippines
CANBERRA, Australia, Mar. 17—
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, speaking
here on the second anniversary of his arrival in Australia, pledged again that
the "Allies will return'; to reconquer and liberate the Philippines in one
of the war's great offensives." "With God's help, MacArthur said, "it
should be decisive, not only of the redemption, but will isolate Japan from her
southern conquests and restore China's Pacific communications."
"Two years ago when I landed
on your soil I said I shall return to the Philippines. Tonight, I repeat those
words. I shall return.
Burma British
Land
In Rear of Jap
Lines
NEW DELHI, India. Mar. 17 (AP)—
Airborne British troops have
landed deep in north-central Burma to join in cleaning the Japanese out of the
territory through which the new Ledo supply line from China to India is being
built.
A brief announcement today said
the British were landed in the rear of the Japanese south of the line along
which American and Chinese troops were advancing in the direction of Myitkina.
ejt
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