Allied bombers swept over western
Europe from the Atlantic Wall to the Reich without loss yesterday in the
pre-invasion aerial offensive. The weight of American, explosives was spread
from France's bombcratered Pas de Calais to points well behind Hitler's
first-line invasion defenses as streams of heavy, medium, light and fighter-bombers
concentrated their attacks on the French coast and north France.
NAPLES, May 15—
French troops of the Fifth Army
punched what was officially announced as "a; significant breach" in
the Gustav Line in Italy today and advanced in a two pronged drive to within
five miles of Esperia, right-flank bastion of .the Hitler Line
beyond it. Five villages fell to
this wedge.
CHUNGKING, May 15—
The Chinese have started a new
offensive at the Burma border to link up with Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell’s Ledo
road forces advancing across northern Burma from India, the High Command
announced today, and at the same time have recaptured points on the Peiping-Hankow
railroad in central China which the Japs had just taken.
New York,
N.Y.—London, England Tuesday, May 16.1944
Allied Blitz
Thunders On
Unopposed
Not a Fighter
Rises to
Meet Attacks on
Atlantic Wall
Allied bombers swept over western
Europe from the Atlantic Wall to the Reich without loss yesterday in the
pre-invasion aerial offensive. The weight of American, explosives was spread
from France's bombcratered Pas de Calais to points well behind Hitler's
first-line invasion defenses as streams of heavy, medium, light and fighter-bombers
concentrated their attacks on the French coast and north France.
The Allied air offensive was
termed by a Berlin military commentator last night
as not only a. preparation but
"part and parcel of the invasion itself."
Up to 250 Fortresses and
Liberators struck the first blow yesterday morning, flying across the Channel
to hit the Pas de Calais—one of the most heavily bombed regions in the world—after
a night in which the Luftwaffe lost 15 aircraft on missions against south and
southwest England., presumably in an effort to spot Allied Second Front
preparations.
Not
One Nazi Plane Seen
Shepherded by Mustangs of the
Eighth Air Force, the heavies dropped their loads without encountering a single
German plane and returned without loss. One P51, probably a victim of flak, did
not return.
French Units
Punch
Hole in Gustav
Line,
Near Key
Strongpoint
Yanks Seize Town
Controlling Road
From Cassino
NAPLES, May 15—
French troops of the Fifth Army
punched what was officially announced as "a; significant breach" in
the Gustav Line in Italy today and advanced in a two pronged drive to within
five miles of Esperia, right-flank bastion of .the Hitler Line
beyond it. Five villages fell to
this wedge.
At the same time, Americans to
the south occupied the ancient town of Santa Maria Infante after a terrific
bombardment by artillery and dive-bombers
that left hardly a building
standing. They also seized strategic hills on both sides
of the Ausente River and took San
Pietro to the northeast.
On the front below Cassino,
British and Indians of the Eighth Army
penetrated
deeper into the Liri valley.
Their Rapido River bridgehead was pushed to a depth of 2,000 yards and
additional bridges were built to supplement the two on which the initial
crossings were made.
2,000
Prisoners Taken
Some 2,000 Nazi prisoners were
taken—1,200 of them, including-six battalion
commanders, from the German 71st
Division, which was wiped out by the Russians at Stalingrad but later
re-formed.
This division has borne the;
brunt of the Fifth Army attack and the! whole of its defenses have been
overruns.
Chinese Launch
Drive to Link Up
With Stilwell
20,000 Strike at
Burma
On Wide Front;
USAAF
Aids Loyang
Defense
CHUNGKING, May 15—
The Chinese have started a new
offensive at the Burma border to link up with Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell’s Ledo
road forces advancing across northern Burma from India, the High Command
announced today, and at the same time have recaptured points on the Peiping-Hankow
railroad in central China which the Japs had just taken.
Meanwhile the outnumbered
Chinese garrison of Loyang, important railroad Gateway to the
west, still held out against Japanese armored forces which have
broken through the city gates and
stormed the town from all sides. The U.S. 14th
Air Force flew to support the
Loyang defenders, blasting Japanese armor, artillery and other military targets
both north and south of the city.
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ejt
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