May 4, 1944; Defense Wall Pounded, Belgium & France

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY MAY 4, 1944:

LONDON. (Thursday) May 4— (UP) —

The twentieth day of an uninterrupted Allied air offensive—whose thunderous strokes by official estimate already have finished off the ability of Nazi railroads in northern France and Belgium to carry the full load demanded by them by Allied invasion—broke over Germany early today.

LONDON, May 3 — (??) —

Widespread air raids on Axis railway junctions and- airfields in Poland and Romania were announced tonight by the Soviet communique, which said that on the ground fronts there still were "no essential changes.

ZANESVILLE, OHIO, THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1944

Defense Wall

And Railways

Are Pounded

LONDON. (Thursday) May 4— (UP) —

The twentieth day of an uninterrupted Allied air offensive—whose thunderous strokes by official estimate already have finished off the ability of Nazi railroads in northern France and Belgium to carry the full load demanded by them by Allied invasion—broke over Germany early today.

The Berlin radio began just before midnight to issue warnings that hostile planes were over western and southwestern sections of the Reich; then Frankfurt and then

Stuttgart went off the air.

This followed a day and evening of widespread thrusts by U. S. Liberators and American Thunderbolts—fighters -----

Heavy Soviet Raids

Airfields

And Rail

Lines Hit

LONDON, May 3 — (??) —

Widespread air raids on Axis railway junctions and- airfields in Poland and Romania were announced tonight by the Soviet communique, which said that on the ground fronts there still were "no essential changes." It was the twelfth

day of the land lull. Overnight, long-range Soviet planes hit German troop trains

concentrated at the junctions of Lwow and Samhor in Poland, while other Russian raiders struck airfields in the areas of Lwow, Stanis- IP.WOW. in the southeast corner of old Poland, and Roman, in Romania. 37 miles west of Lasi.

Fires at Lwow

At Lwow there were about 20 fires, including five particularly large

ones, accompanied by explosions, - the Russians said. At Samhor, 40 miles southwest of Lwow. explosions and brilliant flames followed the bombings,

which included hits on a train that had just arrived.

It was the second constructive raid on the Lwow rail junction, the Russians having reported that on. Monday night they set fire to six loaded military trains there.

Drstroy 90 Planes

In the blows at enemy airdromes, more than 90 German planes were destroyed on the ground, the communique said while yesterday, 38 Germans were brought down in air combat and by anti-aircraft fire.

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