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VOL. LIV No. 156
ANN ARBOR, 1CHIGAN, FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1944
PRICE FIVE CENTS
Allies
Expand
Beachhead
in
Normandy
Germans Announce Beginning of Powerful Russian Oj
Pensive
U
Reds Fail To Confirm
Nazi Report of Drive
Hard Tank Battle Rages Near Bayeux;
Heavy Fighting Reported in Caen
By The Associated Press
LONDON, June 9-A top-ri-king German radio commentator declared
today that powerful Russian armored forces had launched an offensive
on a wide front north of Iasi in Romania and had advanced several miles
in the center and on the left flank.
There was no immediate Russian confirmation of the push, and the
Nazi commentator, Ernst von Hammer, did not say flatly that it was the
beginning of the expected Soviet thrust through the Galati Gap toward
the Ploesti oil fields and the wealth of the Danube valley, generally expected
to be timed with the Allied invasion of Hitler's Europe from the west.
Earlier Russian dispatches had said that "soon Russian infantry will
march across German land."
Warsaw May Follow
If the attack actually was more than a relatively local operation
among a series of fierce grapples north of Iasi in the past two weeks, it was
--likely to be followed immediately by
Forces May Cut Off
erourg Pennsu
New Thrust Believd BTed Tmed With
Recent Allied Invasion of Normandy
By WES GALLAGHER
Associated Press Correspondent
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE,
Friday, June 9-The Allies were thrusting ahead along the whole expand-
ing Normandy. battlefront today, developing their threat to cut off the
Cherbourg peninsula in heavy close-quarters fighting against fresh German
tactical reserves whose advent brought the invasion into its second phase.
A single Allied division was credited by headquarters with having
taken more than 1,000 Nazis prisoner since the European fortress was
breached Tuesday, while it was disclosed that the Canadian infantry and
armor had taken 600 prisoners and freed a dozen towns as they advanced
rapidly southward through woodlands and farms between Caen and the
captured town of Bayeux, often in house-to-house combat.
A fierce tank battle has been raging for 24 hours near Bayeux, a cor-
respondent with the Canadian forces
G erarnls ReelI
Beyond Rome
Two Towns Fall
North of Capitol
By The Associated Press
ROME, June 8.-In lightning drives
of as much as 26 miles in 24 hours
the Allied Fifth Army today captured
Civita Castellana, 32 mles north of
Rome, after other swift armored units
had pounded through Civitavecchia,
important seaport 38 miles northwest
of the Italian capital.
Little Resistance Met
Only the slightest resistance was
being encountered by Lt.-Gen. Mark
W. Clark's troops as they pressed af-
ter the reeling German 14th Army,
which an Allied spokesman declared
had been reduced to "batterer rem-
nants. There yet was no indication
where the disorganized enemy would
attempt to halt the Allied steam-
roller.
Civita Castellana is the junction of
three main highways and two electric
railways. Light reconnaissance units
entered tie town early n the evening.
Civitavecchia is a city of 36,000 popu-
lation, with docks that will be of
value to the pursuing Allied forces.
Drive into Braciano
Captured in the swift thrust north-
ward was the former headquarters of
the Nazi commander, Field Marshal
Albert Kesselring. The "elaborate,
tunnelled underground stronghold"
was situated about three miles south-
east of Civita Castellana.
N C ormaCoast
Shows Marks
Of Destructionr
By LEWIS HAWKINS
Associated Press Correspondent.
Representing the Combined
American Forces
ON THE BEACH IN NORMANDY,
June 7.-Shocking evidence of death
and destruction still dominated these
three miles of beach across which
Allied armies drove into France yes-
terday, but the threat of disaster was
giving way swiftly before the Ameri-
cans' hard-won advance into Nor-
mandy.
Before noon soldiers who yesterday
were barely hanging onto this wreck-
strewn bit of sand and rock, were
fighting their way forward to the
deepest penetration yet scored in this
sector. On the right flank two com-
bat teams were edging cautiously
forward and were a mile to two miles
inland. I heard machineguns pop-
ping and grenades and mortars
booming while Americans mopped up
patrols who had clung desperately to
this sector, although by-passed on
each side all along.
A considerable amount of mopping
up remained to be done, as I learned
quickly when I climbed up from the
confusion of the beach to the gently
rolling upland. Promptly I heard a
sniper's bullet singing past my ear,
missing by a few feet that seemed
much more like inches.
Despite the still nasty surf which
showed signs of subsiding toward
a lunge of Soviet armies toward War-
saw in Poland,
Moscow announced yesterday that
10,000 Germans had been killed in
eight days of futile attacks north of
Iasi, while the Nazis reported at least
10 Soviet rifle divisions had been
"wiped out or decisively mauled" in
the same fighting.
Offensive Expected
Telasi region has been most fre-
quently cited by the Germans as the
logical jumping-off point for the
expected Soviet summer offensive
and even Moscow commentators have
spoken of the military and political
advantages of striking into the Bal-
kans before dealing the death blow
to Germany itself.
Except for the recent action
around Iasi, the main Russian front
has been quiet for nearly two months.
Meanwhile the Russians cleaned up
the Crimea.
May Push in South
Another Berlin radio announce-
ment, by the commentator von 01-
berg of the Transocean News Service,
ignored the Iasi sector, emphasizing
instead that "all indications are that
one of the Russian offensives will be
launched south of the Pripyat mar-
shes in the direction of Lvov."
In this sector, several hundred
miles north of the Iasi front, the
commentator said large-scale mili-
tary traffic was passing through
railway junctions being bombed by
the Germans.
Reds Capture Height
Moscow, in the midnight supple-
ment to the Russian communique,
said that in the Iasi area. the Red
Army had "waged engagements to
improve its positions" during the day
and had captured a height "of great
importance."
German attempts to restore the
situation were unsuccessful and
about 200 Nazis were killed, Moscow
said.
The supplement stated that Soviet
troops had broken into enemy tren-
ches south of Tiraspol and wiped out
most of an enemy company.
Slosson Sees
Nazi Collapse
Late This Year
Germany probably will not collapse
until almost the end of this year,
Prof. Preston W. Slosson estimated
with certain reservations in a discus-
sion of the invasion sponsored yes-
terday by the Post-War Council.
"We have reached at last the be-
ginning of the end," Prof. Slosson
said, "assuming that our calculations
are not all wrong."
He pointed out that the influence
of the United States in settling the
peace will be greatly affected by the
strength of our armed forces on the
continent. "Although the Russians
rejoice at the implementing of their
own strategy, we have gained guar-
antee against domination of all Eur-
ope by Russia singly."
The necessity for a second front
was beyond all question, Prof. Slosson
remarked, adding that no nation was
ever brought to surrender by aerial
attack alone.
Lindbergh Teaches
High Flying in Gilberts
(ABOVE) YANKS STORM ASHORE-American assault troops heavily laden with full equipment,
push ashore onto a beachhead on the French inva sion coast as other landing craft follow theirs in.
(BELOW) WOUNDED CANADIANS TENDED ON FRENCH BEACH-Canadian soldiers who were
wounded in beachhead struggle are treated before transfer to clearing station. Barrel of gun protrudes
from slot in concrete works, and barbed wire entanglements show along the wall.
Rail Junctions
Behind Norman
B atic one Hi
Allied Air Forces
Make 27,000 Sorties
By The Associated Press
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, AL-
LIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE,
June 9, Friday-Allied Air Forces,
surpassing the total of 27,000 sorties
since the invasion of western Europe
began, smashed at vital rail junctions
well behind the battle zone and at
scores of other objectives throughout
the third day of the battle of Nor-
mandy.
Weather Improves
As the weather improved steadily,
daylight operations were the greatest
today in all the three days of invasion
warfare, and at noon the 27,000 sor-
ties mark wss passed by British-based
aircraft.
During this period, approximately
54 hours, Allied loses were 289 planes
of all types-barely more than 1
per cent.
German planes destroyed in the
period totaled 176 planes out of the
meager forces which were dwarfed by
the massive Allied bomber and figpter
fleets thundering constantly through
European skies.
Opposition Is Limited
As landing forces pushed forward
to join airborne troops and expand
newly-won territory, American For-
tresses and Liberators, nearly 1,000
strong and escorted by up to 500
fighters, smashed at transport bottle-
necks and airfields 100 to 150 miles
behind the Normandy beachheads.
Enemy opposition in the air con-
tinued on a limited scale.' However,
fliers reported ground fire was ex-
tremely heavy.
Ten rail centers on main lines lead-
ing to the Brest and Cherbourg pen-
insulas were pounded by the Fortres-
ses and Liberators and by Marauders
nd Havocs of the U.S. Ninth Air
Force, and the Ninth's fighter-bomb-
ers alone made ten separate attacks
during the first six hours of daylight,
losing only one Thunderbolt.
Farley Resh m
WAR
BULLETINS
By The Associated Press
ADVANCED ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, NEW GUINEA, Friday, June
9-A Liberator bombed and damaged a Japanese heavy cruiser off north-
west New Guinea, headquarters announced today.
Encircled enemy positions east of Mokmer airdrome on Biak Island
in the Schoutens were being reduced by a triple American barrage-from
artillery, tanks and destroyers. Two five hundred pound bombs exploded
off the bow of the Japanese cruiser near Waigeo Island June 6. Liberator
planes fought off twelve attacking Zeros.
* * * *
LONDON, June 8-Marshal Tito's Partisans have inflicted "heavy
losses" on German SS divisions in violent fighting in western Bosnia,
the free Yugoslav communique broadcast today said.
The broadcast added that Partisans had renulsed a German
attack near Gracac, near the Ardiatic coast, and "beat off T70 Germans"
in a battle at Cerknica, near the Italian frontier.
* * * *
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE,
June 8-Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower declared today in a confident appraisal
of the first 54 hours of the Allied invasion of France that his faith in the
sea, air and ground units had been "completely justified" and that the
ground forces under Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery were "performing
magnificently."
* .* * *
LONDON, June 8-Prinme Minister Churchill cautioned the House
of' C'omm'ons today against "over-optimisnm" regarding the invasion,
news.
LONDON, June 8-A German broadcast today said Allied planes were
parachuting carrier pigeons in cages into France, "telling the French
people to send them back with detailed information about German installa-
tions."
It also said millions of leaflets were being dropped, "inciting the French
to sabotage and espionage."
ROME, June 8-Ivanoe Bonomi, a pre-Fascist Italian premier, was
asked by Crown Prince Urmberto today to form a new government to
succeed that of Marshal Pietro Badoglio.
Prince Umberto, acting in his new capacity as Lieutenant-General
of the realm, acted after a series of conferences here with various
Italian political leaders, including members of the Rome Committee
of Liberation.
reported in a front-line dispatch dat-
ed Thursday.
The Germans, strengthened by
parachutists, are putting up fierce
resistance and -some desperate hand
to hand- fighting has .taken place inl
several wooded areas, he said, adding
that "the Germans are clinging tena-
ciously to Caen, using that city as a
pivot of fierce counter-thrusts to test
the strength of our lines."
Caen Is Battle Center
Caen, nine miles south of the Seine
Bay on the Orne River, was the cen-
ter of bitter and protracted battle
against strong German defenses, but
the Nazis themselves acknowledged
that the Allies were inside the city
and had pushed five miles south and
west of Bayeux, which is five miles
from the coast. In general, however,
the Allied command kept mum on
exact locations.
At least two German tank divisions
have been identified in battle.
It was disclosed early today that
with better weather the Allied inva-
sion schedule had regained most of
the nearly 24 hours it was thrown off
in the movement of supplies and rein-
forcements from England in the first
two foul days.
It was indicated that the first for-
ces ashore Tuesday could have pushed
ahead more rapidly than they did,
but Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's
Supreme Command decided it was
wiser to slow the advance somewhat
Tuesday and Wednesday while await-
ing more adequate strength, rather
than make a temporarily spectacular
gain and risk having the spearheads
nipped off.
Speed Supply Flow
Now with improving weather the
flow of supplies and new units to the
front has almost caught up and is
proceeding faster than ever.
The British Sixth Airborne Divi-
sion, which the Nazis claimed yester-
day to have "annihilated" has held
repeated German attacks, the com-
munique said.
It later was disclosed at headquar-
ters that Americans were fighting for
a lateral road, which was not speci-
fied, but. which apparently was one
of those running westward from
Caen, nine miles inland, and roughly
parallel to the coast towards the'
Cherbourg peninsula.
It also was disclosed that 'the Amer-
ican First and British 50th Infantry
Divisions spearheaded the initial sea-
borne landings Tuesday. American
forces are on the west of the beach-
head area and the British Sixth Air-
borne Division on the east, with the
left flank running north and south
slightly east of Caen, it was said at
headquarters.
Caen was described as heavily de-
fended and "a tough nut."
Since dawn Tuesday, 176 enemy.
aircraft were listed as destroyed in
air combat, while the Allies have lost
289 in the same period, including un-
armed troop-carriers and transports.
Jap ruiser.
Hit in Pacific
Enemy Fleet May
Open Fight Soon
By the Associated Press
Indications that the elusive Japa-
nese Fleet may soon fight rather
than yield more territory to Ameri-
cans advancing across the Pacific
were seen today in the appearance
of a heavy cruiser off Northwest lNew
Guinea,
Liberators Fight Off Attack
United States Liberators fought off
12 intercepting planes to damage the
Nipponese Warship Wednesday,
southwest Pacific Headquarters Van-
nounced today. Two 500-pound
bombs hit near her bow. It was
the third enemy combat vessel re-
ported this week in southwest Pacific
waters where none had been engaged
for months.
The brief air-sea battle occurred
off Waigeo Island, 400 miles west of
Biak Island where American artil-
lery, tanks and destroyers combined
to reduce Japanese positions east
of the recently captured Mokmer air-
drome.
Chinese troops seized a foothold
in the strategic Burma road town of
Lungling, spotlighting a series of
Japanese reverses reported yesterday
on all oriental battlefronts outside
the Changsha Theater.
Changsha Defense Desperate
Defenders of Changsha were put-
ting up stubborn resistance against
four Nipponese columns pressing
down on the Hunan provincial capi-
tal from three sides. One force was
less than ten miles from Changsha,
strongest defense point blocking the
invaders' southward drive along the
Hankow-Canton Railway.
Far to the south Chinese troops
stormed through the west gate of
Lungling, primary enemy base on
the China segment of the Burma
road.
City War Bond
Drive Is Aided
By Army Units
Cooperating with the city in its
Fifth War Loan Drive, Army person-
nel, under the direction of Col. Young,
have started their War Bond drive,
and have already collected $1,000
cash value of bonds, according to Lt.
Flegal, who is in charge of collections,
All Army and civilian personnel of
the 3651st Service Unit will be con-
tacted by "minute men", consisting of
130 officers and enlisted men.
Each company and class will be
competing against each other. Credit
for sales will be given to the Ann Ar-
bor American Legion, since the Uni-
versity and the Army do not have a
quota to fill.
Prizes for the highest man in each
company, and to the highest man in
the service unit will be presented at
the conclusion of the drive. The Judge
Advocate General's School, which has
always been at the top, is determined
to surpass its quota in the previous
Expected
R oosevelt
ry Oppo se
N Olmimatioln
By The Associated Press
James A. Farley resigned as New
York Democratic Chairman yester-
day in a move widely interpreted as
meaning he expects President Roose-
velt to run again and that Farley,
as a fourth term opponent, does not
want to hold party office during the
campaign.
In VWashington, Senator Overton
(D.-La.), an opponent of a fourth
term nomination, said he assumed
Farley would "actively oppose both
the renomination and the re-elec-
tion of Pr:esident Roosevelt." Most
GEOGRAPHY FAVORABLE:
Dodge Discusses Invasion T errain
The Allies launched the invasion of
Europe in the most favorable area
in view of geographic considerations,
Prof. Stanley D. Dodge of the geog-
raphy department said yesterday.
"Thereare four geographicdivi-
sions along the northern coast of
France. From Calais to the Rhine
easy access to the interior. This
was the spot selected by the Allied
forces. Beyond St. Malo to the
west rocky cliffs line the shore and
there is steep coast," Prof Dodge
explained.
The peninsula on which Cherbourg
is lnra +A i is+1,,,h rvnc+ fan r.hln 1 nnn
east of the Elbe Rivers.
"The chief barrier which will
face the Allied forces is the Rhine
because the only practical way to
cross that river is above Cologne.
From Basel to Mainz it flows
through a deep gorge, and south
of that is neu~tral Switzerland,"