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,FORECAST FORECAST WILMINGTON AND VICINITY: Partly cloudy today; little change in temper ature. Temperatures yesterday: High 83—Low 66. \21____ FINAL EDITION ESTABLISHED 1867 Mies Almost Cut Off Cherbourg Clark’s Troops Mop Up Towns 5th Army Races Ahead At Breakneck Speed To Seize Three Communication Centers ROME, June 9.—(^—Pursuing the shattered German 14th army at continued breakneck pace northwest of Rome, Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark’s Fifth army forces swept through the communication centers of Viterbo, Vetralla and Tar quinia today as N^zi troops in the Adriatic sector joined the general enemy flight up the Italian peninsula. _ ^ ,rUol Tiicrhwav anH 1_ function 40 miles from Rome, fell before a swift seven-mile thrust from the area of Lake Divico. Tar nuinia, on the main coastal high way 55 miles northwest of the capi tal, was seized in a 10-mile stab by Allied troops driving on from the captured port of Civitavecchia. Ve tralla is on a lateral highway con necting Viterbo and Tarquinia. There yet was no sign that Field Marshal Albert Kesselring had been able to rally his fleeing remnants, and it was doubted here that he would attempt to make another serious stand short of a line beyond Florence. some 150 miles from Rome. Although Clark’s forces were averaging roughly 15 miles a dav in their grim chase, they found' it difficult to keep within shooting distance of the Nazis Clark's vanguards were more than 130 airline miles from the starting points of the big offensive launched less than a month ago. A five-month deadlock was broke in the Adriatic sector when the Nazis, after carrying out heavy de molitions, began withdrawing along a five-mile front between the coast and Crecchio- Eighth army forces pressed after them two miles and occupied Tolla, only seven miles from the provincial capital of Chieti. The Germans thus were re treating along virtually the entire width of the peninsula. Lt. Gen. Sir Oliver Leese’s main Eighth Army continued to meer resistance' from German rear guards east of the Tiber, but dr some 10 miles beyond Tivoli and seized the towns of Agosta and Palombarasabina. Further east Leese’s spearheads approached th« village of Civitella Roveto, only seven and a half miles south of Avezzano. Allied fighters and bombers de stroyed another 195 enemy vehicle® and 28 rail' cars and damaged at least 170 more vehicles in their ceaseless attacks on German transport. The Mediterranean air forces flew 1,500 Sorties during the day, losing six planes and destroy ing four enemy craft. Twenty Nazi anti-tank and self propelled guns were knocked out in the vicinity of Monte Orotondo, just east of the Tiber. Civitaveckia, Italy’s seventh post in tonnage handled before the war, was found to have escaped serious damage by the Germans, who ap parently were too hard-pressed to make extensive demolitions. Its deep-water unloading facilities — first to fall to the Allies above Rome—should greatly assist the Fifth army push up the west coast An Allied spokesman said there Was evidence that the German's rushed some reinforcements from outside Italy into the final struggle lor Rome. Among prisoners captur ed in recent days, he said, were some who declared they left Den mark only a week ago. ___ir_ State Postmasters Elect Wilbur Dosher As 1944-45 President CHARLOTTE, June 9- —(IF) —Wilbur Dosher of Wilmington was elected president today of the North Carolina chapter of National Association of Post Postmasters. R. L. Plexico of Clinton, S.C. was named president of the South Carolina chapter* The elections climaxed the two-day joint convention of the two organizations. Dosher succeeds J. Tracy Moore of Greensboro. Other of ficers elected by the North Carolina group: Theo Thomas of Tarboro, first vice presid ei't; Sam Mauney of Newton* second vice president; Leslie Hensley of Burnsville, third Jj°.e president; Mrs. Mamie C. Griifin of Lenoir, fourth vice President; Miss Pearl Linville °f Oak Ridge, secretary-treas urer; J. Tracy Moore of Greensboro and Miss Ada Bad Rett of pilot Mountain, state “‘rectors; R. Homer Andrews "‘ Burlington and Mrs. Mar garet. F. Poyner of Moyock, “ational directors. Speakers at a joint session tonight were Mrs. Amelia Gopenhaver of Bristol, Tenn.. former vice president of the "ational association and Joe W* £vv‘“ of Charlotte, Democratic “ominer for the U.« S. house * representatives. U.S. Planes Hit Germany From South SUPREME HEADQUAR TERS ALLIED EXPEDITION ARY FORCE, June 9.— (£>)— Between 500 and 750 American heavy bombers roaring over the Alps from Italy hammer ed targets in the Munich area of southehrn Germany today, but the weather over the chan nel was so bad that for the first time since D-Day there was no report of any daylight operations from Britain in sup port of the Normandy invasion. ■ Official reports also failed to mention any Allied airborne operations during Thursday night. The weather, a source of con stant anxiety, crippled the aer ial offensive with rain and low clouds cutting visibility. Late today there had been no re ported improvement in the si tuation The headquarters communi que at midnight said “poor visibility and stormy weather reduced Allied air activity to a minimum over the battle area, today.” The Italian-based bombers flew into the Munich area for the first time, and their es corting Lightnings. Mustangs and Thunderbolts fought through swarms of' German fighters. Swiss dispatches said explosives were dropped in the Munich and Augsburg sectors. Other U. S- heavy bomber formations attacked Porto Mar ghera near Venice, and fight er-bombers pounded German columns retreating above Rome. _—V ACTION FLARES IN OLD POLAND LONDON, Saturday, June 10 — W) — A spurt of fighting northwest of Tarnapol in Old Poland was announced early today in the sian communique, broadcast supplement to the Rus The announcement came after earlier Moscow dispatches had in dicated the Red army is ready to open its expected offensive from the east in coordination with the Allied invasion of Europe from the west. In the Tarnapol sector German infantry broke into a populated place yesterday but was driven out by fierce Soviet counterattacks which inflicted heavy losses on the Nazis, Moscow said. The supplement said 10 German tanks and two self-propelled guns were destroyed and a number of the enemy captured. Soviet units also have taken another height north of Iasi in Romania, wiping out more than a company of the enemy, i/e supple ment stated. El»ewhere the front remained quiet. --V Bankhead Amendment Passed By Senators WASHINGTON, June 9. —VP)— The administration suffered a ma jor reverse tonight when the Sen ate passed a price control exten sion bill bearing the controversial for adjustment of textile ceilings with a view to raising the price o: raw cotton. The amendment, which OPA Ad ministrator Chester Bowie* warn ed would “shatter the entire stab ilization structure,” was approv ed 39 to 35- Senator Bankhead (D Ala) denied it was inflationary. It was tacked onto the bill ex tending the price and wage stab ilization act to Dec. 31, 1945. Th« measure now goes to the House, (Senators Bailey and Reynold: of North Carolina were paired foi the amendment.) First Photo Of Allied Troops Marchin^^^rench Village There they are. our own lads and our Allies marching through a French village following the in vasion landing. Walking beside their heavy military equipment they appear to have the town to them* selves. Canadian official photo via If. S. Signal Corps. (International Newsphoto). MacArthur’s Mitchell Bombers Sink Four Japanese Destroyers U-BOAT ACTION AT LOWEST EBB WASHINGTON, June 9 —UP— Al lied shipping losses from U-boat action in the pre-invasion month of May were “by far the lowest for any month of the war,’’ an Anglo American statement reported to day. At the same time it was noted that a lull in German undersea activity might indicate a possible sign of “preparations for a renewed offensive. ” The joint statement, issued by the Office of War Information under authority of President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, said cargo-ship losses in May were but a fraction of the destruction inflict ed on Axis shipping. Several U-boats are being sent to the bottom for every merchant ship destroyed, the statement noted, whereas “formerly each U - boat accounted for ? considerable num ber of merchant ships before being destroyed.” A hint that new electronic detec tion devices are contributing to the antisubmarine campaign was given in the statement. Allied suc cesses were attributed not only to the vigorous efforts of the armed forces, but to “the scientist who support them in a brilliant manner.” -V CABINET IN MAKING ROME. Jun» 9.-(&)—Ivanhoe Bonomi, 71-year-old pre-Fascist premier, today undertook the task of forming a new Italian cabinet. Fifth Ship Damaged; Two Others Flee ADVANCED ALLIED HEAD QUARTERS. New Guinea, Satur day, June 10.—(£>)—General Dou glas MacrArthur’a Mitchell bom bers sank four Japanese destroyers off Manokwari, Dutch New Gui nea, it was announced today. Headquarters reported a fifth destroyer was damaged- A cruis er and a sixth destroyer fled. Ten Mitchells were credited with blocking the enemy attempts to reinforce its Biak garrison Thurs day. The attack upon the cruiser and six destroyers took place in Geel vink bay. the entrance to which is guarded by Biak and the other Schouten islands. The enemy fighters attempted to prevent the bomber attack, and shot down three American planes. Lightnings escorting the Mitchells destroyed five Japanese aircraft. On Biak itself American ground forces were mopping up remaining enemy pockets in the Mokmer area and were preparing an at tack upon Borokoe and Sorido dromes west of Mokmer strip The attack upon enemy warships followed up the bombing by Lib erators of a Japanese heavy cruis er to the northwest, near Waigeo island on June 6, and the probable sinkings of two destroyers in wa ters between Dutch New Guinea and Halmahera island a few days earlier. MacArthur’s Liberators mean while again attacked islands in the Truk group, dropping 30 tons upon enemy positions June 7. Three intercepting Zeros were shot down. COLLEGE FIRES SIX TEACHERS GREENVILLE, June 9 — (JPI—Six faculty members at East Carolina Teachers college here have been fired because the board of trustees “found” they “have been instru mental in inciting students to in surrection and for unwholesome in fluences on the campus.” The action was taken at a special session of the board here ^uesday. no public report was made. To day, Dr. H. G- McGinnis, acting president who succeeded Dr. Leon R. Meadows, now under indictment confirmed the report that six had been dismissed. After Meadows was exonerated by the board of charges made in a state auditor’s report that he had not properly accounted for more than $18,000 in student and college funds, and before he was indicted by the Pitt county grand jury, a number of students at a mass meet ing demanded that changes be made. After that came reports that duress had later been brought to bear upon some of the participat ing students and Governor Brough ton issued from Raleigh a state ment asserting the students had every right to assemble and ex press their views. Final action regarding the six was not taken by the board at its regular commencement meeting here two weeks ago. The Greenville Reflector said it (Continued on Page Two; Col. 6) 1 400,000 Fighting In Normandy Area; Tank Battle Rages STAFF CHIEFS FLY TO LONDON Marshall, King And Arnold Cross Ocean To Get Invasion Data WASHINGTON, June 9.— (>P) — At a critical stage of ;he invasion of Europe, Am erica’s three top command ers arrived in London today for a close-up review and pos sible major decisions on the strategy of the grand offen sive. President Roosevelt through his secretary, Stephen Early, announc ed the arrival in Britian’s invasion capital of General George C. Mar shal , United States Army chief oi Staff; Admiral Ernest J. King com mander-in-chief of the American fleet, and General Henry H. Arnold, chief of the Air Forces. The four-star officers went ts Bri tain, Early said, to attend a meet ing of the combined chiefs of staff which had been planned to be held “as soon as possible after D Day,’’ which was Tuesday. The President, Early said, is “happy to announce” that the officers have “arrived safely in London.” The trio had conferred with Pres ident Roosevelt on Tuesday a few hours after the invasion began, Like other military- officials here, they are understood to have beer extremely well pleased with the progress to date. aIaaa 14- ««ta a nAfictihlo 4r figure out weeks before the invas ion that critical decisions affectirj the success of the whole operation would have to be made immediate ly after the first limited beach heads were established. While the Allied strategy remains one of the great secrets of the war, the map of developments tc date suggests that one possi’ question facing the leaders is 'his: Whether to concentrate on ex ploiting the areas already attacked or to make an equally heavy as sault at some other position. This is the question which un doubtedly has the Nazi high com mand most seri^’-'-’v Wp—•«a the moment. Whether Allied plans are already fixed or not, the Germ-os cannot commit their forces until they know where the weight of the attack is directed. On the other hand, a display of enemy weakness would open up opporutnities tc General Eisenhower for further at tack or for exploitation of positions already assaulted. Such major de cisions might preferable be passed upon by the chiefs of staff rather than by the invasion commander alone. .— V PREDICT NEW INVASION LONDON, June 9.—(A3)— German broadcasts predicted today that the Allies would invade Belgium soon “between Dunkerque and Os tende,” and said thata airborne reinforcements on the invasion front were helping to pack an Allied punch in an increasingly jitter battle of Normandy 1 Allies Smash 4 Nazi Ships Off Brittany SUPREME HEADQUAR TERS ALLIED EXPEDITION ARY FORCE, Saturday, June 9.—(JP)—Eight British. Canad ian and Polish destroyers in tercepted four German destroy ers apparently bent on a sneak smash at the Allied Normandy coast line before dawn yester day, blowing up one of them, chasing another aground in flames and scoring hits on the other two which escaped, a communique announced early today. The grounded enemy vessel was believed to have been fin ished off later by bombing attack. This point-blank engagement —which cost the- Allies dam age and a few casualties on only one ship, the British de stroyer Tartar—was the most dramatic of three surface ac tions announced, and was fought off the tip of Brittany near Ushant island- The other two actions were minor ones. In addition, Allied naval un its continued their battering of the invasion coast, plastering 46 more targets duriwg the 24 "hours ending* at 8 a.m. yester day. Spotted by a patrol plane before midnight Thursday, the quartet of German destroyers was intercepted after appar ently coming up from the Bay of Biscay around the tip of Brittany. They joined battle on parallel northward courses, loosing a torpedo barrage which the Allied craft dodged Soon there was a general me lee. _v_ UNDERGROUND BIDING TIME LONDON, June 9—UP)—'Violence already has broken out against collaborationists in liberated Bay eux, where a manhunt was under way for suspected traitors, reports from the invasion battlefront said today, but for the most part canny French patriots were biding their time and exercising considerable control. Except for incidents in Bayeux, where enraged French citizens were reported to have marched one collaborationist through the streets lashing him with whips and sticks and to have beaten a Vichy* ite policeman, the French appear ed to be carrying on blandly with their every day affairs in the midst of the fighting. Fliers reported seeing farmers working in their fields in the bat tlezone, and one front report told of a calm old lady strolling down a street where fighting was rag ing, placidly calling out “Vive les Anglais.” Troops Hit Beachhead Under German Fire ' -----***~,*~*~* — ' - ■" a ’!T7**j5 Here is one of the most remarkable pictures yet taken of the bitterly fought invasi on of continental Europe by the Allied forces of liberation. The huge steel tank obstruc tions. like monstrous jacks little girls use in play, are used as shelters by Allied fighte rs as they make the beach under withering German fire. The men are shown shooting at the Nazis. Landing craft which brought these men to the shores of Frances are in the background. Naval guns battered the shore batteries, and the invaders silenced the Nazi emplacements and pillboxes to consolidate a brilliant landing. Signal Corps adiophoto (International Newsphoto). ... RAF RESUMES BOMBING AID Stiff Battle Near Caen Termed Heaviest Along Coast SUPREME HEADQUAR TERS ALLIED EXPEDI TIONARY FORCE, Saturday, June 10.—(/P)—An American flying wedge of parachutists and infantrymen has cut the main German communications lines to the potentially great landing-port of Cherbourg by capturing the town of Ste Mere Eclise and sweeping on across the broad-gauge Cher bourg peninsular railway and the parallel highway in heavy fighting, supereme headquar ters announced today. Axis broadcasts said 400,000 men were fighting in Normandy, about 200,000 on each side, and that Al lied reinforcements had been pour ing into the beaches all Friday night with many tanks. A late front-line Allied dispatch from the Gaen area, scene of the heaviest armored combat of the whole.front, described Allied taals convoys coming through in endless columns. The Allied communique, ii re porting the fourth day of thig in vasion of Normandy, gave these additional points: Further Allied gains have been made west and southwest of cap tured Bayeux; Heavy fighting continues in all areas; TT'l _ f__• in. _ — uvtv*v in uiv oita ui Caen, where the Germans are making a desperate effort to stem the British - Canadian advance; The weight of armor on both side* is increasing; Numerous enemy strong-points that originally were by-passed have now been eliminated; The weather has deteriorated but the beachheads nevertheless are being developed steadily; Poor visibility and stormy fea ther cut activity to a minimum during the day but late Friday night RAF bombers roared out over the Channel again towards France. Eight British, Canadian and Po lish destroyers blew up a German destroyer, ran another aground and damaged two off Ushant island near the Brittany peninsula be fore dawn Friday: and an Ameri can-led destroyer force intercepted a force of heavy armed German light craft and drove them off the beachhead area in the vicinity of the St. Marcouf isles in the Seine bay. Gains Continue The previous communiqup, is sued Friday shortly before noon, had announced continuing gains in all sectors. The Germans said the Ameri cans had advanced another mile beyond Ste Mere Eclise, which is 18 miles southeast of Cherbor and intimated that the weak sec ondary roads left to the Nazis in the peninsula were already threat 'Continued on Page Two; Col. 5) Major Wicker Named To Head Fort Fisher CAMP DAVIS, June 9 — Major Robert L. Wicker, director of the intelligence and security division at this military post, today was named temporary post commander at Fort fisher, in the absence of Major Leo S. Jobe, according to an announce ment by Col. Adam E. Potts, camp commander. Major Wicker, whose family re sides on Market street, Wilmington, is a native of Sanford. He is a graduate of University of North Carolina, where he starred as a football and baseball player. Major Jobe has been assigned to attend the command and general staff school at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. ligenceoff iceris Capt.J ames staff school at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Relieving Major Wicker as intel ligence officer is Capt. James E. Lewis, Jr., post provost marshal, < ' h '
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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June 10, 1944, edition 1
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