17 Jul 1944
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 18 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
Jul 17, 1944
Page
1
The Russian and Soviet-aligned forces report major advances across Lithuania and Poland, breaking German lines near Alytus and Gocek, capturing towns and rail junctions. Despite German counterattacks and renewed offensives, Soviet communiques claim encirclements reduced German positions as the front lines shift eastward toward key routes and towns including Alytus and Gocek.
According to highly reliable reports via Moscow, the German High Command plans a large exodus from East Prussia. Population in the newer sectors is being evacuated under martial law as German divisions prepare movements and retreats.
The dispatch describes daylight and night bombing raids on the French coast and London. It notes Bomber Command aircraft, including Lancaster bombers, conducted attacks near Paris and in Britain. German air defenses and casualties, plus survivor stories and hospital scenes, are summarized with emphasis on military movement and damage.
In hard fighting across Normandy Allied forces press advances along the Ay River and toward Bayeux and Le Menth. American units attack with air support and heavy troops movement, repelling German rear guards while pushing across key roads toward Confraville and Nay as weather limits air power but fails to halt progress.
A Tokyo official radio report cited by The New York Times claimed Japanese authorities warned that any American airmen who bailed out or were downed over Japan would be executed. The broadcast, linked to the Day of the War, suggested further executions would follow for those stranded or captured after raids on Japan, including the June 13 Super Fortress operation.
Chinese Central News Agency reports devastating fires across Vewata Japan after a midyear raid. Military targets include Base bo, third largest naval base in the Topasou Empire, Omura, Layac on the China coast, and Hankow. All planes returned.
After months of secrecy, headquarters of No 14th Air Force disclosed that Captain Winfree Bordelett, 3d, carried out a 2,200 mile reconnaissance flight over Japan in an unarmed P-30 on October 1, 1948. He gathered weather data, mud photography, and other military information valuable for future combat operations.
The official health rivinw reports a rapid evacuation operation from July 1 to 14 involving mothers and children, amid broader wartime emergency. The program notes 189,682 departures and six thousand remunerations for evacuees, with many returning home as the phase ends.
Reported collision and damage near Norway as a merchantman endured an attack. The account is incomplete and garbled, but mentions naval action, blasts, and damaged ships in the vicinity with unclear follow up.
A scrambled OCR style report notes an Italian cabinet meeting in Rome with unclear details. It mentions a person or faction and hints at political tension around a new Tall to Cabinet and a broader discussion involving Bugnior Bano, but the wording is fragmented and ambiguous.
A wartime dispatch from London notes General Montgomery prepares for a major offensive in France. The direction remains uncertain, but authorities expect a swift ground action with large forces and heavy movement across Normandy, timing deemed imminent by Allied planners.
Times correspondent reports that the British Second Army in France may need a decisive victory to break the German mobile defense. He notes German forces massing around Caen and along the Seine as Allied armor advances threaten a broader breakout toward Paris.
Allied reports describe German flying bombs in the Merville and Caen area with raids across the coast and inland targets. German air activity included 36 enemy planes destroyed or damaged, while Allied defenses intercepted Weboat and bomber formations near Le Havre and Seine Bay. Night sorties extended up to 190 miles south of Paris targeting Nevers Bourgen Tours and other supply targets.
Japanese forces prepared to renew operations after heavy losses at Aitape. Reports describe intensified bombardment by American and Australian units, air raids over the Drinimor and Gibson areas, and renewed enemy efforts near Gestvink Bay, with oil storage and military targets hit and Allied counteractions ongoing.
Italy based air actions continued the destruction of enemy oil centers. Allied air forces targeted refinery stations at several locations, with a reported large bomber raid damaging a rail or road hub. Rome announced a heavy bombing on Phooatsun Makurday, while American planes supported the strikes, claiming multiple facilities were damaged or destroyed.
Allied forces press into Italy with heavy gains as Eighth Army advances near Monte Tignano and Arena while landing near Miramurto. British and Allied commands report rapid progress against German positions as air and ground operations concentrate in northern Italy and adjacent fronts.
The Pacific Fleet communique states enemy planes attacked ground targets while carriers and ships bombed pinpoint sites. Generators and airfields were cited as targets with several aircraft reported shot down or damaged.
Disjointed dispatch notes an Allied advance beyond Kandy area in Manipur Sector. Report claims contact with a Japanese rearguard about six miles southwest of Neneh, amid rough terrain and ongoing combat conditions. May reflect broader Allied push after intense exchanges.
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