This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 19 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Dothan Eagle
Location
Dothan, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 27, 1944
Page
5
Tokyo industrial districts were blasted again by Saipan based B 29s in a daylight attack, the fifth in a week, with about 50 aircraft taking part. Tokyo officials reported fires and crowds cheering as bombers broke over the city.
The Word Today summarizes scattered front line updates: German spearhead activity near Celles and a dawn breakout near Ciney, Belgian fighting near Nemur, in Moh house to house combat around Budapest, British action against ELAS and a potential resumption of offensive air operations, U S Army units in Italy rebuffed by German counterattacks in Serchio and Rio- Menic, and a fifth Superfortress raid on Tokyo signaling ongoing World War II operations.
Kenneth L. Dixon reports from the Western Front at 9:04 AM as Allied and German forces pause in a tense calm. Despite continued assaults, Allied defenses hold with slowed German advances while Belgian penetration remains costly and uneven, and patrols along the far northern sector show ongoing activity.
In Athens ELAS artillery fired on a British warship and near the Naval Headquarters breaking a conference truce. The British declared the three quarter hour halt null and void and pledged renewed air action. A second 45 minute truce was to be arranged for ELAS delegates at a second all party conference.
War correspondent Jack Frankish, 30, of United Press, dies in Belgium when a bomb hits a hotel housing American newspapermen during a dive bomber raid. Also killed are three Belgian soldiers. reporters George Flicks Harold Denny Nel Sullivan wounded. Frankish had covered front lines for months. his wife Barbara and two children live in El Centro, California.
General MacArthur reports American bombers struck Manila airfields on Luzon for the fourth day, with Clark Field again the focus. The raid yielded 72 Japanese planes down in 48 hours, while Americans lost six. Leyte mop up continued as 899 enemy killed and 14 captured cost seven American lives. Maj. Thomas McGuire led fighter cover with three completes, nearing Maj. Richard Bong’s record.
Allied reports say a strong German counterattack near Italy’s west coast forced Fifth Army forces to withdraw from advance positions in the Serchio River valley after bitter fighting. The Brazilian Expeditionary Force was in operation on that section, while the Eighth Army front remained generally quiet except for Canadian patrols northeast of Rosetta and advances near Bagnacavallo and Faenza.
Berlin claimed Manchester in northern England was hit by V-1 bombs. The report suggested possible long range of new weapons or risky Allied air defenses. A wartime broadcast called the city an important factory in the military situation.
Washington AP report says Army hospitals largely meet standards with 89 facilities visited in 20 states and DC. Findings note isolated issues such as dehydration in patients and delayed equipment, with concerns about air conditioning and food practices at a few hospitals while overall care, food, and recreation are praised.
One thousand U S Air Force planes from bases in Britain raided key rail centers in Western Germany, aiming to disrupt the Berlin to the west line. Six hundred heavy bombers with 400 escort fighters hit six railroad yards and a major function, as Allied air forces supported Field Marshal Von Rundstedt's counter offensive amid cloudy but favorable weather.
A wartime report notes American P-5 fighters from the U.S. Fourth Air Force struck an airfield at Tsinan in Shantung Province, destroying 25 enemy aircraft and lifting total Japanese losses to 65 in three days. Operations extended over Central and South China, Burma, and Thailand with one American plane missing.
Soviet forces tightened the Budapest siege as Red Army troops halted German escape routes and fought street by street. Reports say heavy artillery dominated the Buda district while tank and infantry units inched toward Danube bridges. Tolbukhin and Malinovsky drove a widening Danube front toward Bratislava and Vienna.
Secretary Forrestal announced a Navy report stating American submarines sank a large Japanese aircraft carrier and several other ships in far eastern waters. The tally includes 99 ships definitely sunk and more than 3,500,000 tons destroyed by submarines, with details limited for security.
Rev Dennis Faly, a Negro minister, was granted a $5,000 bond at a preliminary hearing held by Judge Saxon P Poyner in County Court for the slaying of Clarence Franklin at the former's North Alice Street home last week. Witnesses testified the shooting followed a dispute. The minister said he feared for his life as Franklin had threatened him. detective E J Strickland said Franklin and Mellownee Terry, the defendant’s stepdaughter, had carried on a three to four year affair.
OPA officials and Houston County War Price and Rationing Board urge motorists to conserve tires. Eisenhower warns the war will lengthen if tires are wasted. Irby A. Jones notes soldiers can save rubber in battle and civilians should help. Red Ball Freight Line case shows thousands of tires daily worn or sunk.
The Associated Press reports stamp value changes across foods and fuels. Five new red meat stamps become valid Sunday December 31 with updated point values and rationing adjustments. Blue processed food stamps, butter points rising, sugar stamps renewed, and gasoline fuel coupons extended through March 21 with various validity dates.
New York AP reports The Iron Age foresees increasing urgency for steel due to military needs. War pressure on tanks artillery and ammunition could boost home front output strain. VE Day timing may push safety margins higher and cutbacks in Germany defeat may ease. Net new bookings for year end likely exceed 1943 by about 1 percent. Capacity stress estimated at 82 percent this week, down from last week.
Savannah AP reports the Control of Georgy Railway seeks federal court permission to buy a stainless streamlined train with no engine and few cars, to run between Atlanta and Columbus at a total cost of about 530,000 dollars, including 170,000 for the engine.
Paris dispatches describe American troops gaining the initiative in Belgium and holding Bastogne amid German attempts to push toward the Meuse River. Allied forces parachuted hundreds of tons of supplies to Bastogne while American armor and infantry repelled German advances on Bastogne, Celles, and Ciney as weathered in heavy fighting.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.