| Show I Behind the War News Major I I By Major Paul C. C NEW YORK INS The heavy attack by allied bombers on Bucharest is of vast strategic importance For the first time timen in n this war a close pincer attack attack attack at at- tack against southeastern Europe Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope is actually in effect between between between be be- be- be tween tween Russia in the east eMt and the allies in the west The three red Ukrainian armies which have been driving westward against Hitler's legions le legions legions le- le gions from the column in the north aimed at in Po Po- Poland Poland land to the southernmost one now approaching Odessa have practically c cUt t all main rail communication communication communication com com- lines from the Ukraine running northwestward northwestward northwestward northwest northwest- ward into Poland and acid thence to Germany Commencing on Thursday March 30 American and British Mediterranean based bombers bomber staged a terrific day and night attack against Sofia Bulgaria a a. junction through which any German German German Ger Ger- man troops evacuated by way of the Black sea from the Ukraine rind and landed in Bulgaria would pass pMS That blow against Sofia was followed four days later by another another another an an- other terrific Amerl American an air Assault As- As as assault sault by the same against Budapest Hungary Then lastly on on Tuesday came the assault against Bucharest The pattern of ot those three targets targets tar tar- gets shows far tar reaching planning planning planning plan plan- ning to disrupt Hitler's means of withdrawal as well as h his ability to supply the remnants of his armies in southeastern Europe It shows further complete complete complete com com- coordination of planning between the soviet and allied high co commands mands The assault against southern Europe in particular lar on the Italian peninsula is assumed to have pinned down there not less lesa than 25 of the German elite first line combat divisions Guerilla warfare waged by Marshal Marshat Tito and others in the Balkans with the added allied assistance consisting of supplies S guidance and use of air forces has hu pinned down don another six or more of ot Hitler's prize combat divisions The two allied offensives from the south have in addition tied to southern Europe many of ot Marshal Hermann Goering's crack fighter airplane squad squad- rons The air offensive against fortress fortress fortress for for- tress Europe has destroyed war production and rail communications communications communications to such an extent that it has definitely slowed the flow of replenishments from axis Europe Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope needed by the nazi armies ion the Russian front The threat of ot the coming offensive offensive offensive of of- out of ot Britain has held countless other nazi first line combat divisions and air units scattered along the entire west coast of Europe from northernmost northernmost northernmost northern northern- most Norway to southernmost France That combination has hu forced Hitler to keep all of ot his armed forces in a terribly overextended overextend overextend- ed position Now in southeastern southeast southeast- ern Europe Stalin's legions crash westward Our heavy bombers demoralize the rear rey- areas areal occupied by nazi troops troop Two allied offensives in the south are in operation and a third might hit the retreating German divisions in their backs at any time |
