GRIM WINTER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1944, Page 5

GRIM WINTER

PROSPECT FOR NAZIS

RECORD AIR OFFENSIVE

. (U.P.A. and 8.0. W.) Rec. 11 a.m. RUGBY, December 4. "German targets this winter are due for the greatest weight of bombardment that they have ever received, and the winter weather will not protect them," said Lieutenant 1 General Ira Eaker, commanding the > Allied Mediterranean Air Force, today, according to a Rome correspondent. "From the Mediterranean we will attack more targets in Europe than, ever before," he said, "and the route of these targets lies across the Alps straight to the heart of Germany."

;.. General Eaker pointed out that the attack of the Mediterranean Air Force is now at the approach of winter larger and more effective than at any previous stage of its existence. In addition, the targets in the Balkans and southern ~ France had ,largely disappeared, thereby leaving the aircraft free to concentrate on targets inside Germany. He said that the numerical strength of'the German fighter-force was still high, and that the fact that it shows little activity it due to it finding itself without sufficient fuel, to put its planes in the air.

I "We are working in the Balkans to support the Red Army just as we worked in southern France to support our own Seventh Army," the General said. OFFENSIVE GOES ON. Twelve hundred American Fortresses and Liberators struck more heavy, blows at railway marshalling yards and industrial plants over a wide area in western Germany today. The heavy bombers were escorted by about 1000 American Thunderbolts and Mustangs. R.A.F. Lancasters, escorted by R.A.F. Spitfires and Mustangs, kept up the- offensive against railways in. the Ruhr with a concentrated attack on Oberhausen. .»

On Sunday night, R.A.F.. Mosquitoes attacked, without loss, objectives in western Germany. A fighter which was reported missing from Saturday's escort to the bombers which hit the Hansa benzol plant, landed away from its base and is safe. FROM MEDITERRANEAN. Railway, yards and industrial objectives in Austria were attacked on Sunday by. escorted'heavy bombers of the Strategic Air Force, states a Mediterranean communique. Other heaw bombers carried out attacks on road bridges and communications in Yugoslavia.

Fighters and fighter-bombers of the Tactical Air Force attacked communications m the Po Valley and enemy positions in the battle area. Medium bombers attacked railway bridges in northern Italy and Yugoslavia Coastal aircraft attacked small shipping in the north Adriatic, as well as road and rail traffic in the French and Italian Riviera area: The Balkan Air Force attacked road movement, enemy gun positions, and a powerhouse in Yugoslavia. Seven ol our aircraft are missing from these operations. The Allies flew over 1100 sorties.