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THE WATERLOO CHRONICI _ SeeBig Growth in Reforestation as Special Body Apporinted Work Proved Too Heavy For Agricultural Committee KITCHENER.â€"Indicative of a forthcoming campaign to further reforestation work in this area, Waterloo County Council has apâ€" pointed a special conservation and reforestation committee. Previo&s- ly, this work was handled by the regular agricultural committee. Deputy Reeve Amos Wilkinson of Wellesley township, lauded council‘s action, stating that due to other duties, the agriculture comâ€" mittee was never able to devote the time required by a proper conserâ€" vation and reforestation program. The committee &c::ngrues Reeves Lorne B. Weber, on Hallman, Edwin Huehn, Wilkinson, Edmund Schwindt, Ford Sudden, Herman Sturm, Harry Stockfish, James Paâ€" nabaker, Walter Hostetler, W. H. Shaw and County Engineer D. J. Short Courses In Progress Engineer Emrey‘s name was adâ€" ced at the request of Reeve Huehn Subjects being discussed during a week of short farm courses which opened Monday at St. Jacobs, Elâ€" mira, Hawkesville, Wellesliey and Baden will include poultry, field crops, livestock, weed control and soil protection, according to E. I. McLoughry, agricultural represenâ€" tative for Waterloo County. Earle Snyger and Jesse Francis, of the Ontario Agricultural College are instructors in the poultry course, and James Laughland and K. J. Keegan of the O.A.C. are conâ€" ducting the ‘ecture on field crops. _ John Steckle, Kitchener district farmer and M. D. Scotchmer, of the livestock production service, Ottaâ€" wa, is lecturihg on breeding, feedâ€" ing of hogs and cattle and a study of hog carcasses. _ _ e _ Selection of good animals and identification of weeds and weed seeds are subjects covered by J. S. Knapp, Galt, Oliver Wright, Conesâ€" togo and Wilfred Schneller, Baden. _ Mr. McLoughtry and R. J. Bryâ€" den of the O.A.C. lectured the classes on the care of farmyard manure, fertilizers and control of cat race of the nematode disease. All the courses are being conâ€" Gucted at the same time and the (Continued on Page 6) Canadian Bandmasters Hold Big Convention In Waterloo The Canadian Bandmasters‘ Asâ€" sociation held their 13th annual inidwinter convention here Saturâ€" day and Sunday, with almost 100 in attendance. It marked the largâ€" est" midâ€"winter convention held since the first meeting was called by Professor C. F. Thiele, of Waâ€" terloo, in 1932, when the first band festival was taged by the Waterloo Musical Society. _ _ _ Vol. 87, No. 3 In attendance at the weekâ€"end convention were bandmasters and their assistants, and representatives of organizations under which bands operate. Delegates were ‘gresent from as far west as Fort William and as far cast as Shawinigan Falls, Que. A large number of Quebec dir;egtoys_ were present. All delegates to the convention, which is annually held in Waterâ€" loo, were guests of Professor Thiele, who is director of the Waâ€" terloo Musical Society. From 1932 Bitzer Urges Dismissal of Kitchener‘s Municipal Solicitor The legal action which Armin Bitzer, a former public utilities tommissioner. has brought a'%ainsl he City of Kitchener, the Kitchâ€" ener _ Public Utilities Commission, and Commissioner Ivan A. Shantz, and which commenced in Toronto this Thurscay. had its prelude in the city council chamber on Monâ€" day night. Bitzcr, who was clected to the public utilities commission in 1943, resigned from the body in Decemâ€" ber to seck reâ€"endorsement from the clectors in the 1944 election, deâ€" spite the fact he had been elected for a twoâ€"year term. He did not.‘ however, become a candidate in the recent election and he now claims his resignation was "conditional". In the meantime, the commission asked city council to appoim a successor, and after extensive study of the question, council appointed exâ€"alderman Ivan A. Shantz to fll lhe' ullech vacancy. Bitzer, in his action, is asking the commission and council to sfiow cause for unâ€" seating him. Mondiay night, in a lengthy letter, Bitzer contended that city council Add Name of County Engineer Emrey, Who Is Ardent Advocate of Work, to Committee. Council named Reeve Sturm, of Waterloo as its representative on the board of management of the House of Refuge, while vacancies cn the roads committee were filled by the as;pointment of Reeve Hallâ€" r+an, Wilmot township, for a fiveâ€" r+an, Wilmot township, for a fiveâ€" year period and Reeve Schwindt of Woolwich, for three years. As a result of its increase in go- pulation, gouncil awarded that town‘s reeve two votes in council. The Preston reeve formerly had only one vote. â€" Suggestion that the double votâ€" ing power of reeves could be carâ€" ried into committees, provided a byâ€"law to that effect were passed, met with disfavor, with members agrecing that reeves entitied to two votes in council should be confirfed to one vote in committee. vwho pointed out the official has alâ€" ways been an ardent advocate of reforestation. â€" Big Dam is Ready For Spring Floods Marcel _ Pequegnat, â€" Kitchener;| Water Commission official, and a‘ member of the Grand River Conâ€" servation Commission, said today: the big Grand River dam ncar; Fergus is now in readiness to catch the spring waters as they begin‘ flow from the hills and marshes beâ€"| hind the giant $2,000,000 structure.‘ At the same time, Hugh Camâ€" eron, resident engineer, expresses the belief that 1944 may be "that one year in ten" when there will not be enough water in the spring flood to fill "Bellwood Lake" which Engineer Cameron pointed out that in planning the dam, engineers expressed that on an average of once every ten years, there would not be sufficient water to fill the artificial lake created by the dam. lies immediately behind the big "Unless there is a change in snow conditions, this may be that one year," he stated, adding that when winter came, the ground was dry and there has been very little snowfall. The Kitchener _ official, Mr. Pequegnat, pointed out that all water behind the structure was reâ€" leased at the commencement of winter, but that it had been thorâ€" oughly tested and its strength assured. He said it will be refilled to the 70â€"foot level again until two years ago, Waterloo, with Professor Thiele as organizer and director, was host to one of the largest band festivals on the conâ€" tinent, with more than 25,000 muâ€" sic lovers from United States and | Canada attending annually. Due to| w artime restrictions, the event had : to be withdrawn temporarily. 1 Robert M Chappell, Toronto, bandmaster of the Sappers‘ Assoâ€" ciation band, is president of the asâ€" sociation and A. L. Robertson, Toâ€" ronto, secretary. _ _ Special guests included Dr. Charles O‘Neill, dean of the faculâ€" ty of music at Crane University, Potsdam, N.Y., Major C. Coleman, director of band music for the Canâ€" adian army and Edward Wodson, Toronto music critic. festivals. Dr. O‘Neill is well known in Waâ€" terloo, having been chief adjudicaâ€" tor at many of the Waterloo band and the public utilities commission were at "variance" on the question, and that as G. Murray Bray was both cili; solicitor and solicitor for the public utilities commission, he should be asked to resign. His comâ€" munication was filed with little comment from members of council, with the exception of Ald. Gordon Honsberger, himself a solicitor. ‘"Do you, Mr. Bitzer, who has started litigation against this city, with the hearing commencing in three days, think you have any right to come ur here and suggest that the City of Kitchener change its lawyer?" Ald. Honsberger deâ€" clared. "I, for one, won‘t stand for it! "Mr. Bray is recognized as one of the leading municipal corporaâ€" tion lawyers in Ontario and ?i‘:ch- ener is indeed fortunate to have his services." Mayor Moinzinsct contenedd that "City Solicitor Bray conainly is toking no sides in this action." Along with Ald. Jack Brown, the chief magistrate also denied Bitzâ€" er‘s contention that city council is opposed to the public utilities comâ€" mission in the matter yh ie Wareruoo, Ontamo, Frmary, Januaay 21, 194 Wauslanghter Charge Dismissed By Cadi against Harry "Chummy" Hartieib, a Waterico taxi driver, arising out of an accident in which two chilâ€" dren_were killed, was dismissed by Magistrate H. R. Polson, Wednesâ€" Evidence which was taken two weeks ago, when the cadi reserved judgment, showed that Hartleib was driver of a taxicab which colâ€" lided with Harold Rumig, 12, and his sister Eileen, eight, as they walked along the Waterlooâ€"Bridgeâ€" port hifi)way toward their home. late in November. 0_ j In giving judgment, Magistrate Folson stressed that on such a seâ€" rious charge, the onus is on the crown to prove negligence on the part of the driver. en 00 Survey otf Area To Start Jan. 31 at normal speed when his car, struck a patch of ice and went out | Cr IIShe(‘ By of control, killing the children andf & continuing on into a ditch where it R()“lng 1_4088 turned over and came to rest against a tree. a ppmprmaran s Magistrate Polson held there was . Injured severely @vhen rolling ro evidence of negligence on the| !OBs crushed his head and body part of the accused. *x | while he was at work unloading e eeend logs at West Montgose, Tuesday, Hugh Wood, R.R. 2, West Montrose, f is "holding his own," according to Sme “' A'ea , Dr. J. T. McCullough. He is in St. y : Mary‘s Hospital, Kitehener. _ _ _ He cited cvidence which he said showed that Hartieib was driving The Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo Postwar Planning Committee has decided to postpone commencement of the district factâ€"finding survey from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31. E. J. Shoemaker, president of the Kitchener Board of Trade, is chairman of the organizaâ€" tion. All members of the committee felt postponement of the opening date would prove advantagcous to all concerned as it will allow more time for preparation of programs by the various committees. _ _ _ Chairman Shoemaker lauded the chairmen of the various subâ€"comâ€" mittees, whom he stated "have their work well in hand". He also thanked Mayor Joseph Meinzinger for permitting use of the city hall assembly room by the committee. . Mayor Meinzinger, along with Mayor Albert Heer of Waterloo, pledged their support of the factâ€" finding project, instituted here by the Canadian Chamber of Comâ€" merce, and also that of their entire city councils. Cameron Honderich Heads Plowmen (By Chronicle Correspondent} BADEN.â€"On Thursday evening the annual meeting of the Wilmot Township Plowmen‘s Association :as held in the township hall, Baâ€" en. Mr. Austin Zoeller, secretaryâ€" treasurer, gave both the financial and secretary‘s reports. Mr.‘E. G. Hammer outlined the field commitâ€" tec‘s work, Mr. William lutzi the tecam committee, and Mr. Cameron Bock reviewed the horse show. Following routine business the annual election of officers was held and the following men elected for the year 1944; President, Cameron (Continued on Page 6) Kitchener Increases Wages Ot All Civic Employees Culminating an extensive survey by a special committee headed by Ald. Gordon McK. Honsberger, city council Monday night granted wage increases to all civic emâ€" ployees. A lengthy debate preceded approval of the committee‘s recom:â€" mendation. â€" The recommendation, as accepted gives all employees recciving not more than $1,500 annually a five per cent. increase, while wages of those receiving more than gsn.soo are granted a two and oneâ€"half per cent. increase. Council also concurred in the following â€"recommendations; | that council appoint a commitfee to conâ€" sider the inauguration of & pension scheme for all civic employees; that in accordance with the orders of the Dominion Government, relative to wages in industry, the cost of living bonus as now being paid by the city, be added to the fixed wages and no longer be considered a bonus. Stressi:ig that when employees are considered, the taxpayer must also be considered, the recommenâ€" dation went on: ‘"Wages paid to employees of other municipalities of about the same size as ours, where living costs are approximately the same, and where responsibilities assumed and services rendered are about the same, should be considered as indicating the value placed upon those services by others. It must be kogfl in mind that the distribuâ€" tion of the work among senior emâ€" pl?ees various considerably in the different cities. Action Follows Extensive Survey by Special Committee "Also," the recommendation eonâ€" (Continued on Page §) Elmira Reeve Chosen Warden of Waterloo County for 1944 ra, Was umm elécted as warden of Wa County> for 1944, by county council in session ‘Tuesday. Warden PForwell is the ffth Elmira reeve in the 92 years of the county‘s existence to be awarded the honor. As it has been cumomary in the county for many yeatts, the town of Elmira was in line for the wardenâ€" ship. A rotation system is followâ€" Accommodation Is Biggest Problem At Collegiate At commencement of the inaugâ€" ural ceremonies, devotional exerâ€" cises were conducted by Rev. H. A. Morphy, pastor of . iing Street Baptist Church, Kitchener condition is not critical The board, at its meeting last night, discussed thoroughly the acâ€" comodation ‘question apd recomâ€" mended that +tatifcs and estimâ€" ares of the school population the institute must accomodate in the course of a few years, be obtained without delay. â€" ooo Of the several ‘big problems‘ tney have to face during 1944, the biggest problem before the memâ€" bers of the Kâ€"W Collegiate board is the dire necessity for increased accomodation. During the meeting, T. H. Kay was reâ€"appointed chairman, and C. (Continued on Page s Want Action! Council Asserts As Assessment Work Lags "What we want is action", deâ€" clared Reeve Walter Hostetler of New Hamburg, Wednesday, as members of Waterloo County Council expressed dissatisfaction with the progress being made in the recently established county asâ€" sessment post. The point was raised by Reeve James Panabaker, of Hespeler, who charged "there is too much stalling over minor deâ€" tails and lack of coâ€"operation on the part of the government municiâ€" pal department." Fred Keller, 12 Moore Ave., Waâ€" terloo, was fined $25 including costs, 'l\u:sdaxi when he pleaded guilty before Magistrate H. R. Polâ€" son to a charge of "brewing withâ€" out a license". Home Brew Brings Man $25 Fine The court was informed police had confiscated 37 cases of home brew at the accused‘s home. Police were instructed to retain the conâ€" fiscated "brew". Not So Many Fires Here But Damage Increases Reeve Fred C. Forwell, of Elmiâ€" While the number of fires dropâ€" ped sharply in Waterloo during 1943, the actual fire loss was about $500 higher than the previous year, according to Fire Chief Albert Pagel. h About 50 alarms were sounded, but the community â€" was only threatened with one major fire which occurred last spring when an explosion occurred in the Waterâ€" loo Shoe Company‘s plant Conâ€" siderable smoke and water damage resulted. Dr. McCullough said that Wood‘s â€" In 1942, there were 65 alarms sounded, but they consisted chiefly of chimney fires. _ _ _ ~ 00 _ $13,000. _ 1943 fire losses in Waterlon have been set it slightly more than County Assessor J. P. Snider, onâ€" Warden Forwell was nominated by Reeve Waiter Hostetier of New Hamburg, warden last year. _ _ In his inaugural address, Warâ€" den Forwell asserted that Waterâ€" loo county‘s financial position "is an enviable one". "Let us strive to keep it so," the new warden declared. "Taxation has been heavy as a result of the Bracken Would Place Farmers On ‘Even Keel‘ Eisenhower that t]'lew' Jn Europe shall end in 1944, wilft come true. I feel that we should not sideâ€"step any postwar duties Many future headaches can be avoided by careâ€" ful planning now." war. Wemvmlnikfilfifhi success of the A forces and we hope that the prophecy of General REGINA..â€"John Bracken, naâ€" tional leader _ of the Progressive Conservative Party, told a nominaâ€" tion meeting here last week that ‘"the only thing I would like to do before I pass on is to try and put the farmers@on a fair and even keel." John G. Diefenbaker of Prince Albert and sitting member was unanimously nominated candidate for Lake Centre constituency in the next federal general election. _ _ _ "I‘ve lived on a farm all my life," Mr. Bracken said. ". . . I want to correct the inferior ggsition into whfic{: agriculture has been allowed to fall." The Progressive Conservative leader said that if the Dominion O’Z_?overnlment's n:‘\:rdlyw-d:mnmm.‘h ced â€"ogâ€"policy was g ay "then it was good three months ago." He said there was justification for a policy of improving hogs but none for taking $3 from a man because bis hog was a pound overweight, referring to penalties on low grade animals. } A report (not catried by the Caâ€" (Continuea on Page 8) ‘ ‘ "I ‘want to repeat what 1 said two weeks ago," declared Reeve |Panabaker. "There is too much of council‘s time being taken up with {minor details by the assessor. It is | up to the assessor to get organized |and go ahead. I am certainly disâ€" «ppointed with the slowness with | which we are getting started and ‘if this continues, I would say we iwill have to reconsider the appointâ€" ment." ly recently appointed, said that he has called together the various township assessors and has, with them, reached a basis of assessment for the townships, but this system has not yet been ratified by the government, Snider said he had called on the municipal department at Queen‘s Park, and has not yet been able to get the information he requires in otder to fix a basis of equalizing assessments throughout the counâ€" The New Hamburg Reeve disâ€" agreed with Assessor Snider‘s conâ€" tention that council should appoint a special committee. "If we proâ€" ceed in line with the Assessment Act, the government will comply, but we must get the rural assessâ€" ments caught up before we start on the urbam," declared Reeve Hostetâ€" ler Nurse Leaves Soon For Africa NEW DUNDEE.â€"Miss Miriam Cressman, RN., who is expecting to leave for Nigeria, Africa, the end of this month where she will serve as a missionary under the Mission Board of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, delivâ€" cred her farewell address at the Bethel M.BC. Church here on Sunday motning. â€" _ _ A large number were in attendâ€" ance and during the service Mrs. A.l W. Egerdee rendered a vocal solo. â€" Miss Cressman who was born in this district is the eldest daughter of Mrs. Simcon Cressman. She atâ€" tended _ the _ Rosebank _ Public School, New Dundee Continuation School,â€" Stratford Normail School »and after teaching school at Mannâ€" heim and Baden for seven years, entered the Training School for nurses at the Vancouver General Hospital from which she graduatâ€" ed last year. â€" Cressman has been auendln":m- manuel! Bible School at Kitchener. For the past few months Miss (By Chronicle Correspondent) River in Face of Furious Fire ... Aigiers.â€"Loosing a sttonx new offensive along the ancient Appian Way to Rome, British troops have smashed across the Lower Gariâ€" gliano river and established bridgeâ€" heads at three points in the face of furious German resistance, Allied headquarters® announced today. _ THURspaAY Reds Roll Nazis Back the Garigliano despite repeated Nazi col:r,fier-amcls :bppofr;i by tanks and hea ufillea fire. "Several Di‘\:LQ-" ed Latest refioru said the British units were holding firmly to their footholds on the western banks of A German broadcast heard here said the 5th Army had launched "several divisions" against Nazi positions east of the Gulf of Gaeta, and that "fighting is in full swing." The Garigliano empties into the Gulf of Gaeta, 80 miles southeast of Rome. London.â€"In blunt terms, Foreign Secretary Eden warned Generalâ€" issimo Francisco Franco today of "the most serious effect" which the presence of Spanish troops fighting alongside the Germans on the Rusâ€" sian front "must have on Angloâ€" Spanish relations now and in the future." â€" The warning, voiced in the House of Commons in the presence of Prime Minister Churchill, was couched in such strong terms as to suggest that Eden, while sideâ€" stepping an open rupture, was leaving no doubt that Britain‘s patience was running out over the thinlyâ€"disguised Spanish aid to Germany. _ _ _ _ _ 5th Army Cross Garigliano Franco Warned Another issue which may present difficulties for Madrid and London was laid before the House when Ecen ~disclosed that the Governâ€" ment‘ had renewed strong recomâ€" meévidations supporting the Italian Government‘s request for release of all Italian ships: in Spanish ports. ~ Savs Poles Seek Moscow.â€"A charge that the Polâ€" ish Government in London "and its sympathizers" do not want to establish friendly relations between Russia and Poland was made today gx‘ the magazine "War and Working ass." . â€"The accusation was xadc in an article by Nikolai Baltisky, who did not identify the sympathizers by name. He wrote: ( "The Soviet Government aims to establish friendship between the U.S.S.R. and Poland on the basis of good neighborly relations and muâ€" tual respect. This aim was once more cleatly expressed in a deâ€" claration of the Soviet Government â€"not only expressed, but confirmed byâ€" the magnanimous offer cf the Sovict Government regarding soluâ€" tion of"the border question. _ STRONG TIONS ordinated with the Arst, ri u-fl.m&u-m m&-v‘mmâ€" area 75 miles to 100 miles south of Leningrad in a in five days had killed 26,000, the "Meanwhile, the emigre Governâ€" ment of Poland and its sympathâ€" izers don‘t want to establish good neighborly relations with the Soâ€" viet Union, forgetting tha‘lfilst of afl such relations are in‘ the comâ€" mon interests of the firm and long coâ€"operation of the peaceful loving peoples of Europe." s Soviet Guns Pulverize German Baltic Forts Moscow.â€"Russian armies fightâ€" ing one of the bloodiest battles of the war were reported ehmhc their way toward the Ba toâ€" day. They were . smashing | through a maze of German fortiâ€" BGcations that we::.rnly:ed in a new Soviet offensive by a reâ€" ‘ eord artillery bombardment. Giant Russian guns emplaced on Kronstadt Island in the Gulf of Finland, west of Leningrad, {:i:fi the thunderous assault, bing shells at the Germans. THREE SERVICES JOIN Thus the new Russian offensive en the Leningrad front became a triphiblous operation, with the Soviet air force supporting land Late advices said fighting has reached a new pitch in savagery, with the opposing armies battling fiercely for every yard of ground. The rulverizing Russian push south of the Baltic town of Oranâ€" ienbaum, on the Gulf of Pinland 19 miles west of Leningrad, coâ€"ordinâ€" ated with another strong drive that penertated the Nazi right flank south of the old Russian capital, B“g?fiéd"tfie“ lBEg-ifiiE& Soviet offensive designed to roll back the besiegers of Leningrad. _ > > _ Front dispaftche$ said the northâ€" ern Russian cdlumn was advancln{ steadily. takim‘ oné concrete bloc house and one fortified village after andother. Speechiess From Shelling _ Dispatches ie&ofled that the iniâ€" tial Soviet artitfery bartage, Inosed by hundreds of massed cannon, was the most destructive ever laid down on a battleficld. German prisoners brouTt into one Russian command post had been numbed speechless big Kronstadt naval base lowerâ€" ing an artiliery barrage curtain over the enemy‘s lines. _ _ by the shelling WORLHS WEEK WEDNESDAY On Aid To Huns To Continue Rift boats, making the 60 to 80â€"yard crossing under a crossâ€"fire of machineâ€"gun bullets from their own supporting forces. Today they were reported to have advanced two miles beyond the river after 62 houF qf ‘it_xcessant fighting. _ _ London â€"A fina) 24â€"hour rehearâ€" m enee rase lt fon shtees velneriinns civil who Picked assault troops forded the icy Garigliano in rafts and rubber At the Adriatic end of the battle line Canadian trooPs were engaged in "fierce fighting", today‘s comâ€" munique said. . Say 45,000 In Attack Referring to the new British offensive, today‘s German comâ€" munique said several divisionsâ€" possibly 45,000 menâ€"had launched the offensive after a furious artilâ€" lery bombardment and that fighting was in full swing all along the coastal front today. The Germans asserted the Allies‘ strong attack was "east of the Gulf of Gaeta," with fighting still in full swing on this approach to Rome. Yanks Encircle 100,000 Japanese in South Pacific Washington.â€"U.S. forces appearâ€" ed poised today for a drive against Japan‘s inner defences in the Paciâ€" fic. Rear Admiral Robert Carney, chief of staff to Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., issued a statement here that Allied forces had 100,000 Japs virtually trapped in the northern Solomons and New Britain areas. Drill For Invasion Outlining an allâ€"out campaign against the Japanese, Carney said: "It is obvious that our next moves will be the destruction and neuâ€" tralization of Rabaul and Kavieng. Operations following that will surâ€" prise the Japs because they will be unlike anything we have Cone previously." . 20. Tocay‘s communique revealed that Al].isd aircraft and light naval units continued to harass the enemy all the way from the Solomons to the Banda sea. Pound Jap Shipping Japanese shipging. vital in the enemy‘s plan of reinforcing and supplying its hardâ€"pressed South African bases, suffered heavily, seven small craft being destroyed, one 9,000â€"ton merchantman left afire and another 2,200â€"ton cargo ship burning after being attacked from the air. Tito Traps Nazi Division Of 400 Motor Vehicles London.â€"Yugoslay Partisans have trapped a German motorized diviâ€" sion of 400 vehicles near Lipovac in western Bosnia. Wild fighting now‘ is progressing through rugged hill country against the encircled Nazis and a second division has rushed to its assistance, Marshal Josip Broz (Tito} announced teday. _ _ _ _ The Nazi relief expedition, Tito‘s ccmmunique said, broke through Partisan lines toward Jajee, Tito‘s former headquarters, 30 miles south of Banja Luka on the Vrbas river. Bitter fighting ensued and the issue apparently was still in doubt at the time the bulletin was issued Canadians Move Again, Drive on San Tommaso Allied Headquarters, Aigiers.â€" Troops of the Canadian 1st Diviâ€" sion, supported by tanks, have launched a new attack on the Adriâ€" atic sector in Italy, it was anâ€" nounced today. o rpe s The Canadians opened their attack in the St. Tommaso area about a mile inland from the Adriatic coast. Despite stiff opposition from Gertmans holding high ground, they mac> some gains which included a focthold across a stream flowing into the sea. Weather Cold, Clear At last reports the fighting was continuing with satisfactory results. The weather was cold and clear in the coastal arca but there were high winds and snow inland. The Canaâ€" dian attack was made on a 1,000â€" yard front. _ _ e On the Fifth Army front, French forces have climaxed five days of dogged fighting with the capture of San Elia, pivot of the German Gustay line, three miles northeast of Cassino. They also stormed into Valvori, two miles northeast of San Elia and reached the Rapido river above positions already established by U.S. elements. _ . The Germans retired to heavilyâ€" fortified positions on the Gustay line in a last desperate effort to halt Licutâ€"Gen. Mark W. Clark‘s army before Cassino, the guardian of the gateway to Rome, 79 miles away White Russia Aflame In Wake of Foe Rout MOSCOW.â€"German troops were reported in full retreat today in some sectors of upper White Russia They wore burning villages as they abandoned them before the adâ€" vance of Soviet forces. West of Nasva, batticfront disâ€" patches revealed, long stretches along the frozen banks of the Emerdcl river are clouded with the smoke of flaming towns, fired by the flecing Wehrmacht. _ (Continued on Page 8} TUESDAY At Final Rehearsai