December 26, 1944

Budapest reptd within 9 mi of encirclement; suburban Budakeszi and Diosd captured; USSR forces take Csolnok, Leanyvar and Piliscaba; cut last ry escape route; occupy Dolny-Prandorf, Hron River drive; take Moha and Zamoly, Szekesfehervar sector; Ger losses reptd heavy; USSR forces repulse Ger Lake Velence area tank attack; map

77th Div troops, landing from amphibious craft, capture Palompon as 7th Div units land at Puerto Bello and 24th Div advances on San Isidro, Leyte; MacArthur announces Leyte-Samar campaign is over except for minor mopping-up operations; lists total Jap losses; says Jap Army has suffered its greatest defeat; notes Jap prisoners taken, Jap planes destroyed and US losses since Leyte landing; map; US planes bomb Clark Field; down 18 Jap planes near Manila; raid Luzon airfields; destroy 16 parked planes in raids on Negros airdromes; destroy 3 freighters and damage jetties and warehouses in raid on Davao waterfront; US destroyers wreck Jap PT-boat off Mindanao; Japanese lose 2 planes in raid on Leyte; US mistakes in PI campaign noted; Ger DNB dispatch claims 38 Allied planes raided Manila and Clark Field; Gen Yamashita discounts Jap losses in PI

6 of 25 escaped Gers reptd captured, Papago Park Prison, Ariz; camp reptd as Nazi intrigue center; escape of prominent officers noted outbreak preparations cited; G Prien reptd camp prisoner

showdown on dealers strike threat expected; 20% of kosher shops open for 1 1/2 hrs to sell remaining stocks; LaGuardia plans wholesale markets shopping tour; Woolley urges dispute settlement