AIR ATTACKS ON ITALY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23947, 14 May 1943, Page 5

AIR ATTACKS ON ITALY

Full Weight From Africa PANTELLERIA AND SICILY (Ree. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. The full weight of the Allied air torces is now being directed against Mussolini’s bases in the Sicilian Straits, Sicily, and southern Italy. There are signs that the Axis no longer has sufficient aeroplanes to cope with bomb>ng on such a scale as the Allies are •ble to put up. Our heavy and medium bombers yesterday hammered Catania, Pantelleria, Marsala, and Trapani, all fighter, seaplane, or landplane bases. Our heavy bombers had a fighter escort for the first time when attacking the Sicilian objective of Catania harbour. This is significant, showing that it is now possible to provide fighter protection right Jcross the Sicilian Straits and almost to the toe of Italy. Malta has assumed a new role in the Mediterranean war, providing an ideal advanced offensive base. Spitfires from Malta have escorted American heavy bombers raiding Sicily. Reuter's correspondent at Allied Headquarters says: “One significant Point emerges from these daylight raids by large numbers of bombers against Sicily—the astonishingly small losses. Three were lost out of the 400 on May 9, and one of the 300 engaged on May 1. It is thought that either the Axis cannot tackle such concentrated firepower, or that, as a result of the Allies’ fierce and continuous 'vering of Sicilian airfields, the Axis J Has not enough aeroplanes left (' ■ • he island.” -Tmf 16 aeronautical correspondent of ' Times’’ says; “The position created by the German occupation of the Countries and France is now reversed, Pantelleria is in much the same position as the Channel Islands after the fall of France, while southern Italy, and particularly Sicily, is exposed to bombing raids, as England "'as during the Battle of Britain. Even northern Italy becomes a nearer target lor our heavy bombers in Tunisia than lor our home-based bombers. "Southern Italy Breaking’’ Southern Italy has already begun to ~e ? x under the weight of bombs the alr forces have dropped as a u mc •i o ' 3 - Now Allied aircraft rU ,T,b e able to devote their almost unattention to strategical attack. 1 r, 0 , Hess Italy will have greater cause , lament the approach of the war to "ef doorstep.” Pantelleria is immediately threatensav d *h fi Allied victory in Africa.” *‘Th « eut * r ’s military correspondent, of n ,- heavy and continuous bombing lae» 1ai ? 133503 and airfields during the f.J't’eek, coupled with the plain hint b P 111 '-' ol °nel Knot: that Sicily would to n. tremendous military asset, points wmiM slia P e of things to come, but it wo, i- n °f 130 surprising if Pantelleria Hfiuidatcd first. Va .j ussolln i has undoubtedly spent 1 sums and great labour in making

it as strongly fortified as possible, but it will be interesting to compare Pantelleria’s powers of endurance with those of Malta. The strength of Pantclleria’s fortifications and underground shelters is now being severely tested. In five days there have been six heavy raids, all on a greater scale than any Malta has suffered.” “Yesterday the harbour, railroad yards, warehouses, and seaplane base of Marsala were attacked by a large force of heavy and medium bombers of the Strategic Air Force with a fighter escort,” says an Allied communique. “Many very large fires were started and numerous direct hits were scored on various targets. During the course of this attack 15 enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat. Fighter-bombers attacked shipping and harbour installations. Bombs were seen to burst among a number of small vessels and fires were started in the back area. From these operations one of our aircraft Is missing.” Raid on Catania A Middle East air communique says: "In daylight yesterday heavy bombers of the United States Army Air Forces, escorted by Royal Air Force fighters, carried out a highly successful attack on the harbour at Catania. A strong force of bombers blew up an ammunition ship, set a tanker on fire, and scored direct hits on other shipping. Damage was done to the moles and harbour installations, one mole which had three ships tied up being demolished. The whole dock area was left in flames. Bombers shot down a Junkers 88 and a Macchi 200- while returning to their base. In a shipping sweep off the west coast of Greece on May 10, long-range fighters attacked a large schooner, setting it on fire. Yesterday in the Aegean attacks were made on two enemy sailing vessels. The crew abandoned one ship after it was badly damaged and a second was beached on an island. During these operations two Junkers 52’s were shot down. From these and other operations one of our aircraft is missing.” A message from Allied headquarters in North Africa says that in a recent raid on Marsala, 300.000 leaflets were dropped, telling the Italians that they could help to prevent bombing by praying for peace, demanding peace, and demonstrating for peace. The Columbia Broadcasting System's correspondent in Algiers quotes a bomber navigator after a raid on Marsala as saying: “After two days’ bombing there will not be any use going back to where Marsala was.” To-day’s Italian communique says that four-engined aeroplanes bombed Catania. Marsala, Trapani, and Pantelleria, and caused considerable damage. About 150 persons were killed and 300 injured at Catania. Figures for the raid on Palermo on May 9 are given as 210 killed and 321 injured. THE BEY OF TUNIS LONDON, May 12. The correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” in Tunis says that the Bey of Tunis did not flee. He arrived from Hammam Lif and was given complete freedom. He is not noted for active opposition to the Germans, but it seems that much of his collaboration arose as a result of direct requests by the French Resident-General (Admiral Esteva). He is being respected as the nominal sovereign of Tunis and when he met British and American representatives he expressed a high regard for the Allies,