2000 SHELLS FIRED INTO DEFENCES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 5

2000 SHELLS FIRED INTO DEFENCES

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m*) LONDON, June 10. To-day’s communique from Allied Headquarters in North Africa says: “Yesterday the North-west African Air Forces continued the offensive against Pantelleria. During the day’s attacks 12 enemy aircraft were shot down. One of our aircraft If missing. Further reports show that on Tuesday six additional enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat.” The merciless battering of Pantelleria by Allied sea and air power reached new heights of intensity on Tuesday, when shells and bombs rained down on the island fortress ceaselessly for 76 minutes in co-ordinated attacks. Correspondents aboard the strong force of heavy cruisers and destroyers taking part in the bombardment vividly describe Jiow shells were plugged at the : closest range into coastal batteries and harbour defences while heavy British and American bombers rained down thousands of bombs. The island seemed to rock under the terrific hammering, and was almost completely obliterated by smoke rising from the bomb-torn land in dense clouds thousands of feet high. Coastal batteries were left twisted and smashed. A gigantic pall of smoke was still seen to hang over the island when the squadron was 40 miles away after the action.

While the North-west African Air Forces were again pounding Pantelleria yesterday. heavy bombers of the Middle East Command were out over airfields in Sicily. To-day’s Middle East communique reports raids yesterday by formations of United States heavy bombers on the airfields at Catania and Gerbini, 14 miles to the west, in Sicily. At -Gerbini six enemy aircraft were destroyed, a hangar received a direct hit, and Ihc landing ground was damaged. Hangars at Catania were hit, and one of them blew up. Fires broke out in administrative buildings, and the landing ground was pitted with bomb bursts. At least three enemy aircraft were shot down. The Middle East communique also speaks of attacks on enemy shipping in the Aegean Sea. Two sailing vessels were sunk, another was left sinking, and a fourth was left on her side, badly holed. Three beached vessels were also successfully attacked. All the Allied aircraft returned. The Associated Press correspondent at a North African United' States Army Air Force base says: “The American airmen attacking Pantelleria enjoyed a rare cloud-seat view at over 20,000 feet as the British warships pounded the same target. As soon as the Fortresses began unloading their bombs the warships turned en masse and started in until it looked as though they were within a quarter of a mile of Pantellena harbour. They then turned broadside on and let fly with everything they had.” A British United Press correspondent aboard a British cruiser says: ‘‘Our naval force steamed from its base unmolested by enemy aeroplanes. We stood off the island soon after 10.30 a.m,, when Mitchell bombers and theif Lightning escorts were just winging away from their bomb-run. A big cruiser on our port side opened up at 11,20. We sent off our first salvo a minute later. Shore batteries opened r .lit the British ships just carried ■ . . The fire from the shore was fairly ' ineffective. “Rain of Bombs” “About 20 minutes after the shelling began wave after wave of heavy bombers swept over the island, literally raining bombs down in rapid patternbombing. By this time the anti-aircraft fire directed against our bombers had become negligible. Our aeroplanes were practically unmolested. The defenders apparently could not cope with both of us. “The cease-fire order came after the destroyers had nosed further inshore to get in more telling shots. We had fired 40 salvoes—266 rounds, the other ships getting in about the same. At noon three of our motor torpedo-boats darted inshore to draw the enemy’s machine-gun fire. We left the island half-an-hour after we stopped shelling, knowing that it was in for another pounding from the air. Some enemy fighters attempted to attack, but our fighter cover drove them off ” Reuter’s correspondent aboard a British destroyer says: “We had been told to expect strong air support, but did not realise the extent of that strength. Overhead wheeled masses of Fortresses, Mitchells, and Bostons, to perfect formation. As the warships Circled the island one after another Peeled off towards the shore, breaking formation for the kill. Each shelled f different section of the island defences. “Then we saw one of the deadliest concentrated bombings against a single target. The entire harbour appeared o erupt like some giant volcano as n>gn-explosive bombs dropped with deadly precision. Short-range Shelling ‘Our ship, with a sister destroyer, inen made at full speed for the shore n d engaged the enemy at short range, "to guns blazed continuously as we Beaded close to the rocky coast, with ? Pdek of gallant motor torpedo-boats in our wake, until we could see clearly Jton positions and concrete pill-boxes "hh the naked eye. We scored a direct against one of the batteries and -d, it out of action. ’As we headed for the sea again were followed by fire from shore arteries, which continued to bo very "accurate. Some cruisers still blazed way and the little motor-boats dargly peppered the harbour entrance . v ® r F c * ose ran S c - As one ship after er topped firing and headed to thn WC battle formation, and steamed serenely away trom Pantelleria.” • jl |. n °bier correspondent says that the in at one stage, apparently thinknlL 1 j an brvasiem was at hand, oxv Qe d mines on the beaches, ish r,da yul correspondent of the Britaroadcasting Corporation, who ac,tbe naval units, says: “The yet p ec °b'ed its greatest hammering bomhn bejuadron after squadron ot I Until °u? ran a shuttle service over it in rit. v l ' w bolc island was shrouded areaV? nd , srnoko - whcn the target anti n,“ d ±ared, the ships stood in the tar 6l "* shells were rained on .Jarget during daylight. fiarnanf 6 wer ? no casualties and no bja Was done to any units of the toeblern, Pact. Only a few batteH/ ounds were fired from shore bomv, ne ,u Half-hearted attempts to flahtor ae ee t w cre broken up by at tbe bombs werc dropped tnoMM oaral bombardment ceased. harhpJ orpedo - boat s dashed into the hour a t nd attacked jetties and hartosuairol^ 8- fbey returned without Por t ?i‘l S ’ As the >’ departed, Flying heavv c , arne over an d a series of It bland ex Plosions rocked the I Pletpiv ' v . blc b was for a time comantj cf us t bscm ’ ed ’ n ctoods of smoke ’ oA oth " r correspondent on board one ; st rn ”„ backing destroyers says: “Dei of tho cba rging in within three miles fiavli!,k? ast ’ their Suns blazing in broad •hnnfir m l °t°r torpedo-boats rushing Un the harbour mouth shooting defence batteries with

pompoms and machine-guns—these daring attacks were the climax to a tremendous synchronised air and sea bombardment in which the island Italy called ‘Mussolini’s unsinkable aircraftcarrier’ endured its greatest battering since the close of the Tunisian campaign forced it into the unenviable position that Malta had occupied for so many weary months. Defences Swamped “Cruisers, destroyers, and motor torpedo-boats composed the bombarding force. The object of the sea bombardment was to test the enemy’s defences. We tested them all right. So swamped were they by the 50 minutes’ rain of bombs and shells that, apart from wisps of fire around the main wave of Flying Fortresses, only one twin 6in battery replied to the ships’ fire. The gunners of this battery apparently went to earth, as the guns only fired when the ships’ work was done and they were turning away. They chose us, the nearest ship, as their target, and they popped one shell near enough to drench the forecastle and bridge with spray. None of the ships sustained damage or casualties." Describing the whole action in detail, the correspondent states: “With Pantelleria looming up in the morning mist and the ships around us in powerful array, the captain informed all quarters that the object of the offensive was to test the defences, and he added: ‘The cruisers will open fire. During the second run the destroyers will go in as close as possible.' The officers and men got oh with the job of laying the guns as coolly as though they were preparing for a practice shoot. Over us as we steamed towards Pantelleria was the whine of squadrons of American and British aircraft and, during the whole morning from dawn onwards, group after group of Flying Fortresses, Marylands, and Mitchells winged across the sunlit sky in non-stop raids on the island, “The flashes of guns when the ships opened fire stabbed out over the blue sea and columns of smoke, earth, and sand reared up on shore as the shells smashed in around the battery positions. Each ship had gun positions as its target. For half an hour the guns sent in a tornado of shells, but no single enemy gun replied to the cruisers’ fire.

Attack by Torpedo-Boats “Zero hour came to us and the other destroyers when the cruisers opened the second round. At full speed we swished through the calm sea till the rocky ridges on the foreshore showed plainly. We plastered shells through the smoke pall. Away to port we saw intrepid motor torpedo-boats skimming in towards the harbour, their tiny guns popping on the gun positions. Almost at the breakwater, they swerved and dashed away, their dangerous mission accomplished safely. “We were now steaming beam on to the coast, firing broadsides of shells and hundreds from pompom guns at a range of three miles. Astern, cruisers sent in salvoes of projectiles. Suddenly the smoke blew away and vicious spurts of flame shot up on a low rocky ridge. Seconds passed and shells plunged into the sea a mile from us. Again the guns flashed, but the gunners were unable to get the range. Their job done, the ships turned to the open sea. “Between the crash of guns, the hum of aircraft engines filled the sky, and looking up I saw the swift-moving shapes of Flying Fortresses. I counted and then lost tally. Then came the most awe-inspiring and magnificent sight as the air bombardment climbed to a mighty crescendo. Ignoring the few puffs of flak, the aeroplanes swept in in formation and almost simultaneously unleashed their cargo of bombs.” Before the bombardment of Pantelleria began, the British warships picked up an enemy message: “Send help. We are about to be bombarded," But only two bombers appeared. They dropped half a dozen bombs a mile or more astern of the destroyer in the rear of the line of ships. Forty-odd bombers set out to allac.’;, but mot Lightning fighters. One enemy aeroplane was shot down and the others ran to their bases.

Demand for Surrender A special communique from North Africa, issued yesterday, said: “Allied aircraft yesterday dropped leaflets on Pantclleria asking for its unconditional surrender. The demand has not been answered. The demand was made to save the inhabitants and garrison unnecessary suffering. Pantclleria will continue to be subjected to bombing, bombardment, and blockade until P surrenders.” The Rome radio stated: “Allied aeroplanes dropped leaflets calling for the surrender of Panlelleria by 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The demand was signed by Major-General Carl Spaatz, | the United States Air Chief, on behalf of Allied Headquarters. The reply by the admiral commanding the garrison was to prepare all means to, repulse a landing. The population is resisting stoically beside the soldiers, sailors. 1 and airmen, and is proudly sharing in the sacrifices and privations. Everyone is at his post and prepared to make the enemy pay the highest price for the expected landing attempt.” An Italian communique issued yesterday said: "Pantelleria, since May 9, has suffered four bombardments from the sea and some 140 air attacks. Daylight attacks in the last few days averaged 12. while on the last nine nishls air raids followed without interruption, giving no respite to the defenders. The offensive, of course, has caused much damage, but our brave soldiers, while the bombing was going on. promptly set about repairing the damage. Naval and anti-aircraft guns continually replied." It is slated in London that there are some 9000 civilians, apart from the garrison, on Pantelleria. A correspondent in Cairo points out that it was not until the Abyssinian campaign that Italy realised the strategic importance of Pantelleria. Ip 1937 Italy announced that she was

fortifying the island, and since then it has been forbidden territory. It is known that the island has underground bomb-proof, hangars and a big landing field. <