AIR ASSAULTS ON SICILY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23974, 15 June 1943, Page 5

AIR ASSAULTS ON SICILY

Heavy Bombers Raid Aerodromes ANOTHER GARRISON T tr SURRENDERS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rcc. 11 P- m -) LONDON, June 1-1. Continued air assaults on Sicily are reported in to-day’s Middle East communique. In daylight yesterday formations of heavy bombers of the United States Army Air Force attacked the aerodromes at Gerbini and Catania. Gerbini is about 14 miles west of Catania. “At Gerbini dispersal areas were covered by bomb bursts, resulting in fires and explosions,” says the communique. “Three enemy fighters attempting to take off ran into bomb bursts and were destroyed, and hangars were hit. In an attack by enemy fighters five Messerschmitt 109's are claimed as destroyed. “In the attack on Catania a hangar on the north side of the aerodrome was set on fire. Hits were made on the runway, and dense, black smoke rose from hangars on the western side of the aerodrome. “Royal Air Force heavy bombers attacked the aerodrome at Catania on Saturday night, and vivid fires could be seen from a considerable distance.” The communique also reports attacks on Saturday night on shipping in the Aegean Sea and off the west coast of Greece. Two vessels were sunk and another was damaged. One aircraft was lost. To-day’s North African communique reports that activity yesterday by the North-west African Air Forces was confined to patrols and reconnaissance. No Allied aircraft was lost.

The tiny Italian island of Linosa, 25

miles north-east of Lampedusa, has surrendered to the British destroyer Nubian without a shot being fired. One hundred and forty naval and military personnel were taken* prisoner and evacuated.

The Italian communique announcing the surrender of Lampedusa said: "Pounded continuously from air and lea, Lampedusa has ceased the unequal struggle.” A correspondent who saw the surrender of Lampedusa says that the island has been taken over by a company of Coldstream Guards. Four thousand to 5000 Italians formed the garrison. The Rome radio complained that the Allies used such overwhelming force against Pantelleria and Lampedusa as would have been better employed against a more worthy objective. The radio added: “These two small Italian islands have no greater value than Jersey or Guernsey, which are both occupied by the Germans.” • A 8.8.C. correspondent who went ashore at Pantelleria with the infantry, says that as the first troops landed white flags began to appear along the shore. -All along the waterfront there were scenes of indescribable ruin and desolation. Not a single building was intact, and most of them were heaps of sticks and stones. Most of Pantelleria's citizens were down to meet the Allies, Although it was a landing of the enemy they appeared glad to see them. They were bitter against the Germans, who, three days earlier, took all the for ~nd made off. In addition they t. ;d much of the islands precious M Pio. '. correspondent of “The Til- .says that part of the garrison who ’ to the hills in Pantelleria are in a de ,Arate position, with little food and almost no water,, A communique issued on Sunday trom North African Headquarters says: "Two thousand eight hundred prisoners were evacuated from Pantelleria on Friday, leaving a large number to be moved. The work is proceeding. “On Friday night strong light coastal craft carried out patrols in the Sicilian Channel to prevent enemy interference with operations on Pantelleria. Enemy craft were met, and they were attacked with torpedoes, but on .being attacked they fled at high speed.” The Next Move The occupation of Pantelleria and Lampedusa has opened up speculation aboqt the next move. Commentators do not agree that this is necessarily a prelude to an invasion of Italy, and warn that surprises may be expected. They say that the clearing of the Mediterranean supply route is essential before action is taken in any part of the Mediterranean. To secure this the occupation of Pantelleria and Lampedusa mu?t be followed by the neutralisation of Italian naval and air bases in Sicily and Sardinia. Some commentators express the opinion that the Allies may suddenly switch the main weight of their assault to another part of the Mediterranean, and say that the Germans are manitesting great uneasiness about the Balkans. The naval correspondent of the “SunOay Express” says that the Italian Fleet 'snot expected to engage in any largescale action with the Allies in the mediterranean. “Badly weakened by losses, the uaiian Fleet is scattered over a number oi bases,” he adds, “It would have to an co ?' cen f' I:,£ )ted into one force to have ~" y chance in a major action. To join no it Rahan warships would have to Pass through either the Sicilian Nartklfei novv dominated by the Allies, or ‘Mrait of Messina, which is under Allied air attack. Because of float 1 ™ in attempting to assemble his in ti’ Mussolini is likely to keep them p, , lted scc urity of his harbours.” hooai! er ? correspondent at .Allied *<sfn-? u ® rtcrs ' n North Africa declares: Dinn 1 i ls * dc United Nations’ ncxtslcpthpßinStt°n ™ 1(1 tlu ‘ Italian mainland. In Powonoi 2 ! hollrs il hils taken another oofNft hammering from the air.” ers °( en emy aeroplanes were fiplrie * on the ground at three airh? l n . western Sicily by the NorfhWilo «r IC u n A .‘ r Forces on Saturday. e the bombing of Lampedusa was

still in progress." slams a correspondent attached to Allied Headquarters. “Flying Fortresses found nearly 150 aeroplanes parked at Castel Vetrano and Bocca di Falco, and they dropped care-fully-aimed fragmentation bombs among them. Many fires and two explosions were seen and a large fire was observed in the central part of the airfield. “At the Bocca di Falco aerodrome, which is near Palermo, many of the 72 aeroplanes on the field were destroyed. Many hits were also scored on buildings near the aerodrome. A fire.' with black smoke rising from the centre of the field, was visible for 25 miles. Ten enemy fighters were seen shortly after the bombers left the target, but these made no attacks. “Marauders carried out an attack on the Milo airfield, near Trapani. Only negligible anti-aircraft fire was encountered anywhere and few enemy aeroplanes were seen in the air.” Germany is sending 900 aeroplanes, comprising 600 bombers and 300 fighters, into Italy, declared the Algiers radio. The first squadron has already moved to.new bases in the south. The Rome' rgdio yesterday prepared the Italian people for further Allied moves, particularly attacks against Sardinia or Sicily, or both. The announcer said:*“ Hannibal is at the gates. This is a feeling that is current throughout the country to-day. The situation is the gravest Italy has ever faced in the whole of her modern history. Innumerable Allied ships are in Mediterranean waters; our aeroplanes with their German comrades are hurling themselves incessantly into the attack against enemy warships in the Sicilian Strait and the waters off Cyrenaica.” Landing Craft at Bizcrte The Official German News Agency also reported a concentration of a considerable number of small landing craft in Bizerte harbour, and claimed that German bombers attacking on the night of June 12 sank or severely damaged at least 20 of these vessels. An Italian communique claims that the Luftwaffe attacked an enemy naval formation in the Sicilian Strait and sank a transport and 14 landing craft, and seriously damaged three cruisers, 14 smaller naval units, and six cargo ships. The Berlin radio yesterday quoted a report from La Linea that 43 British landing craft had arrived at Gilbraltar. “It is rumoured that these craft are destined for North Africa, where they will be held in readiness for an invasion attempt against Sicily,” said the ann«uncer, who also asserted that great activity had been observed in the fortress of Gibraltar. The Rome radio said yesterday that a great battle which began on Saturday was in progress between Axis divebombers and a large Allied convoy sailing between Pantelleria and the Tunisian coast. The convoy included a large number of troop transports and ships carrying equipment and big landing barges. It was protected by powerful naval forces. Marshal Rommel, who is organising the defences in the south of France has established his headquarters at Perpignan. slates the Algiers radio. Marshal Rommel is reported to have asked for the command of the entire defences from the south of France to south of Salonika. He recently inspected the defences of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, and ho is now visiting Athens. It is officially stated in Algiers that Italy has lost 1,000,000 men since the outbreak of war.