STUPENDOUS TASK WELL DONE

Evening Star, Volume 24914, Issue 24914, 12 July 1943, Page 3

STUPENDOUS TASK WELL DONE

EISENHOWER'S TRIBUTE TO ALLIED NAVIES (Rec. 11 30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 11. An agency correspondent with the Allied force command post quotes the tribute paid by General Eisenhower to the work of the Allied navies in the landing. General Eisenhower said: "In the Sicilian operation the United States and Royal Navies again proved that, even while engaged in operations covering the seveii seas, they can plan and successfully execute vast and intricate movements in support of land operations, and can do this despite the obstacles of distance, weather, and enemy opposition. The air and ground fores unite in an enthusiastic and grateful ' Well done!' "

Speaking of the vast naval armada, the correspondent continues:" It was a stupendous task to take these great convoys through one of the narrowest channels to the destination so that each ship should arrive at its scheduled landing beach at the right minute. The weather made the tasks even more gruelling for the personnel of the landing craft. It was an outstanding performance to get such a force ashore without any real mishap. An American naval force covered the landing of American troops, and on the beaches where the latter landed there was a very heavy swell, but their assault troops were all put ashore to time. It is now confirmed that no contact was made with enemy surface vessels. The only thing seen by our ships was a small group of Italian U-boats, which promptly made off at high speed when they saw the Allied navies.