MANY DIRECT HITS

Evening Star, Issue 24916, 14 July 1943, Page 3

MANY DIRECT HITS

FERRY TERMINALS RAIDED ITALIAN MAINLAND AND MESSINA (Rec. 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY. July 13. Over 250 tons of high explosives were dropped at the Reggio di Calabria and San Giovanni ferry terminals on the Italian 'mainland at daylight on Monday by 100 Liberators, states a Cairo message. They attacked in four waves at San Giovanni. The railway yards were blanketed with hits, and bursts were seen all along the railway tracks, with a large explosion on the siding area. Hits were also observed near the central railway station and around the ferry terminal and mole. Reggio, the centre of the target area, was' well covered with bomb bursts and petrol and ammunition dumps were hit. Large fires were started. No fighter opposition was met, but the anti-aircraft fire was 'exceptionally heavy, indicating that the defences liad recently been strengthened. Only one American aircraft is missing. Another message reports that two vital railway bridges nt the ferry terminus in Messina were .destroyed yesterday. The first formation of fortresses snored direct hits on the east bridge, and later the entire group was covered, the target area including both railways. The industrial part of the city was also bombed again. There was plenty of flak, but no fighter opposition. Hundreds of fighters and fighterbombers renewed train-busting operations on troops, strafing all over Sicily. For more than 12 hours medium and night bombers plastered the airfields still held my the enemy.