SICILY INVADED

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 July 1943, Page 5

SICILY INVADED

ALLIED OFFENSIVE OPENED LANDINGS. WITH IITTLE LOSS NAVAL AID

LONDON, July 11

The Allies have invaded Sicily. After successful landings before dawn on Saturday, at many points along 100 miles of coast, Allied troops are advancing under powerful air cover. The landings were reported on Saturday night in a special communique from Algiers. _lt said that by 6 a.m., under heavy fire from a covering force of Allied warships, opposition was checked and the success of all landings, fully assured. By about 7.30 a.m.,’’ said the communique, “our troops were advancing and artillery was being put ashore. Fighting continues, while more troops, with guns, vehicles, stores, and equipment, are being landed by the Royal and United States Navies.” Correspondents say that the landings were made on the south-eastern coast of Sicily by British, American, and Canadian forces. A correspondent who landed with Canadians near Comiso said that the troops smashed through the beach defences as soon as they were landed and established an extensive beachhead. , They met very little determined resistance, but there was stubborn resistance north' and west of Comiso. The full text of the Allied communique is:— “In spite of unfavourable weather conditions and the swell of the Sicilian Channel, the first Allied landings in Sicily, which started before dawn, proceeded according to plan. The manv beaches and landing places used for these operations extended over a distance of about 100 miles. “By about 6 a.m., under heavy fire from a covering force ol cruisers, destroyers, gunboats, and other naval units, enemy opposition was checked and the success ol all the landings was fully assured. “By about 7.30 a.m. our troops were advancing and artillery was being put ashore. Fighting continues, while more troops with guns, vehicles, stores, and equipment are being landed by the Royal Navy and United States Navy. Units of the Indian, Dutch, Polish, and Greek navies are participating in the naval operations.” . . A separate communique, giving details of the continuing air attacks on Sicily, said: “Additional to attacks on the'few aerodromes still being used by the enemy, our heavy, medium, and fighter-bombers attacked roads and communications throughout Sicily. Air operations are proceeding according to plan." LANDINGS DESCRIBED.

The first report received in Lon don said that the invasion of Sicily started about 3 a.m.. when Allied forces landed on the rocky western tip of Sicily, which is only 260 miles from Rome. The landings weie made in good weather. The Italian and German air forces put up a fierce resistance. _ Thedefenders blew up harbour installations. The Algiers correspondent ot the British United Press says that Allied troops landed in Sicily under aheavy barrage of naval fire horn Liiiisn and American battleships and cruisers, which hurled broadsides mtJ enemy positions. , Reuter’s correspondent, says mat flotillas of small ‘craft which weie used in the landing operations oftued easily visible targets to the mmillimetre guns and machine-guns ch. the island’s defenders. “As nay brok~, the naval armadas ofl shore, wnxw flashing broadsides piercing , L : ie blackness had offered only the baiest targets to the Sicilian e oasmi batteries, became exposed to g.ieauo dangers from direct coastal lire, •' iattack, and possible lurking ines,” says the co^: es iP ol ) ld r^, t ; r ,,Ap r . gineers, carrying la-rout toip~do-., which were pushed into t..e wire defences to blast a path loi me troops, were among me troops lano.-

ecl.” j’ ’ Another Algiers message says uiai from dawn onwards the landing 01. troons took place on the souih-easv coast of Sicily. British, American, and Canadian troops landed with plenty of equipment and supplies. A correspondent i witness as saying tnai Li- coc. -waters of Sicily were Llack wnh m vasion barges and supporting naval craft and all the waters between Sicily and Tunisia were full of boats shuttling back and forth. Another pilot said: -‘We could see swarms <>l ships going towards Sicily, when y.e reacheci Sicily it looked like a million flies going in on the beacnes. Reuter’s Algiers corresponded t cavs- “There is no indication of u.y number of pointe at which, anc mgs were made, but the numoe >U L to be large. The most significant feature of the Allied air operations yesterday was the concentration o£ raids against the south- coinc• nt’ Sicilv where gun emplacement..', tatteriS: barracks, and shippmg "'S-ltorepbrts emphasised the immense damage inllictecl on Sicily by Allied air attacks before the siom About 12 airfields, were pul nnt of action. The islands d-J.en.-~ since Sast Sunday have been given hardly a minutes lespwc. dromes and ports, particularly' Geibini and its satellite a ‘ r h a lj-s. e m • port and aerodrome o£ Catan -t a ’ battered many times, daily ano nightly. Only very bg l . l , l ;i o f been able to move in tn- Stiait o Messina lor th ® „ oHs m Evacuees from north-w-st pons • Sicily were able to move only nndci cover of darkness.

NO ALLIED SHIP LOST

MASTERY OF THE AIR

LONDON, July H. Reuter’s correspondent at TVllicU. North African headquarters says that the Allied assault forces completed the initial landings in the loss of a single ship. The vessels completed their hazardous without meeting submarine oi olhci nl The fc 'Madrid correspondent of the British United Press, quoting French Feports, says that the Allied troops have overrun Sicily’s coastal defences and are in close contact with Axis troops beyond the plain between Syracuse and Catania. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that a huge Allied force landed on the beaches of Sicily without serious loss. Swarms of fighters from the North-west African Air Force patrolled the beaches while the ground troops disembarked. They met negligible fighter opposition. Hundreds of aeroplanes kept up a mammoth assault all day on Saturday against Sicily’s airfields and communications, particularly the vital strategic airfield network of Gerbini. According to the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Tidningen,” Italian circles say that the Allies landed at seven points in Sicily. German military quarters declare that the invasion of Sicily is “the greatest and most daring undertaking in the history of war.” The awe-inspiring sight of a battle fleet in action was described by a

I bomber pilot who had returned from I plastering aerodromes in Sicily, ine [whole Battle Fleet was lined up in 'battle order in the Mediterranean, 'he said. ‘They stood out like a big 1 group of islands. The battleships all ' opened fire just alter we passed them, ilt sdunded like a volcanic eruption. ! There musth have been 40 miles ol boats of all sizes. Sicily’s coast and ! sea ivere black with them. It looked like a million flies as our boys poured ashore.” ... Graphic stories of how the invasion looked from the air were told by Allied pilots returning from fights over the battlefield in the morning, says the Algiers correspondent 01. the t>ntish United Press. Smoke and flames 10 miles inland from the coast weie seen from the air. One pilot said: “Allied warships were shelling continuously as oui foreds landed. They sometimes dashed in close to the shore, fired salvoes, and then swooped out again. Landing barges seemed to be everywhere, waves of them dashing towards the island in relays and others piling up on the beaches.” This pilot was ovei the island at 6.30 a.m. Even then a tremendous battle was raging below. He did not meet any air opposition over the island.

GENERAL EISENHOWER

LUCKY COINS RUBBED

LONDON, July 10. “In the early hours of Saturday morning General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied Commander-in-Cmei in North Africa, heard that the landings in Sicily had been made and that everything was going according to plan,” writes the correspondent ol the Exchange Telegraph Agency in the first account ol the invasion ol Sicily, for the combined British Press.’ “General Eisenhower always carries seven old coins, including an English gold five-guinea piece,” says the' correspondent. “As the invasion fleet approached last night to oegin the great assault on .Europe, the general gave the coins a good rub lor luck."in fact, as one of his aides said, he gave them several rubs. “General Eisenhower spent all night at his headquarters, except lor a brief period when he drove, to tire coast with a small parly of his stall to watch the Allied air fleet leaving. Climbing out of his car, he stooci m the moonlight with his hand raised. to the salute as the air armada. was airborne. The period of waiting between the planning of the assault and its coming into being was over. Returning to headquarters, General Eisenhower went, at once to the Naval Section, where he joined the stall, following closely the movement ol the operations on a chart. He spent some time in the Fighter Command room, from which the air umbrella covering the operations was controlled. “At 1.30 a.m. the General, apparently satisfied with the progress ol operations, went to bed next to the War Room. He slept three hours, until awakened at 4.30 a.m. by an aide, who informed him that the assault troops had landed and tnai everything was going according to plan. The Royal Navy served tne General with a cup ol tea and he then returned to the War Room, where reports were coming in regularly. He remained there until he heard the 8.8. C. broadcast his message telling the people of France that this was the first stage of the invasion ol' the European Continent, which would be followed by others. General Eisenhower then left the War Room, but only for a change of clothes. He returned within a short period to follow with the commanders the progress of operations.”

AXIS ADMISSIONS

“FIRST BARRIER OVERCOME’

LONDON, July 11

One of MussolinVs mouthpieces, broadcasting on Saturday, said that the Allies had ‘‘overcome the first barrier of our defences.” “Zero hour has struck,” said the Romo radio on Saturday afternoon. “We face it with serenity and firmness. Both the population and the armed forces, particularly those in Sicily, are in the best of spirits. Our hard people know to-day more than ever that the fight must, if necessary, be fought to the last drop of blood. The enemy’s chief aim is not military but political, namely, to oust Italy from the war, which would main an enormous political gain. Our people will have ready for _ the enemy a number of great surprises. Wo will make the enemy’s progress tremendously costly because each Italian soldier knows the outcome of the fight will mean cither slavery or life for Italy.” The special reporter of the German Overseas Radio in Sicily said: “The fortifications of Sicily, cannot be compared with the Atlantic Wail, but the men who man them are imbued with the same spirit. Mobile reserves are waiting in the mountains lor the signal calling them to battle. There are forbidden military zones everywhere. Giant batteries protect the coast, behind which stand the most modern German tanks. The German and Italian generals who drew up the defence plans are all in the front line. Reinforcements of tanks, and motorised troops are pouring into the island. Thousands. .of Sicilians line the streets, admiring the modern German weapons. The German soldiers are literally covered •with flowers. The population is calm, confidently expecting the invasion to bo repulsed.” The German radio claimed that the Allied forces in Sicily sustained very heavy losses. It added that the coastal batteries and Axis bombers sank a number of landing transports laden with troops and material.

OTHER INVASIONS

The German military commentator (Captain Sertorious) said: “The enemy possesses in the north coast of Africa a base of operations with many good harbours. His navy secures for him mastery of the Mediterranean. Ho has doubtless sufficient transport. His landing troops are mostly well-rested and magnificently equipped. His air forces, though they suffered heavy losses last week, nevertheless have considerable superiority. There is a British and American force in North Africa and the Near East big enough to make possible invasion operations at other point:; on the south European front or against the Dodecanese, Crete, or Sardinia. It is highly probable that the Allied High Command will start one or more actions against Southern Europe to make the Axis dissipate its forces.”

Gayda, in the newspaper “Giornale d'ltalia,” says: “The attack against the Italian outer positions had hardly begun than it encountered very fierce resistance. The German and Italian forces, supported by the proud and indomitable spirit of the Sicilians, are making the enemy realise that Sicily is not a front waiting to be plucked, and he is not being received with open arms

as a liberator. The whole Italian nation is determined on battle, for which it possesses the spiritual and military means.”

A German military commentator said on Saturday night that the German High Command considered the Sicilian operations to have been purposely co-ordinated with the Kursk battle on the Russian front.

DROMES CAPTURED.

FASCIST CABINET CONVENED.

RUGBY, July 11.

A North African communique, quoted by the Algiers radio, states three Sicilian aerodromes are in Allied hands. All objectives have been reached according to plan. British and American troops have made contact with Allied parachutists dropped previously. It seems that contact between the Allied forces and the main Axis forces is not yet made. The fighting so far seems to have been against the enemy’s coastal defence' units.

British and Canadian troops captured and hold the town of Pachino and the airfield nearby, states the Algiers correspondent. Pachino has a population of 20,000 and is three miles inland from Cape Passero, the south-eastern extremity of the invasion area. The other two aerodromes captured are near Gela, another town on the southern coast, which was also captured. An American correspondent says that all the coastline along 100 miles of the invasion front round tne south-east corner of the island is m Allied hands. An Agency correspondent, cabling from Algiers said that Canadian units, pushing ahead from the landing beaches, have already captured a group of vitally important hills a mile and a half inland. Carla Scorza, Secretary of the Fascist Party, convened an urgent meeting of the Fascist Directorate to-night. Mussolini has asked tne King to address at Italian people.

GLIDER TROOPS LANDED

LONDON, July 11

British and American glider troops landed on Sicily the night before the invasion began from the sea. At 10 30 p.m. on Friday the gliders were released over the island, and m the teeth of a stiff wind the pilots brougnt them to their objectives. Parachute troops followed up the landings, and both forces moved swiftly to consolidate their positions bemnd the enemy’s beach defences. The Middle East air communique states that throughout yesterday fighters maintained patrols over Allied shipping and invasion forces. Enemy aerodromes still iff use and communication points and transport were attacked by bombers. During the night airfields and other objectives in the invasion area were attacked. Twenty-two enemy aircraft were destroyed.

AIRBORNE TROOPS RESISTANCE NOT STRONG _ RUGBY, July 11. An eye-witness fills in the details of the Sicilian picture. He cables “At nightfall on Friday Allied shipping movements in the Mediterranean took on a definite pattern,, as warships and troop-ships coming from cast and west all headed towards south-east Sicily. At half past ten. British and American glider-bonne troops making their first operational mission were released from aircraft. In the teeth of a stiff wind, the glider pilots put the noses- of their machines earthward, and a few moments later, the first troops had reached Sicily and the invasion had begun. Meanwhile, Allied bombers were heavily attacking the airfields of Catania further north. This appears to have been successful. There were no Concentrated attacks on the gliders or the machines towing them, almost all of which returned safely. While the air-borne troops were moving m, the Allied navy was assembling seaborne forces in waters off south-east Sicily. At half past two, half an. hour before the moon went down, landings were made on beaches. The Allied troops had occupied very considerable stretches of the beach and penetrated inland. There was resistance from the beaches, both sniping and m places more systematic gunfire, but the extent of our success shows the resistance on the whole cannot have been strong.

GLIDERS’ EFFICIENCY

RUGBY, July 11. The part played by air-borne troops, who actually made the first attacks in Sicily on Friday night, is described by a correspondent, who, says General Eisenhower watched the departure of the armada of transport planes and gliders carrying the Allied air-borne troops from African shores. “The gliders looked like huge bats, as they passed overhead whole around them ‘circled an umbrella of fighters. Inside the gliders were men of British air-borne units who had spent more than two years training for their first effort, while in the transport planes were British and American parachutists who won laurels for their work in Tunisia. It is a tribute to their training that though the wind was high it is reported that almost all the gliders landed within a mile of their target.”

ALLIED ADVANCE CONTINUED

(Rec. 11.35 u.m.) LONDON, July 11. Allied troops in Sicily; are now advancing with the beaches bemnd them firmly in the hands of fresh troops, more of which are still being brought in from the vast convoys protected by the Navy, cables the British United Press correspondent at Aided forward headquarters. He' adds: Within forty-eight hours of the first landing, the crisis m the Sicilian invasion had passed and troops were being disgorged on , the island in one great stream. TheAvhoie coastline along a hundred-milo ;nva - ion front is in Allied hands. Tnere is little definite nows of land lighting, but it is known that uiw of the ppi.? where the trops first went in was Gaia, a little port on Ihe broad sweep of the southern coast at the end of the Maroglio Valley. Gala s normal population is 25,000. The town commands a network of roads. An. official announcement from aL-r,-says that American troops with, naval support have broken through enemy trench positions at Gala. According to the Algiers radio, Canadian troops have established an important bridgehead 50 miles west of Gela. The stiffest resistance, so far has been encountered near Capassero. Only Italian troops have been

NAVAL “REVIEW”

COASTAL BATTERIES SILENCED

RUGBY, July 11. The Sicilian picture begins to take clearer shape as eye-witness accounts reach London. One account, received from an Allied Force Command post, states: “It was like the Spithead Review” was how a naval officer described the scene off the Sicilian coast yesterday. Long lines of ships of all types and sizes were lying off the beaches, the only thing missing being bunting. Landing crafts were fussing backwards and forwards to the beaches, which were crowded with troops. Naval beach parties were supervising the unloading of equipment, guns and tanks, which went on steadily throughout the day. After the enemy coastal bateries had been silenced and our troops had broken through the beach iefences there was very little sign

that we had landed on enemy territory. During the early stages of; the assault in hours of darkness the weather conditions made the landing of troops no easy task. A high wind caused a heavy swell, but the Allied Navies carried out their job without any hitch. In an amphibious operation the Navy has complete charge until the troops actually put their feet on land, and they overcome the many difficulties. The huge battle fleet which covered the landing contained many Allied units, and included a big American force taking part in its first amphibious operation in thd European theatre. Cruisers and destroyers silenced many coastal batteries which opened fire on our assault boats as they went in to the beaches. One of these batteries, whose code name was “P For Peter,” after being silenced by warships, began to fire again, but only spasmodically. Its shells never fell within range of our ships, but apparently annoyed a British Admiral, who sent the signal: “If ‘P For Peter’ opens his mouth again, give him the works!”

Admiral Cunningham was afloat on Saturday afternoon, visiting in turn the naval forces off the Sicilian coast and the naval forces working on the beaches. By this time the swell had died down and it was a lovely Summer afternoon. As we passed through a lone line of ships one saw a big transport unloading tanks into landing craft and watched troops being taken ashore without interference from the enemy. The only excitement was when a solitary enemy aircraft dropped a stick of bombs into the sea about two miles away. The little coast towns all looked deserted.

ADML. CUNNINGHAM’S MESSAGE

RUGBY, July 11

“We are about to embark on the most momentous enterprise of the war, — striking for the first time at the enemy in his own land.” Thus Admiral Cunningham began the historic message he sent on Friday to all ships taking part in the Sicilian operation. “Success means the opening of the second front with all that it implies, and the first move towards the rapid and decisive defeat of our enemies. Our object is clear, and our primary duty is to place this vast expedition ashore in the minimum of time, and subsequently maintain our military and air forces as they drive relentlessly forward into enemy territory. In the light of this duty, great risks must be and are to be accepted. The safety of our own ships and all distracting considerations are to be relegated to second place or disregarded, as the accomplishment of our primary duty may require. On every commanding officer, officer and rating, lies the personal duty of ensuring that no flinching in determination, or failure of effort on his own part, will hamper this great enterprise. I rest confident in the resolution, skill and endurance- of you all, to whom this momentous enterprise is entrusted.

EISENHO WER’S TRIB UTE

RUGBY, July 11

More than 2000 vessels wore involved in the Sicilian landing operations, an Agency correspondent with an Allied Force command post reveals. He further quotes a tribute paid by General Eisenhower to the work of the Allied Navies in the landings, General Eisenhower said: “In the Sicilian operation the United States “and Royal Navies again proved that even while engaged in operations covering the seven seas they can plan and successfully execute vast, intricate movements in support of land operations, and can do this despite the obstacles of distant e. weather, and enemy opposition. Their comrades of the air and ground forces 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 io their 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 lauding craft. It was an outstanding performance to get such a force ashore without any real mishap. Tlie American naval force covered the landing of the 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 lime. 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.”

ITALIAN FLEET. LONDON. July 11. Latest estimates of the Italian Fleet show that there are three now battleships of the Littorio class. These are battleships reported to be ofl northwest Italy. There are also four refitted battleships of the Cavour class. These vessels are reported to be east of the Straits of Messina. One of these was severely damaged at Taranto, and probably put out of action. There also are two eight-inch gun cruisers, which were damaged and probably put out of action. There are about six light cruisers. There are less than 50 destroyers. There also are 40 or 50 submarines, and a largo number of E-boats.-

GERMAN-ITALIAN VERSIONS

(Rec. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 11. The Berlin radio stated that German and Italian reserves counterattacked in Sicily early to-day. To-day’s Italian communique says: Fierce fighting is progressing along the coastal stretch of south-east Sicily. Italians and Germans are energeticaly engaging the enemy landing forces and effectively holding their pressure. Air activity is intense on both sides. Both German and Italian communiques claim that Axis fighters are active. The German communique says that 64 enemy planes thus far have been shot down over Sicily. Both communiques claim that Axis torpedo planes repeatedly attacked enemy convoys, sank two steamers, and one unidentified vessel. Two cruisers and numerous merchantmen were seriously damaged.Thie Luftwaffe repeatedly hit a light cruiser, and seven transports, and numerous landing craft, the sinking of which can be regarded as certain. The Berlin radio said that Eisenhower apparently intends to build up the south-eastern tip of Sicily into a large-scale bridgehead. The south-east tip is relatively unpopulated. Access to this part of the island is difficult as it has few roads. The Americans brought up many transports, landing barges and warships, including a number of battleships, to land their forces. This fleet penetrated to the south and eastern coasts of Sicily. Immediately after landing, the air-borne troops, under the protection of heavy artillery from the Fleet and also massed planes, landed near Cappassero. The defenders successfully beat off another landing attempt north of Syracuse. A second group of landing vessels, under cover of many warships, including battleships, 'penetrated Gela Bight, and formed two brideheads near Licata. From this point, the Americans carefully went forward in the mountain area northwards. Their advance was soon stemmed by local Axis troops. Fierce fighting developed. A landing attempt north-east of Marsala failed owing to the resistance of the defenders, who wiped out the invaders, or compelled them to ‘retreat. Only Axis coastal defences, thus far, have been engaged. How-

ever, the Axis reserves launched a counter-attack early to-day. Rome radio said that Allied landings in Sicily were the best organised, best prepared, and the biggest since Gallipoli. The British and Americans had carried through theii’ plans with ample supplies.

CANADIAN GRATIFICATION.

MANY PRISONERS TAKEN.

OTTAWA, July 10. Mr. MacKenzie King, Prime Minister, said: All Canada will be justifiably proud to know units of the Canadian Army are part of the Allied forces engaged to attack Sicily. Canadian soldiers have gone into battle exceptionally well trained, superbly equipped, keen and full of spirit, ready lor offensive warfare. The “New York Times’s” Ottawa correspondent stated: For the first time Canadians feel their army is really in the war. They are proud of it. After three and a-half ye&rs of waiting, Canada’s long-time policy of keeping its army as one unit for use in a single operation has been. changed, so while a considerable part is in Sicily, a group is reserved for other operations. The group in Sicily includes a Canadian Lancaster Bombing Squadron, and the FrenchCanadian Alouette or “Skylark” Squadron. A Canadian Press representative with the Canadians in Sicily says: The Canadians practically walked into Sicily behind an enormous naval and air night bombardment. They met very little determined resistance on landing on the beaches four miles south-west of Pachino. They smashed through beach defences, and their infantry attacked inland, and established an extensive bridgehead, which was their initial task. Italian forces stubbornly resisted north and west of Pachino. There were heated engagements in other sectors. Many prisoners were taken. They were coming in from the front since dawn in batches of fifty and a hundred, guarded by one or two Canadians. Thusfar, Canadian casualties have been very light. There was gunfire some miles inland. Apparently this indicated assault troops were steaduy gaining ground. Landing ships, and cargo vessels and warships all day disembarked thousands of men, and discharged vehicles, guns and supplies. Up till 5 p.m. there had not been an air attack. It seems incredible we have not been bombed, but RA.F. ‘planes are continually in our areas. The Canadian attack is closely linked with British formations.

MR. ROOSEVELT’S COMMENT.

“BEGINNING OF THE END.”

WASHINGTON, July 10. When Mr. Roosevelt addressed General Giraud and other guests at a White House dinner party just before 10 o'clock American time last night, he described the invasion of Sicily as the beginning; of the end. He said he had just, had word of the first attack against the soft underbelly of Axis Europe. He asked the guests not to reveal the news, because of previous arrangements lor simultaneous announcements in Algiers, Washington, and London. Mr. Roosevelt paid a tribute to the co-operation by the British, French, and Americans, who, he said, had been working in “complete harmony.” After referring to Mr. Churchill’s “end of the beginning statement of last Autumn, tne President added: “I think we can almost, sav that this action to-night is the beginning of the end. We are going to be ashore in a naval, an air, and a military sense. Once there we shall have an opportunity of going m different directions, and we have not forgotten that France is m one or the directions. Even if the move is no; directed at this moment against France itself, the ultimate objective is the liberation of the people m France, not merely in the south pail, but also in Northern France. l “We have not won the war yet, bui one happy thing is that with the help of General Giraud we have unified the military situation. We want to help to rearm the French forces and to build up French strength, so that when the time comes from a military point of view, when we get into France itself and throw the Germans out, there will be a trench Army and French ships working with the British and ourselves/

MESSAG E TO THE POPE

RUGBY. July 10. A Washington message? says that Mr. Roosevelt has sent a message to the p ope. The message says that durthe invasion of Italian soil churches and religious institutions will be spared the devastations oj war and that the neutral status of the Vatican will be respected. “By the time this message reaches vour Holiness a landing in force by American and British troops will have taken place on Italian soil.” Mr. Roosevelt said. “Our so Mier s come to rid Italy of Fascism and all its unhappy' symbols, and to drive out the Nazi oppressors infesting her sou. There is no need to reaffirm that respect for religious beliefs and the free exercise of religious worship is fundamental to our ideals. Churches and religious .institutions will, to the extent that is in our power, be spared the devastations of war during the struggle ahead. Throughout , toe pe'riod of operations the neutral Status of the Vatican City, as well as that of the Papal domains throughout Italy, will be respected. “I look forward, as cues yonr Holiness, io the bright day when the peace of God returns to the world We are convinced that this will occur only when the forces of evil which now hold vast areas of Europe and Asia enslaved have been utterly destroyed.”

SICILIANS BATE GERMANS

NEW YORK. July It. “Sicily contains Italy’s greatest fifth column.” says Herbert Matthews, the “New York Times” correspondent in North Ai’-ica. “The Sicilians have been Mussolini's greatest worry. They wove the last to succumb to the Fascist movement, and tne first to work openlv against it. They nave traditions of freedom which the mainland has forgotten. The Sicilians who have been forced to suffer the presence ol German troops for two years hate them virulently. They are reported to have stabbed German sentries, conducted sabotage, and caused street, fighting and rioting. On the other hand, the Sicilians admire the Amencans and don’t dislike the English. Most Sicilian families have relations living in the United States. “The Allies cannot expect the Sicilians' active help in the early stages of the campaign, but when the mam armed resistance is broken the Germans will be fortunate to escape with their throats uncut. Many Fascist officials may also have a tough time. This will be the first test of popular Italian reaction to the Fascist regime when it is not bolstered by German arms.” The Office of War Information has disclosed that the invasion was preceded by the dropping of millions of pamphlets, and special broadcasts designed to break the Sicilians’ morale. A group of Office of War Information representatives accompanied the invading armies to conduct psychological warfare. The next step will be the' release of pamphlets urging enemy soldiers to surrender.

EFFECTS IN FRANCE. LONDON, July 10. A warning was broadcast from General Eisenhower’s Headquarters to French people telling them that the landings were the first stage in the liberation of Europe. The Berne correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: Reports reaching Switzerland indicate that the Vichy Government is considering moving to Versailles. Shortly after the total occupation of France the Germans suggested to Vichy that there was no further obstacle to the transfer, but now, with an Allied invasion threatening, the Nazis are insisting on the move.

The Germans appeared to be concerned lest, in the midst of the confusion after a landing, French patriots should get control of Vichy, deal with Laval, and lay hands on Marshal Petain. Such a coup would sabotage any assistance against the invaders which the Germans expect from Vichy.

HOSTAGES IN CRETE

LONDON, July 10.

The Istanbul correspondent of the British Associated Press said: “It is reported that German authorities in Crete have arrested hostages from many towns on the island as a reprisal lor the recent British raid. Hostages were taken particularly from towns in the vicinity of airfields which the raiders destroyed.

GREEK GUERRILLAS

LONDON, July 9

Greek guerrillas operating in northwest Greece have met with considerable success against German attempts to transport troops and supplies through the country. Recently a German column was stopped by a road blockage. It turned back and found that the road had been blown up behind it. The guerrillas then went into action and the battle ended in a complete victory for the guerrillas. Sixty-three lorries were destroyed, 37 Germans were killed, and another 38 were captured,