LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1943, Page 5

LATE MESSAGES

MESSINA’S OCCUPATION.

RUGBY, August 17. Leading American patrols entered Messina at 8 p.m. yesterday . after speeding along the coast IQ ad ? of tremendous obstacles. The last German evacuation attempts are now over. Yesterday, boat traffic m the Straits of Messina ceased, and the terrific anti-aircraft barrage on both sides of the Straits has lessened. The Allied air forces now have clear yina over the entire north-east tip of Sicily. The occupation of Messina was nreceded by heavy Allied, bombardment of the town, which then fell with little opposition. Allied artillery is now reported to be engaging the coastal batteries on the Italian side of the Straits. ATTACK NEAR MARSEILLES. RUGBY, August 17 Allied Air Headquarters in the Mediterranean announce that a large formation of Fortresses to-day attacked airfields 25 miles west of Marseilles. No further details are yet available. LATER. The three airfields raided near Marseilles are bases from which enemy aircraft operate against Allied shipping. Only a few enemy fighters camo Lip, but there was anti-air craft fire. It was the first time that American heavy bombers based in the Mediterranean area have attacked targets in France.

BAVARIA BOMBED. RUGBY. August 18. American heavy bombers, operating from Britain, flew deep into Germany to-day to attack industrial targets in Bavaria. Others, with Allied fighter support, attacked German airfields in Northern France. THE KING"wHTI FLEET. RUGBY, August 17. • His Majesty the King has paid a visit to the Home Fleet, and participated in one of the biggest scale exercises ever held in wartime. SHUNTERKILLED WELLINGTON. August 18. Run over by a locomotive at Thorndon railway yards, this morning A. Rankin, a shunter, of 28 Tarikaka Street, Ngaio, received severe injuries, from which he died in hos,pital at 7,30.