TERRIFIC BLITZ

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21152, 21 July 1943, Page 3

TERRIFIC BLITZ

. 2fHOUR RAID ALL-AMERICAN AFFAIR WIDESPREAD DAMAGE (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON. July 19. According to reports reaching Switzerland, the population of Rome panicked when-raiders came over the city. Another correspondent tells of the steps taken to prevent the bombing of religious and cultural objects. Every pilot and bomb-aimer was provided with a map in which such objects were marked with a red square with the words, "Not to be harmed." The crews were told that if a direct hit was not possible they were not to release their bombs. ”1 can testify that our bombs did fall on the targets, the vital link between the Axis war factories and the Axis armies in Sicily,” he said. The raid was an all-American affair and occupied 2i hours. Liberator pilots saw direct hits on the marshalling yards .and trains loaded with petrol and widespread damage was caused through the railway communication area. These marshalling yards are vitally important to the Axis war effort and particularly for the movement of German troops through Italy. In the Attack on t'he San Lorenzo marshalliwg yards about 400yds outside Rome, anti-aircraft fire at times was intense, but the pilots say it was inaccurate. There was little opposition from fighters. All the Flying Fortresses returned. The Littorio yards are four miles north of the city and two airfields are eight miles from the centre of the city. A correspondent says that the railway yards were left belching smoke and flames and a correspondent who travelled in one of the Fortresses tells much the sam p story. Great fires were blazing below and huge volumes of smoko rising above. It is announced from Aided headquarters that the raid was carried out by unescorted Flying Fortresses and also Marauders and Mitchells escorted by Lightnings. Liberators also participated. A Cairo message says that the Liberators dropped about 350 tons of bombs on Rome.

Station Heavily Hit

The British United Press correspondent in Berne says that the important railway station of Portonaccio, southeast of Rome, through which pass all south-bound trains, was heavily hit. 11 is reported that numerous Italian antiaircraft shells failed to explode in the air but burst when they hit the ground. A good deal of damage and casualties are reported to have resulted.

Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers says that a very strong force of Flying Fortresses, Mitchells and Marauders from the North-West African Air Force co-ordinated with the parallel attack by Liberators from the Ninth United States Army Air Force. Each force dropped 350 tons of bombs. The Fortresses completed the attack against San Lorenzo as the lir.st Liberators began dropping loads on the Littorio marshalling yards. The attack against the Ciampino airfield commenced simultaneously with the completion of the raid against Littorio.

The Associated Press correspondent in Algiers says that correspondents were given information concerning the raid at 1 a.m. It is the first time in the war of a report of a bombing mission being released before the attack was begun. Allied headquarters were notified by radio instantly the bomb bays of the leading llight of raiders were opened. The reason was to forestall Axis propaganda which might allege that Rome was widely and indiscriminately bombed. It was expected that lurid and fantastic versions of the raid would be flashed from Axis countries to Catholics throughout the world. Mussolini Interrupted

The Daily Express correspondent on the Axis frontier says that Rome’s sirens sounded just after Signor Mussolini opened a special session of the Cabinet. Those present included Prince Umberto and Marshal Badoglio. The meeting ceased and all sheltered in a deep concrete cavern built for Mussolini. Immediately the all-clear was sounded Signor Scorza hurried out for a propaganda visit to the San Lorenzo area.

Apparently, the raid considerably disorganised the Rome broadcasting system. The British United Press says that all Rome broadcasting stations stopped transmitting at 2.13 p.m. No reason was given. The system is slowly returning to normal. An English broadcast came on at 3 p.m., but only on one wave-length, instead of three. The usual bulletin at 3.10 p.m. was not broadcast. The bombing of Rome was not mentioned, except in an Italian communique which simply stated: “Formations of enemy planes dropped numerous bombs on Rome. The damage is being ascertained.” The Rome radio declared that the raid was carried out in 10 waves, the last being the most violent. The attacks lasted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The King visited the stricken districts immediately after the raid and the Queen visited the hospitals. The Berlin radio stated that the raiders were over Rome for 2J hours. Bombs were, dropped east of the city in various districts. A bomb exploded 300yds from the Lateran Basilica of the Vatican. ’ The radio later said: “Stricken districts of Romepresent a horrible aspect, characterising the raided city’s torn-up streets, destroyed and burning houses, peoplekilled and wounded, and homeless wandering aimlessly about. Police and troops are maintaining order and have begun repair work.”