ALLIED FLEET

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1943, Page 5

ALLIED FLEET

IN EAST MEDITERRANEAN. REPORTED READY FOR ACTION. (Rec. 12.20.) LONDON. June 21. The Berlin radio reports: There is an Allied fleet off Syria. It is making preparations to steam into action in the Aegean Sea. AT GIBRALTAR. MOST ALLIED FORCES. (Rec. 7.10.) LONDON. June 20. The Berlin radio said: Shipping movements are continuing at Gibraltar, where there has been a new concentration of Allied shipping, including about sixtv merchantmen, tankers, and, transports. s SOUTHERN ITALY. BEING EVACUATED. (Rec. 7.0.) LONDON. June 20. Axis sources continue to discuss probabilities of an Allied invasion, while scouting the possibilities of its success. The Rome radio declared: The evacuation of southern Italy has been proceeding with admirable discipline, and without excitment, although it means sacrifices for those leaving their homes, as well as for people'in the reception areas. WHAT INVASION MEANS. (Rec. 7.10) LONDON, June 20. The Rome radio stated that an invasion of Europe means the landing of several million soldiers on the Continent. It says: The landings on Pantellaria and Lampedusa islands were drops in the bucket as compared with such a titanic feat as a continental invasion. The European Fortress, undaunted, awaits Mr. Churchill’s soldiers and Mr. Roosevelt’s sailors. More Italians CALLED UP FOR SERVICE. M ' (Rec. 7.10) LONDON, June 20. According to a message from Stockholm, Signor Scorza, the Fascist Tarty Chief, is searching for manpower. He has ordered that convicts be drafted into the labour service. He has also conscripted over sixteen thousand students from the City of Milan, ten thousand of them going into the Army or Labour Corps immediately, while the remainder are being drafted for other work. GERMANS' IN ITALY. STAFFS REDUCED. (Rec. 7.10) LONDON, June 20. A “’Times” correspondent on the Italian frontier reports: That Germans ’ are reducing the strength of their diplomatic and consular staffs in Italy, and also their corps of accredited journalists. Formerly there were over fifty German journalists in Rome. Now there are only twelve; The German Army; officers in Italy have been order,ed to wear only mufti in public. Italy’s Railways SUFFERING FROM' TRAINBUSTING BOMBS. (Rec 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. “The Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent reports: According to eye witnesses just returned from Italy, the Allied air offensive in the Mediterranean is finding Italy’s Achilles heel in her transport system. The correspondent adds: — Informants point out that the transport system is being affected directly by trainbusting raids, such as those which Malta-based Intruders carry out in conjunction with’ bombing attacks on keypoints such as the cities of Messina. Naples, Reggio-Dicalabria and San Giovanni. Indirectly, the system is suffering through the action of Italian workers who, in Sicilian and northern Italian towns, r.eruse to stay on overnight, and leave for the country as soon as their shift is over, to join their evacuated wives and children. There have been official efforts to prevent this mass evacuation, which is swamping •' already overburdened State railways, but tne efforts have, so far, failed.

Mussolini’s Visit TO GARRISONS OF SICILY. (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 20. A “Daily Mail” correspondent on the Italian frontier says: According to Rome reports Mussolini, accompanied by Signora Scorza, and; high Fascist officials ■ has just been on a visit to Sicily. He visited Palermo. The Duce inspected the troops, rhe beach defences, the tank traps, the coastal guns, and the anti-paratroop preparations were demonstrated tor him. It is believed that the main object of the visit was to boost the morale of the defenders "of Sicily, which heavy raids had affected.