INVASION BLITZ

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1943, Page 5

INVASION BLITZ

SICILY & SOUTH ITALY

Landing Launches Coming

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn J LONDON, June 21. Allied Headquarters in Africa says: “On Saturday night B-A-J*. wellingtons attacked Messina. Hits were scored on the ferry terminus ana industrial and dock installations. in daylight on Sunday, Marauders, witn a Lightning escort, attacked three airfields in western Sicily. • Alliea aircraft shot down 16 enemy aircraft in combat yesterday, for the loss oi five. One of the Allied aircraft reported missing from Friday’s operations landed at a friendly) aerodrome, and the crew are safe.” Names of the places attacked in the past three days read like a' map of south Italy— Naples, Hoggia, Caste! Vetrano, Messina, Bofizzo, Milo, San Giovanni, Porto Empedocle, Marsala, SJpinazzola, Reggio di Calabria, Licata, and Syracuse. Allied blows against south Italy were never so widespread and continuous. Marauders were bombing the Sicilian airfields. On Sunday at the same time escorting Lightnings had a terrific mixup with 15 Messerschmitt 109’s of which 12 were shot down by Lightnings and two by Maurauders. A message from La Linea' reports

30 landing launches each armed with two guns and carrying a crew of 25 left Gibraltar for North Africa. Seventy merchantmen are in the harbour, some unloading hundreds of cases, containing lighter planes, which were assembled, armed and fuelled at the airport. The Algiers radio reported that the Allied High Command have again listed the precautionary measures the French people should take. “Everyone, firstly, must watch over safety of his own family. Secondly, he should contribute the utmost to organisation of the resistance movement. Thirdly he must at all costs keep the resistance movement secret, also secrets relating to co-ordination with troops in the coming operations. Fourthly, all must realise that success in the coming operations, and also the speed of their execution, depend in some degree upon your preparedness. ’ Fifthly, you must display discipline equal to our resolution, and patience equal to your confidence in victory. Sixthly* you must not act prematurely, but await *--*e opening of large-scale Allied operations, of which you will be advised.”

BRITISH SEA TACTICS. GERMAN ESTIMATE. LONDON, June 21. Berlin radio’s military spokesman, Col. Dietmar, said:’ “British tactics since Napoleon have been dominated by amphibious strategy, 'lhe British have always maintained contact wiin ports and ships. It can be safely assumed that the British attempting to invade Europe will follow the old amphibious strategy. British eye's may; well be turning to the Mediterranean where the Italian and Balkan peninsulars are jutting into the sea. There are also many Mediterranean islands which can be used as stepping stones, but to-day, a greater degree of sea supremacy is necessary than in Napoleon’s day. Big events in Russia helped Wellington. The British and Americans, to-day are presumably relying or/ similar assistance from Russia. We believe they are over-confident.”

AXIS DEFENCE MEASURES. LONDON, June 21. Rome radio says: Attacks which Axis. war-planes are carrying, out against Allied shipping concentrations at Pantellaria and Bizerta aim to make it as difficult as possible for the Allies to bring up supplies for the forces for any! attempted landing. Ihe Allies, if they succeed in overcoming the difficulties of landing in force, must light on land, without the superiority of men and materials they had in North Africa. . Rome radio announced additional measures to prepare the people of Italy and Sicily lor what is called “the approaching assault against .he European Continent.” Fascist Party Inspector called a conference of local leaders in Caltamssetta, Sicily, and instructed them what to do m the event of invasion. Pereschi, the Minister of Agriculture, toured Sicily, giving similar directions.