VERY HEAVY ATTACKS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 235, 2 September 1943, Page 5

VERY HEAVY ATTACKS

ARMOUR-PIERCING SHELLS. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 1. The British battleships which

heavily bombarded the enemy coastal batteries in the too of Italy yesterday were accompan-

ied "by nine destroyers and the

cruiser Orion. The batteries were in area of lleggio and the attack is described as one of tho greatest naval bombardments of the war.

The battleships swept up the twomile wide Straits of Messina in daylight and opened up with their 16 inch guns firing armour-piercing and high explosive shells into the ferry terminal of Reggio. No enemy aircraft opposed the warships' fighter cover. The battleships with the cruiser find destroyers then sailed down the coast to engage shore batteries south of Reggio. , • A Cairo air communique, quoted bv the Official Wireless, says that United States Liberators yesterday attacked railway installations at Pescara. The marshalling yards were well covered with bombs resulting in fires and exolosions. Bombs also directlv hit the" railway station and the railway bridge over the river. Ten intercepting fighters were shot down. R.A.F. Beaufighters damaged a merchantman off the west coast of Greece. One of our planes is missing. A Rome communique says' that Allied planes yesterday bombed Pisa, Pescara, Salerno, Cosenza, and Gatanzaro, causing considerable damage and manv civilian casualties. THE RAID ON PISA.

To-day's air communique from Allied Headquarters; in North Africa states that . heavy bombers of the North-West'African Air .Force yesterday attacked targets at Pisa. There were large explosions and many, fires in the railway yards and aircraft factory. The naval yards were again attacked last night. Important railway communications and a junction in the toe and foot of Italy were attacked by medium bombers. Our fighter-bombers attacked railway targets in the Bay of Naples. Six enemy aircraft were shot down during these operations. Two of ours are missing.