Italians Expect Blow To Fall On Their Mainland

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1943, Page 3

Italians Expect Blow To Fall On Their Mainland

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 27. “We must expect an invasion of the Italian peninsula,” said Rome radio. “Signs are of a concentration of large units of the British Fleet supported by American ships, movement into the Mediterranean of many important Allied supply convoys, also continual bombing of Italy, apparently with a view to assisting landings. Rome is too sober to prelude the possibility of an Allies’ initial success, but it will be more difficult for them to extend the bridgehead and maintain supplies.” Stockholm and Madrid sources each quote what they call official reports from Rome that the Italian fleet has moved to Madrid. A report says that the Italians put to sea for offensive operations, while a Stolekholm report states that Italians merely sought the safety of Italy’s eastern ports.

Naval observers in London believe that the latter seems a more likely explanation in view of the bombing of Spezia. German Tanks for Turks Seventeen of 50 Tiger tanks for delivery under the Turkish-German trade agreement have arrived. Neapolitan Wakes Rome radio says that the Allies have made 72 raids on Naples since April 20. Neapolitans have spent 243 hours in air-raid shelters. The semi-official newspaper “Popolo d’ltalia” gives three reasons why invasion of Italy is regarded as imminent: (1) Systematic air bombardment of Italian and Sicilian towns and ports. (2) Increasing concentration of air, naval and landing forces in North Africa. (3) The presence of heavy British naval units at Gibraltar and their reinforcement by United States units. Leaflets calling on the population to surrender were droppedby Allied bombers during the latest raids on Naples, says Rome radio. All political prisoners in gaols and concentration camps in southern and central Italy have been urgently transferred to North Italy, where a new concentration of camps is being built, according to a report from Geneva. A total of 3000 prisoners is being transferred. “Fighters As Thick As Gnats” Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that 200 tons of high-explosives and incendiaries were dropped on Messina on Saturday. A Rome communique admits extensive damage was caused by a Fortress raid on Messina. Casualties were 81 killed, and 85 wounded. Reggio de Calabria, one of two mainland terminals of Messina ferry, was also attacked. Fortresses had to shoot their way through swarms of enemy fighters to reach Messina in yesterday’s raid, says Columbia Broadcasting System’s Algiers correspondent. It is officially reported that anti-aircraft fire over the target was intense. Italian and German fighters pressed the attack from all directions, sometimes ignoring their own anti-aircraft fire and forcing the Fortresses to fight. During bombing runs one of our bomber flights tailed to within sight of the African Coast, “Fighters were thick as gnats,” said one American gunner. Salonika Air Base Destroyed

The main objective of the raid against Sedes was to wipe out an air training centre which the Germans are using as their main supply base in the Mediterranean, says the Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press. They have strongly built up and enlarged air facilities in this area. At least five aerodromes are operating, including a seaplane station. Sedes, described as a first-class air base, is the largest and most important of these bases. Destruction 'ls so extensive that the field is likely to be unserviceable for a long time. Caught Unawares Pilots reported wide destruction to hangars, repair shops, barracks and administration buildings. The attack apparently caught the enemy unawares. Although the area was • regarded as heavily defended, it being the keypoint of Rommel’s new “Siegfried Line” in south-eastern Europe, ground defence was extremely light, and no enemy fighters went up. Thousands of pamphlets bearing an encouraging message to the Greeks were dropped by American planes. Many Planes Believed Destroyed Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says: “Roaring over the target in two waves, Liberators blanketed the aerodrome with direct hits. Three large hangars were blown up, and a string of bombs also fell over dispersal areas, which were so covered with dense smoke that pilots were able to see only three planes destroyed. It is known that there was a concentration of enemy planes at Sedes, therefore it is possible that a great many others were destroyed.”