Mediterranean Reinforcements For Next Jump

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 2

Mediterranean Reinforcements For Next Jump

! (Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON. August 23.; ' Big reinforcements of men and material are coming into tire Mediter-i ranean in large convoys ready for the, .next jump into Europe, reports the; i Algiers correspondent of the British [United Press. j Meanwhile, neutral reports say that,} [in expectation of an Allied invasion, ithe Germans are increasing their; forces not only in Northern Italy but fin the Balkans and Southern France, j An Italian newspaper declares that ■ the Allies are certain to invade Italv soon. Berlin radio reported that five British aircraft-carriers have arrived, at Gibralter, apparently to give tighter [cover for Allied forces landing in Italy j or the Balkans. The British United Press says that Mediterranean reinforcements include more new weapons which were tested fin the Sicilian campaign with excellent lesults. including a new type of, [anti-tank gun, of a later model Man ; the famous six-pounder. also j amphibian vehicles and secret naval devices used in the Sicily landings. The air forces are also receiving latest fighters and fighter-bombers, including Spitfires of a type rarely seen even in Britain. Planes like the Mus-j tang and Invader, which achieved smashing' success as long-range escorts for bombers on the Salerno raid are also flowing in to add to our already overwhelming superiority. Retreating Forces Founded Axis forces retreating from Southern Italy are suffering heavy losses in terrific Allied non-stop air assault. Allied planes have dislocated all rail transport in Southern Italy and are now turning to Axis convoys strung out along the roads leading northward. The raid on Salerno yesterday completed isolation of Naples. It cut the railway south of Naples, while two previous raids against Naples cut the lines going north and east. Later reports show that a total of 114 Axis fighters have been shot down over Italy in the last four days. An Italian, communique admits that Salerno is: •‘considerably damaged." Allied planes last Saturday smashed nearly three-quarters of a big Axis, convoy in Southern Italy, says Reuter's correspondent at a Sicilian air. base. It was the biggest convoy of road transport seen in Southern Italy since the end of the Sicilian campaign and comprised 40 motor vehicles and six armoured cars. In a series of attacks lasting half-an-hour Allied planes j set fire to eight lorries and damaged 20 others.