Mediterranean Air War Overshadows Land Operations In Italy

Northern Advocate, 1 May 1944, Page 3

Mediterranean Air War Overshadows Land Operations In Italy

(Rec. noon) LONDON, April 30. The Mediterranean air war at present completely overshadows the land fighting in Italy, says the British United Press correspondent at Allied headquarters in Italy. * Allied heavy bombers early today again raided Genoa for the second time within 24 hours, which period also saw the heaviest air raid of the Mediterranean war when Fortresses and Liberators unloaded 1500 tons of bombs on Toulon. Reuter’s correspondent reports that the Germans yesterday sent several platoon strength raiding parties against the Allied perimeter positions ' south of Cisterna, but Allied artillery broke up the attacks. The Germans also launched further small attacks against Allied positions around Cassino, which were driven off with casualties. The only other land activity occurred on the Eighth Army front, where Allied machine-gunners dispersed German patrols near Tollo. Six Italian spies who crossed into the Allied lines in Italy on missions for the Germans have been executed by a firing squad. All had confessed. General Alexander confirmed the sentences, which were passed by an Allied military court. This is the first published case of the Allied execution of spies in Italy. •V Naples correspondent reports that German attempts to probe thfe Allied lines in Italy wore repulsed. Allied flak destroyed eight or more planes out of 40 which raided the bridgehead on Friday night. Cut Through Lines Allied Air Force staff officers in Italy, summing up the Allied bombing and strafing of German communications, declare that no through lines to Rome have been opened since March 24. writes a Naples correspondent. In his effort to maintain traffic, the enemy has been forced on to the highways where his motor transport has been exposed to constant strafing. Strategic attacks on Italian, factories has created a spare parts problem in operating civilian trucks. A further indication of the success of Allied air attacks on German communications is the increasing use by the Germans of ports along the west coast of Italy as an alternative means to moving supplies from Northern Italy and France around several railroads between Florence and Rome. The campaign against bridges, viaducts and other bottlenecks on the railways in central Italy. which supply German troops in the front line continues solidly and systematically. Patrols Active An earlier Allied communique from Italy says our patrols arc! active. The Allies repulsed several small enemy raiding parties. Medium forces of heavy bombers yesterday attacked harbour installations and other targets at Toulon. Small formations of heavy bombers attacked the Rimini area. . Medium and light bombers again bombed railways, supply dumps, and communication lines north of the battle area. Medium bombers attacked and well-covered the viaduct at Terni and bridges at Attigliano and Pontassieve.

Fighter bombers attacked targets on the Dalmatian coast, including installations at Port Gruz. Heavy bombers last night bombed harbour installations at Genoa.

The Allies flew more than 2000 sorties. Thirty enemy planes were sighted near the battle area during the day. Eleven cl' our heavy bombers are missing. We destroyed 12 enemy planes.

The Exchange Telegraph Agency's correspondent at Anzio says the Germans on Friday night, for the first time, included obsolete Junkers 87 dive bombers in the force sent to raid the beachhead. The Allied anti-aircraft defences, in ‘one of their most spectacular performances, shot down a number of the raidercs and broke up the attacking formations. Over 4000 Prisoners German prisoners taken in Anzio bridgehead now exceed 4000, writes a Naples correspondent. Fifth Army anti-aircraft artillery destroyed 42G enemy planes from the beginning of the Italian campaign to last Saturday, including 186 shot down in the bridgehead. The effectiveness of antiaircraft defences has forced the Germans to abandon daylight attacks and their night losses have reached 30 to 45 per cent. The first salvo one night destroyed five out of 12 raiding aircraft.