TURIN BOMBED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24758, 4 December 1943, Page 7

TURIN BOMBED

BALL-BEARING WORKS ATTACKS IN BATTLE AREA (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2 A Middle East air communique says that a strong force of Flying Fortresses escorted by long-range fighters yesterday attacked the Turin ball-bearing works. A correspondent says bombs covered the entire target area and large fires and explosions were seen. Eight to 12 enemy fighters vainly tried to intercept and two of them were shot down. All our fighters and bombers returned. Light bombers, fighter-bombers and fighters attacked ground positions in the battle area and communications in the rear. Light bombers on Tuesday night attacked enemy communications, while last night the railway yards at Pontassieve, which is a junction 11 miles east of Florence on the line gunning from the south to Rome, was bombed. One enemy aircraft was destroyed. A Navy communique spates that United States patrol boats engaged a number of E-boats near Bastia, Corsica, on Tuesday night, damaging one E-boat and probably damaging another. EXTENT OF BREAK COMMENTATOR'S OPINION (Herd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2 "There are persistent reports of a break-through oil the Eighth Army front, but there is still no solid evidence to confirm them," says the military correspondent of the Times. "The number of prisoners so far captured is small for a front of this extent, evon if lightly held, as this undoubtedly was. "The obvious interpretation is that the Eighth Army push is what might be called breaking through a fortified line, but it is not breaking through a front. Those who range ahead of the news lay up for themselves disappointment."

ROVING AIRMEN PILOTS FROM NEW ZEALAND (Heed. 5.35 p.m.). LONDON, Dec. 2 A unique band of New Zealand, Australian, English and Canadian airmen is operating from a Mediterranean airfield. It is' known as the "Independent Air Force," because it is under no one's immediate orders, having a roving commission to stir up what trouble it can find, sa.vs a correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. "These young daredevils," adds the correspondent, 'flash over enemy areas in Italy in Mosquitoes. The Irish commanding officer admitted that his aeronauts fly so low that'their chief danger is the mountainous nature of the terrain. Fie said: " 'We are Hying Micawbers. We patiently stooge around waiting for something to turn up. We like trains best.' "

MARSEILLES BOMBED SHIPS SUNK AT TOULON LONDON, Dec. 2 A very heavy force of Flying Fortresses to-day for the first time attacked the submarine pens and con-' struction facilities in Marseilles harbour. reports Renter's correspondent in Algiers. The pens have been under construction for several months and only recently nearcd completion. It is disclosed that the Fortresses which attacked Toulon on November 24 sank five warships, including a cruiser, and probably sank five E-boats. They severely damaged two armed merchantmen and extensively damaged the dry docks.

94,918 CASUALTIES AMERICAN ARMY FIGURES (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 American Army casualties, from the beginning of the war to November 15, totalled 94,918, of which number 14,321 were killed, .'32,(590 Vounded, 23,117 prisoners and 24,490 missing, said the Secretary for War, Mr. H. L. Stimson. He added that of those missing 1010 died in prison camps, mostly in Japanese-occupied territory. Casualties in Italy totalled 11,572, of whom 1811 were killed, 7091 wounded and 2670 missing. American casualties in all services now totalled 126,969.