ATTACK RENEWED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25305, 16 August 1943, Page 3

ATTACK RENEWED

TARGETS IN NORTHERN ITALY EFFECTS OF RAID ON ROME (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 15. The air offensive against Northern Italy was continued when R.A.F. bombers made the long journey across the Alps again last night. Details have not been announced, but Swiss reports state that Milan was again the main objective. The bombers which made the raid on Thursday night carried a greater load of hign explosives and incendiaries than ever before, considerably over 1000 tons of bombs being dropped on objectives in Milan alone, the largest industrial commercial city in Italy, and a particularly important centre of the Italian engineering industry. This attack was concentrated into half an hour.

Another target, Turin, with its industries and railways, was effectively attacked. Axis troops using the Mont Cenis route, the only other main cqnnection with the north besides the line through the Brenner Pass, must travel through Turin. Anti-war demonstrations spread ■“throughout Milan and Rome after the R.A.F. bombings. Swiss reports say that troops are patrolling the streets of Milan. In Rome thousands clustered around the Pope when he visited the bombed areas, shouting to him for peace. The Pope nodded approvingly. Allied headquarters in North Africa stated that the raid on Rome on Friday was carried out without loss, in spite of heavier fighter opposition than during the previous raid. Over 500 tons of bombs were dropped. Both marshalling yards were severely damaged, and there were repeated hits. Between 40 and 50 enemy fighters were engaged, and five were shot down.

It has been officially announced by Allied headquarters in North. Africa that the raid on Rome caused great damage to the railway yards. An Italian communique admits that the raid caused severe damage. The number of persons killed was 228 and 560 persons were injured. New demonstrations against the war broke out at Milan after the heaviest R.A.F. raid, says Reuter’s correspondent. Life in Milan is almost paralysed and troops are patrolling the streets. Firemen and soldiers struggled throughout the night trying to extinguish the many fires. The British United Press correspondent on the Italian frontier says that fires were still raging in Milan yesterday afternoon. Trains which were due at Chiasso, in Switzerland, did not arrive indicating that the railway station al Milan was put out of action. The Rome radio says that the Pope watched the raid on Rome from the windows of Vatican City, and left for the raided areas immediately the all clear sounded. Crowds gathered around his car to receive his blessing, and he handed over large sums of money for the aid of air raid victims The attack on Rome was in many respects a duplication of the first raid, when over 500 planes participated. The pilots were especially briefed to prevent the bombing of any target not of military value. Many of the bomber pilots and crews were Roman Catholics, as in the first raid. Rome radio stated that the raid lasted 90 minutes, the alert being sounded at exactly 11 a.m. “The planes flew over the city in successive waves at great height. The anti-air-craft defences immediately went into action. . Many of the bombs fell on the Tuscalano-Tiburtino area, which was devastated in the first raid. The Madonna del I’Oroto Church was seriously damaged.” Berlin radio said that the Allied planes flew over Milan in successive waves and dropped a great weight of bombs in the centre of the city. The buildings hit included Milan Cathedral the Archbishop’s Palace, and Vittorio Emanuele Gallery. Three of Milan’s principal streets were completely wiped out.