ALLIED NAVIES PRAISED

Southland Times, Issue 25704, 13 July 1943, Page 5

ALLIED NAVIES PRAISED

FINE PERFORMANCE (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 11. More' than 2000 vessels were involved in the Sicilian landing operations, an agency correspondent with an Allied force command post reveals. He further quotes a tribute paid by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Allied Commarider-in-Chief, to the work of the Allied navies in the landings.

General Eisenhower said: “In the Sicilian operations the United States and Royal Navies again proved that even while engaged in operations covering the seven seas they can plan and successfully execute vast, intricate movements in support of land operations and can do this despite obstacles of distance, weather and enemy opposition. The air and ground forces unite in enthusiastic and grateful praise.” Speaking of the vast,, naval armada the correspondent continues: “It was a stupendous task to take these great convoys through one of the narrowest channels to their destination so that each ship should arrive at its scheduled landing beach at the right minute. The weather made the tasks even more gruelling for the personnel of the landing craft. It was an outstanding performance to get such a force ashore without any real mishap. An American naval force covered the landing of American troops and on the beaches where the latter landed there was a very heavy swell, but their assault troops were all put ashore to time. It is now confirmed that no contact was made with enemy surface vessels. The only thing seen by our ships was a small group of Italian E-boats, which promptly made off at high speed when they saw the Allied Navies.”