U.S. relents, agrees to let gangsters die
…
7-point program given by Maxon to ‘rescue’ OPA
Resigned deputy says ‘professors’ must go, work must be decentralized, and price control simplified
By North American Newspaper Alliance
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Soldiers’ farewell to U.S. made easier by the Army
Interlude between goodbyes and embarkation is trying period for men going overseas
By Esther Van Wagoner Tufty, North American Newspaper Alliance
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Allied regime issues initial laws in Sicily
Power of King, Fascists annulled by Anglo-U.S. military government
By Robert Vermillion, United Press staff writer
Allied HQ, North Africa – (July 17)
The AMGOT, first military regime of its kind in history, has inaugurated its rule of Allied-occupied territory in Sicily with a proclamation annulling the Italian Crown’s authority, the Fascist Party, and all discriminatory and racial laws, it was announced today.
“AMGOT” stands for the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories and is made up of hundreds of American and British officers and men trained for months for the administration of occupied Axis areas.
The Sicilian organization is headed by British Maj. Gen. Lord Rennell of Rodd, as chief Civil Affairs officer, with Brig. Gen. Frank J. McSherry, of the U.S. Army, a native of Eldorado Springs, Missouri, as deputy. Both are responsible to Gen. Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, who was named Military Governor of Sicily by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied Commander-in-Chief.
Signed by Alexander
The first Allied proclamation signed by Gen. MacArthur, reassured the Sicilian they would not be harmed and said that so long as they complied with military regulations they would be permitted to go about their business. It added that personal and property rights would be respected by the Allies and said the Allies sought only to eliminate the Axis military forces and their tyrannical rulers.
In addition, it proclaimed that the Fascist Party and Fascist Youth organizations are to be abolished; that Fascist ringleaders will be removed from office, and that those accused of crimes against the Allies are to be tried by a tribunal of AMGOT officers.
Fascists out
Furthermore, the proclamation promises that the Allies will not negotiate with Italian exiles or refugees, that no local politicos will be given preferential treatment, although local officials will be kept in office on the basis of cooperation, performance and good behavior. AMGOT, however, will deal only with those Italian officials in Sicily who have not been active members of the Fascist Party.
The Allied military government also assured the people that freedom of religious worship will be upheld, that all religious institutions will be respected, and that laws discriminating against persons because of race, creed, or color are to be voided.
Rayon report stirs another row in capital
Jeffers, Patterson score Truman’s plea to delay expansion
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Green hell of New Georgia Island conquered –
Yanks untried in jungle war beat Japs at their own game
Fiery baptism safely met in Pacific
By Ira Wolfert
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Wounded Yank evacuated by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Paratrooper hit by sniper after patrol finishes mining of Sicilian railroad
By Richard Mowrer
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U.S. assault against Kiska believed near
Four more bombings raise total of air attacks in July to 16
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U.S. to seek $16 billion to Third War Loan Drive
Bankers, Treasury financial advisers confer on plans for September financing
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Member of Doolittle’s heroic group pens exciting book about bombing of Tokyo
Thrilling narrative proves there’s more than just ‘laying eggs’
By Harry Hansen
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Völkischer Beobachter (July 19, 1943)
Auch auf den Südabschnitt ausgedehnt –
Die Schlacht im Osten nimmt an Heftigkeit zu
Am Samstag 415 Sowjetpanzer und 127 Flugzeuge abgeschossen
dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 18. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:
Die Schlacht an der Ostfront hat sich gestern auch auf die Südfront ausgedehnt und insgesamt an Heftigkeit zugenommen. Am Kubanbrückenkopf setzte der Feind seine Angriffe gegen einen Höhenblock westlich Krymskaja vergeblich fort.
Nach heftigem Artilleriefeuer traten die Sowjets an der Mius- und Donezfront zum Angriff an. Ihre Versuche, mit starken Infanterie- und Panzerkräften die Front zu durchbrechen, scheiterten an dem hartnäckigen Widerstand unserer Truppen. Gegenangriffe zur Bereinigung kleiner örtlicher Einbruchsstellen sind im Gange.
Im Raum von Orel halten die schweren Abwehrkämpfe in unverminderter Stärke an.
Am gestrigen Tage wurden insgesamt 415 Sowjetpanzer abgeschossen.
Die Luftwaffe griff mit Kampf- und Nahkampffliegerverbänden in die schweren Abwehrkämpfe des Heeres ein und fügte der Sowjetluftwaffe durch den Abschuß von 127 Flugzeugen hohe Verluste zu. In der Nacht wurde der feindliche Eisenbahnnachschub bekämpft.
Auch im sizilianischen Raum haben die Kämpfe an Härte zugenommen. Unter dem Druck starker Panzerkräfte wurde die Stadt Agrigent geräumt. Wirksame Angriffe der Luftwaffe richteten sich gegen feindliche Truppen und Schiffsziele an der Ostküste Siziliens.
Nach einem von deutschen Jagdgeschwadern vereitelten Versuch nordamerikanischer Bombenverbände, in die Deutsche Bucht einzufliegen, griff der Feind holländisches Gebiet an. Durch Bombenwürfe auf Wohnviertel der Stadt Amsterdam hatte die Bevölkerung erhebliche Verluste. Zehn viermotorige Bomber wurden abgeschossen. Fünf eigene Jagdflugzeuge werden vermißt.
Leichte deutsche Seestreitkräfte wurden in den Morgenstunden des 18. Juli vor der holländischen Küste durch englische Schnellboote mehrmals angegriffen. Hiebei gelang es dem deutschen Verband, ein feindliches Schnellboot in Brand zu schießen. Auf deutscher Seite traten keine Ausfälle ein.
Einzelne feindliche Flugzeuge flogen am gestrigen Tage und in der Nacht in das Reichsgebiet ein. Zwei dieser Flugzeuge wurden vernichtet.
Plutokratische Betrugsmanöver nach Wilson-Manier –
Eine ‚Botschaft‘ und ihre Abfuhr
dnb. Rom, 18. Juli –
Churchill und Roosevelt haben gegenüber dem italienischen Volke ein ähnliches Betrugsmanöver versucht, wie Wilson in Form seiner bekannten vierzehn Punkte im Februar 1918 das deutsche Volk betrog. Sie haben mit großem Aufwand eine sogenannte „Botschaft an das italienische Volk“ gerichtet, die vom italienischen Volke eine verdiente Abfuhr erfahren hat.
Agenzia Stefani erklärt hierzu:
Churchill und Roosevelt haben an das italienische Volk eine ‚Botschaft‘ gerichtet, in welcher es aufgefordert wird, sich gegen seine legale Regierung zu erheben und sich in die Anarchie zu stürzen.
So schreibt Agenzia Stefani weiter:
Das italienische Volk lauscht in diesem Augenblick nicht auf die Botschaften des Feindes. Das italienische Volk weiß nur, daß der Feind sein Heimatgebiet besetzen will. Die tiefe Bewegung, die das Land angesichts des feindlichen Einfalls in Sizilien ergriffen hat, einigt alle Italiener in dem brüderlichen Willen, sich der Invasion um jeden Preis entgegenzustellen. Das italienische Volk weiß, daß Ehre, Nationalgefühl und nationales Interesse ihm nur einen einzigen Weg weisen: Widerstand bis auf den letzten Blutstropfen! Auf diesem Weg konzentriert die Nation würdig und leidenschaftlich ihre Kräfte. Es ist unnötig, auf die moralische Schwäche des italienischen Volkes zu spekulieren, denn diese moralische Schwäche gibt es nicht.
Die gesamte italienische Presse ist sich einig in der Ablehnung der neuen anglo-amerikanischen Betrugsmanöver, der sogenannten „Botschaft“ Churchills und Roosevelts an das italienische Volk. Giornale d’Italia betont unter der Überschrift: „Roosevelt und Churchill fordern die Italiener zur Feigheit und Ehrlosigkeit auf,“ dieses neue Manifest gehöre zu den gewohnten Manövern des Feindes, den inneren Zusammenbruch Italiens auf diese Weise hervorzurufen. Wie sehr sich die beiden Unterzeichner des Manifestes in den Italienern getäuscht hätten, sage selbst ein englisches Blatt, der Evening Standard, der die Botschaft einen „politischen Irrtum der beiden demokratischen Führer“ nenne. Es lohne sich nicht, sich mit dem Inhalt der Botschaft zu befassen, es genüge festzustellen, daß der Feind das italienische Volk nur zum Niederlegen der Waffe auffordere, um Italien in ein neues Schlachtfeld zu verwandeln.
Lavoro Fascista meint, die Anglo-Amerikaner hätten zu nächtlicher Akrobatik über den italienischen Städten Zuflucht genommen, um sich an das italienische Volk zu wenden. Der Sprecher des italienischen Rundfunks erklärt zu dem anglo-amerikanischen Betrugsmanöver:
Der Feind riskiert unnötig seine Flugzeuge und verschwendet seinen Brennstoff. Die Italiener aller sozialen Schichten und aus allen Provinzen Italiens haben sich an das Oberkommando der Miliz gewandt, um in die Armee eingereiht und an die Kampffront entsandt zu werden.
Zahlreiche Transporter und Kriegsschiffeinheiten vernichtet –
Bombenhagel auf Feindtruppen in Sizilien
dnb. Berlin, 18. Juli –
Seit Beginn der britisch-amerikanischen Landungsoperationen an der sizilianischen Küste greift gemeinsam mit italienischen Fliegern die deutsche Luftwaffe mit starken Verbänden von Kampf-, Zerstörer- und Jagdflugzeugen die feindliche Kriegs- und Transportflotte sowie die gelandeten Truppenkontingente an.
Der Schwerpunkt ihrer Angriffe lag in den ersten Tagen der Landungen auf den vor der Ost- und Südküste Siziliens versammelten Schiffseinheiten, wobei zahlreiche Transporter, Versorgungsschiffe, Landungsboote für Panzer und Truppen sowie mehrere Kriegsschiffe in Sturz- und Tiefflügen bombardiert wurden. Allein in den ersten fünf Tagen wurden nach bisher vorliegenden Meldungen mindestens 38 feindliche Schiffe, vier Zerstörer und eine große Anzahl von Landungsbooten versenkt oder so schwer getroffen, daß mit ihrem Totalverlust zu rechnen ist. Eine große Zahl weiterer Kriegsschiffseinheiten, Transporter und Landungsboote erlitt durch die ununterbrochen durchgeführten Angriffe unserer Kampfverbände starke Beschädigungen. Der feindliche Schiffsraum hat dadurch über die bereits gemeldeten Versenkungen hinaus weitere schwere Einbußen erlitten.
Gleichzeitig bekämpften deutsche Jagd- und Zerstörerverbände in Tages- und Nachtangriffen die gelandeten feindlichen Truppen, ihre Nachschub- und Versorgungswege sowie die Munitions- und Materiallager in den verschiedenen Häfen. Besonders in Syrakus zerschlugen die Bomben unserer Kampfverbände wichtiges Kriegsmaterial, das an den Kais ausgeladen worden war.
Nach den bisher vorliegenden Meldungen wurden schon bei den ersten Angriffen am 10. Juli sechs Handelsschiffe mit 30.000 BRT. vernichtet, ein Schlachtschiff und zwei Zerstörer schwer getroffen. Ein mit Panzern beladenes Landungsboot von etwa 3500 BRT. wurde nach mehreren Bombentreffern sinkend beobachtet. Später angreifende Flugzeuge stellten eine große Explosion auf dem Panzerlandungsboot fest, das daraufhin schnell versank. Am 11. Juli wurde ein Flakkreuzer außer Gefecht gesetzt und 14 weitere Truppen- und Materialtransporter versenkt. Am 13. Juli trafen schwere Bomben drei Zerstörer und vier große Handelsschiffe. Zwei Tanker von je 6000 BRT. gerieten in Brand. Deutsche Jagdfliegerverbände erfochten in den seit Beginn der feindlichen Landungen über Sizilien, Sardinien und Italien täglich stattfindenden schweren Luftkämpfen mit starken feindlichen Fliegerkräften zahlreiche Luftsiege.
Besondere Erfolge erzielten unsere Jäger im Laufe des 16. Juli im Raum von Catania, wo sie größere motorisierte Verbände mit stärkster Wirkung angriffen.
La Stampa (July 19, 1943)
Battaglia sempre più dura in Sicilia
Navi da guerra e mercantili attaccate con successo da reparti aerei dell’Asse – Un sommergibile e un grosso piroscafo affondati da una nostra torpediniera e da aerosiluranti – 18 bombardieri nemici abbattuti durante un’incursione su Napoli
Il Quartier Generale delle Forze Armate ha diramato nel pomeriggio di ieri il seguente Bollettino N. 1149:
La violenza della lotta è ancora aumentata intorno ad Agrigento sotto l’urto di preponderanti forze blindate. Le truppe, che in questi giorni avevano valorosamente difeso la città, sono state costrette a ripiegare su posizioni più arretrate.
Ad oriente della Sicilia, reparti aerei dell’Asse hanno agito anche ieri con successo, colpendo con siluri e con bombe navi mercantili e da guerra di vario tonnellaggio. Sei velivoli sono stati distrutti da cacciatori tedeschi.
Unità navali avversarie bombardavano a più riprese la città di Catania: il fuoco delle batterie terrestri colpiva un incrociatore e incendiava un cacciatorpediniere.
Napoli è stata nuovamente e ripetutamente attaccata da grosse formazioni di quadrimotori: sono segnalati ingenti danni nei quartieri centrali e periferici; in corso di accertamento le vittime. La difesa contraerea della città, con interventi pronti a precisi, abbatteva dieci bombardieri; altri otto precipitavano a seguito di combattimenti con la nostra caccia. Minori azioni di spezzonamento e di mitragliamento sono state effettuate, questa notte sui dintorni di Napoli, su Littoria e su Ciampino.
Durante le incursioni di cui hanno dato notizia i bollettini n. 1147 e 1148, risultano distrutti, oltre a quelli già indicati, quattro velivoli, di cui uno caduto a sudovest di Ivrea, e tre nel territorio di Genova, sotto il tiro delle artiglierie locali.
Negli ultimi due giorni non sono rientrati alle basi cinque nostri aerei.
Motosiluranti italiane in ricognizione offensiva nelle acque della Sicilia orientale, colavano a picco un piroscafo da 9 mila tonnellate.
Un sommergibile è stato affondato in Mediterraneo dalla torpediniera comandata dal capitano di corvetta Silvio Cava, da Boissano (Savona).
Le perdite finora accertate tra le popolazioni civili a seguito delle incursioni citate dai bollettini nr. 1148 e 1149 sono le seguenti: a Reggio Emilia, 6 morti e 20 feriti; a Napoli, 12 morti e 83 feriti; a Nola, 9 morti e 12 feriti; ad Afragola, 4 morti e 10 feriti; a Roccarainola, 10 morti e 10 feriti.
The Pittsburgh Press (July 19, 1943)
Americans bomb Rome in 2-hour daylight raid
Waves of planes hit rail yards 4 miles from Vatican City
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer
Bulletin
London, England –
The Vatican radio said tonight that Pope Pius visited the bombed districts of Rome.
Allied HQ, North Africa –
An All-American fleet of Flying Fortresses, Liberators, medium bombers and fighters raided Rome for the first time in history today, concentrating on railway and aviation facilities of the ancient city.
Promptly at 11:13 a.m. Rome Time (5:13 a.m. ET), the first wave of Flying Fortresses blasted the San Lorenzo marshaling yards – a big railroad switch yards where trains are made up – four miles from Vatican City, inaugurating the precision bombing by daylight of the Italian capital.
The raid lasted two and a half hours.
They were followed in by wave after wave of raiders in a 100% American show.
Teamed with the four-motored Boeing B-17s of the Northwest African Air Force were Liberator bombers of the Middle East Command, as well as Lt. Gen. Carl A. Spaatz’s Marauder and Mitchell medium bombers and Lighting fighters.
The long-planned and carefully executed raid on Rome was aimed exclusively at military targets. It was carried out by select crews, many of the man familiar with Rome at first hand, schooled to hit thew target and see that no explosions touched the Vatican or other non-military objectives.
All the targets were at least four miles from Vatican City, it was announced officially. The nearest was the San Lorenzo marshalling yards.
Forty-five minutes after the first wave of Forts hit the San Lorenzo yards, another fleet swept over.
Just as the big Boeings completed their assault on the yards, the first Liberators began bombing the Littorio marshalling yards.
They were followed in immediately by large formations of Marauders and Mitchells, escorted by Lightnings, which bombed the Ciampino Airdrome.
The Fortresses of the Northwest African Air Force flew unescorted to send the first bomb crashing on Rome, headquarters of the Fascist Party and prime military target despite all its historic shrines.
The utmost precautions were taken days in advance to “brief” the bomber crews with detailed maps so military targets
Various cultural, religious and historical monuments were circled in red on the maps. Four hospitals were marked with red crosses. These specified places were marked in large letters, “Must Not Be Bombed.”
U.S. raiders carefully avoid Vatican, Washington says
By Reuel S. Moore, United Press staff writer
Washington –
Allied medium and heavy bombers, carefully avoiding the Vatican, today bombed military objectives in the ancient city of Rome.
The action was announced in an extraordinary communiqué issued by the War Department at 5:30 a.m. It made good the threats of Allied leaders, especially Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain, that the Allies would bomb Rome in retaliation for the bombing of London.
Thousands of tons of bombs have been dropped on Berlin, the capital of Italy’s Axis partner. Tokyo has been bombed once by American airmen.
It was believed here that the raid on Rome probably occurred when troop trains were being made ready for departure to Sicily where great Allied armies are driving relentlessly toward the Italian mainland.
Prior to the raid, which was carried out by the Mediterranean Air Command, Allied planes dropped warning leaflets addressed to “the citizens of Rome.” They advised the Italians that the only objectives of the Allied airmen were military objectives, war industries, military installations and airdromes.
But the leaflets warned the people that their Fascist government “will say that we are trying to destroy cultural monuments which are the joy, not only of Rome, but of the civilized world.” They also warned that “to lend plausibility to their living statement,” the Italian government or its German accomplices might arrange to bomb Rome, “or even Vatican City.”
The Allies admitted that it was impossible to avoid destruction of civil buildings entirely, but that such destruction would be limited to a minimum and that the raid was occurring in the daytime so that the people could see for themselves whether the statement was true.
There has been speculation for many months whether Rome, which surrounds the historic seat of the Pope and the Catholic Church, and the age-old capital of Roman emperors, would be bombed by the Allies. But in recent weeks, there have been increasing signs that failing an Italian capitulation, it would suffer the same fate as Berlin.
A week ago last Saturday, after the Allied invasion of Sicily, President Roosevelt promised Pope Pius XII that during the invasion of Italy churches and religious institutions would “be spared the devastations of war” and that the neutral status of Vatican City, as well as of papal domains “throughout Italy” would be respected.
Last Sunday, Allied airplanes dropped millions of leaflets over Rome urging the Italians to abandon their Fascist leaders. The implication then was that the planes which dropped the leaflets could return with blockbusters.
Today Allied planes returned with both – bombs for the military objectives and leaflets for the civilian population.
The marshalling yard which was the objective was said to have been near government buildings and presumably some of them were targets of the mission.
It was believed that the bombing occurred at the same time that the communiqué was released to the press here, which would be about noon in Rome. That precaution was taken to offset any prior Axis claims that religious or cultural edifices were targets.
The Royal Air Force has previously engaged in minor raids in the suburbs of Rome, but no Allied planes heretofore have set out with Rome proper as the objective.
There was no indication of the size of the raid, but it was probably only a fraction of the size of the force of 500 bombers that attacked the port of Naples over the weekend in the largest aerial attack to date in the Italian war theater.
The assumption here was that the raid on Rome was as much for the psychological effect upon the Italian people as for the destruction of military objectives. It is hoped here that the morale of the Italians, already believed near the crumbling point, will collapse under the stress of incessant aerial poundings.
The bombing of Rome is expected to have an especially devastating effect on the Italian people who always have looked upon it as the seat of their religion, culture and glorious past history.
The Allies, in their propaganda campaign, have repeatedly stressed the great cultural heritage of the Italian people and have offered them a chance for “honorable capitulation” if they will abandon the leaders who have betrayed them.
The virtual ultimatum of the Allies is “Die for Mussolini and Italy – or live for Italy, and for civilization.”
The text of the communiqué announcing the Rome raid:
Military objectives in Rome and its vicinity have been bombed today by heavy bombers and medium bombers of the Mediterranean Air Command. The marshalling yard was the principal target. It is of greatest importance to the Axis war effort and in particular for the movement of German troops. Leaflets were also dropped over the city prior to the raid. Pilots and bombardiers employed on this mission were particularly instructed to avoid damaging religious and cultural monuments.
The leaflets dropped on Rome prior to the raid said:
To the citizens of Rome:
You have already been warned that military objectives in the vicinity of Rome are liable to be bombed by the Allied air force.
When this occurs the Fascist Government, who consistently conceal news about the war, will say that we are trying to destroy cultural monuments which are the glory not only of Rome, but of the civilized world.
It is possible, moreover, that in order to lend plausibility to their lying statement, the Fascist government or their German associates will themselves arrange that bombs should be dropped on the center of Rome, or even on Vatican City.
We leave it to your intelligence to decide whether or not we should waste our efforts on targets whose destruction is useless for our aims.
We have declared, and we repeat, that we shall be aiming at military objectives, war industries, military installations and airdromes, all of which work entirely in the interests of the Germans. These targets have been carefully chosen, and our pilots have been especially trained in precision bombing.
It is impossible, however, when bombing military objectives entirely to avoid destruction of civil buildings. It is our intention to limit these destructions to a minimum. Our raid will take place during the day so you will be able to see for yourself whether our statement is true.
YANKS SEIZE SICILIAN JUNCTION
Duce’s troops begin to quit under attack
Great battle rages near Catania; Canadians also seize town
By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer
Allied HQ, North Africa –
Allied armies swept forward behind shattering air and naval bombardments in Sicily today and Army reports indicated that Italian forces were beginning to crack up all over the island except outside the east coast city of Catania where a big battle was raging.
On the main military fronts:
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The Americans captured Caltanissetta, junction town in central Sicily while Canadians took Piazza Armerina. This American-Canadian pincer drive carried to within 10 miles of Enna, main Axis base in mid-Sicily.
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The British and Canadians were hammering at the enemy within about three miles of Catania.
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The Americans shoved forward in the west in a flanking operation intended to split and turn the enemy line.
Axis forces squeezed
The swift Allied advances were squeezing the Axis forces back into northeastern Sicily. At some points, the Americans were less than 50 miles from the north coast of Sicily, where they could cut the main communications lines from Messina to Palermo. The capture of Enna, in the middle of the island, would virtually cut the Axis defenses in half.
So rapid was the Allied advance in some sectors that the Canadians gained 20 miles in a day and Italian units were reported surrendering en masse. At least one German officer was shot when he attempted to prevent surrender to the Americans.
With more than one-third of Sicily in Allied hands and the vital Gerbini Air Base threatened, the Axis military situation appeared to be deteriorating rapidly except on the east coast road leading to Messina.
Italians pull punches
The Italians were showing their sympathy with the Allies by destroying Fascist symbols and pictures of Mussolini and pulling their punches on the military front despite Germans units scattered among them. The lineup of Axis forces in battle was based on having Italians troops in the center of each battle sector, with Germans on both flanks. Nevertheless, there have been many cases where the Italians surrendered and left the Germans on the flanks in a hopeless situation.
The British 8th Army under Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery battered its way through the strongest opposition, including Hermann Göring tank units, in the Catania plain.
The 8th Army, aided by paratroops which landed behind the enemy lines to seize key bridges, crossed the Gornalunga River and strengthened its bridgehead on the Dittaino River. Then the British seized the estuary formed by these two rivers and the Simeto River on the east coast, just south of Catania. One river had to be crossed twice because of its curving course.
City of Catania burning
Many German and Italian dead were left on the battlefields en route to Catania, which was burning after repeated air and naval bombardment. Allied planes and warships also ranged northward toward Messina smashing hard at enemy communications.
On the central front, Americans stormed into Caltanissetta, seizing the main axis communications to the west.
The American operations, thrusting northward at a point about 55 miles west of Catania, appeared to be threatening the enemy’s entire right flank in a splitting and turning movement.
Battle near Catania
Although there were reports that the Allied forces were actually in the outskirts of Catania, exact positions were unavailable in official sources and it were merely indicated that the battle was raging around and close to the city.
The number of prisoners was mounting rapidly and estimated at 35,000, including about 23,000 taken by Americans.
The London Daily Mail reported from Allied headquarters in North Africa that British tanks had entered the outskirts of Catania and were engaging Germans still fighting stubbornly to suburban streets and houses.
A London Daily Express dispatch, also datelined Allied headquarters, said that one British column had bypassed Catania and sped northwestward toward Paternò.
Front reports yesterday said that Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery’s veteran British 8th Army had seized the important Primosole Bridge only seven miles south of Catania and today’s operational communiqué reported that “progress has continued in the fact of strong resistance.”
Paratroops make stand
The Primosole Bridge, which spans three rivers near the point where they empty into the Ionian Sea, first was taken by British paratroops who held it until their ammunition gave out, two hours later, the main body of the 8th Army arrived to take up the fight.
Catania, Sicily’s second largest city, was in flames from repeated air raids, the latest by U.S. medium bombers Saturday night, and naval bombardments. It lies in the shadow of Mt. Etna and only 58 miles to the north is the important port of Messina, two miles across Messina Strait from the Italian mainland.
Threaten to split island
The U.S. 7th Army, to the west, was fanning out rapidly from newly-captured Agrigento and the nearby south coast port of Porto Empedocle. One column struck westward along the coast and another headed northward.
One report placed the Americans eight miles north of Agrigento. Thirty-five miles to east, another American column beat off an Axis counterattack south of the Barrafranca area.
Allied air fleets continued to pound enemy concentrations and communications in Sicily and other aircraft swept across to the Italian mainland to bomb the Monte Corvino and Pomigliano Airfields near Naples.
Axis troop planes downed
Eighteen enemy planes were shot down in the 24-hour period ended last night, including an entire formation of 15 Junkers troop transports, which were also favorite targets for Allied fighters during the Tunisian campaign, over the Tyrrhenian Sea between Sicily and the Italian mainland. Only four Allied planes were lost.
Monte Corvino, eight miles east of Salerno, and Pomigliano, eight miles northeast of Naples, were bombed Saturday night and bursts were observed across the runways and on airdrome buildings. Intruder aircraft from the Northwest African Air forces also attacked other airfields in Italy, but these were not identified.
Planes attack Greece
Medium bombers yesterday delivered a heavy raid on the focal communications point of Randazzo, near the foot of the north slope of Mt. Etna.
The North African Air Forces scored another impressive victory by shooting down 15 German Ju 52 transport planes between Sardinia and Ustica, a small island above Sicily.
Lockheed P-38 Lightnings spotted the transports Sunday and the ensuing fight gave the Allies their biggest bag of Axis transports since Easter Sunday when 50 were destroyed off the Cap Bon Peninsula.
Short on transportation
The use of aerial transports was taken as a tipoff that the Axis is short on transportation and trying urgently to rush vital supplies to Sicily.
RAF Halifax and Liberator bombers from the Middle East Command joined in the Saturday night offensive with an attack on railroad and port facilities at Reggio Calabria, across Messina Strait from Sicily. Bomb bursts were seen on railway sidings and munitions sheds and several small fires were left burning.
Beaufighters, also from the Middle East Command, carried out an offensive sweep against shipping in the Ionian Sea and scored hits on a two-masted schooner off the west coast of Greece. A train in western Greece was also attacked. All planes returned safely.