Mediterranean Algiers Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1943, Algiers, Algiers                                Thi vol. La no. 33, saturday july . Army newspaper two France Palermo taken As americans Cut across Island to North coast move isolates Axis forces in Western of nazi offensive on Eastern front becomes Retreat red army pounding at Orel key enemy defense base the great German offensive on the russian front went into reverse gear this week. Not Only had the drive launched Early this month by the vaunted wehrmacht been stopped dead but the red army was sweeping Forward in a powerful counter attack that threw the germans Back beyond their starting positions. By the week s end soviet forces were pounding at the Gates of Orel key nazi bastion on the Central front. The fury of the russian drive marked a critical Point in the Battle of Eastern Europe. A break through at Orel would threaten the German held cities of Smolensk and Kharkov on which tile entire nazi defense line in the East rests. But much More significant than Mere territorial gains or losses was this testimony that the Power of the wehrmacht was definitely on the Wane. Always in the past a carefully prepared and seriously launched German offensive had netted at least big Early gains. This time the drive was held almost from the beginning. For two years the germans had fortified and strengthened Orel against this very Battle. They were sure they could hold it against the Best opposition the red army could offer. Now Orel is tottering and the germans done to have an equally Strong fortress or natural defense for at least 200 Miles. Kharkov is about 200 Miles due South and already threatened by a russian salient extending West i rom Belgorod. Smolensk is the same distance to the Northwest and likewise imperilled by the russian line at Velikie Luki to the bal Afef f youth at play part Sicily these two German youngsters playing at the grim game of War in the front of their Home at Stuttgart Germany already Are being folded to become Model members of hitlers youth. This photograph was found by stars and stripes photographers sgt. Phil Stern in a portfolio belonging to Obe lieutenant Rudolph Brenner of Stuttgart. The portfolio containing the snapshot of his children had been left behind by the Nasi officer who pulled out in a hurry when the allies invaded Sicily. Continued on Page 2 sicilians dislike la Duce s fascism with the american troops in Sicily you can to Tell us that these sicilians want to fight. Not us not now. Not when their kids scrounge our garbage cans for food scraps not when their women line up along the streets laughing and cheering As our troops March through their rubbed town not when their soldiers Parade up in hundreds Hunting for somebody to surrender to. In any one of tile Many towns we be captured you can see these sicilians walking around with civilian clothes and army boots and you know that maybe a few Days ago these Guys had guns in thir hands waiting to shoot you. But maybe they saw too Many of our planes dropping too Many bombs so they just dropped their guns. Went Home changed clothes and went Back to work. If it were not for the few German divisions threatening them from the rear and for the fascist officers who see nothing but death in an Allied Victory this show would have been Over in a week As it is it May take a Little longer these people have nothing to fight and die for. They hate mus continued on Page 2j allies shift Aerial offensive to Italy by a sgt. George m. Hakim stars and str a a a. Staff writer to Sli if a  Mae 10 rail re 1 cards factories term it july 23 Allied air Power and an Ai drome outside the City. Cast an ominous Shadow Over the italian Mainland this past week As american and British bombers highlighted the weeks Aerial activity with mass raids on the Imperial City of Rome and the important port of Naples. Photo reconnaissance revealed that the attack on the italian capital which was carried out by one of the largest armadas of planes Ever to leave North Africa was highly successful. The Northwest african air forces coordinated with the 9th . Air Force confined All their bombs to tile target area and inflicted severe airborne troops held enemy for two Days London july 23�?the work done by . Airborne troops in the initial invasion of Sicily advanced Allied Progress by a week reporters were told today by maj. Gen. To. Ceph m swing coordinator of plans i dec bombers also carried their for airborne Trottis who left the a acs a portent Taconelli 1 steel Plant and a Large chemical Hea y damage was done to the san Lorenzo re urls where trafic w mocked. Direct hits were scored on b the round oust rolling Stock aria other Railroad installations. The Yard is an important servicing and repair Center for rail facilities. Highly electrified it is on the Belt line joining with the two main lines from Florence and Naples and on the coastal line from Genoa. The Littorio marshalling Vard four Miles to the North of Rome was hit at least 50 times and was 50 percent blocked to traffic. Through this important rail Center passes the bulk of All freight traffic from the Industrial areas of Northern Italy to Rome Naples and the Southwest coast. Both marshalling Yards Are of vital military importance to the Axis War strategy. They bottleneck All rail passenger and freight traffic in the Southern italian Peninsula. Allied bombers also carried their by sgt. George Dorsey stars and stripes staff writer Allied Force Headquarters july 23 a Advance elements of the american 7th army occupied Palermo Sicily a largest City yesterday at 1000 hours according to a special announce ment made her today. In View of the rapidity of its fall Palermo could not have been seriously defended but there were no details of the Northern coastal City a capitulation in the first reports. A general statement was made Here however which revealed that the rapidly advancing american troops met Little resistance As they swept North toward their objective. A a poorly equipped italians showed Little desire to impede the american Advance a the special announcement read. The Quick break through to the Northern coast of Sicily was the Climax of a Campaign barely two a t week old. La Thole 14 Days the Palermo a City of lore. Lemons and Good docks with the fall of Palermo the Axis has last the largest City in Sicily and the allies have captured their most important prize to Date. Palermo has a Normal population of 301,166, but during the last several months especially since the heavy bombings began there has been quite an exodus from Sicily and especially from such important targets As Palermo. Heading th6.se migrations were the  who began to grow uneasy As time passed and sought Refuge in the comparative safety of the Wain land. The port of Palermo has an important shipbuilding Yard and dry Dock and ranks next to Genoa Maples and Trieste As one of Italy a Best ports. One of the Island s finest Aird Romes is just outside the City. It had a reputation for throwing up More flak than any other Airfield on the Island. The original City was built on a Tongue of land Between two inlets of the sea. The present main Street the Cassare via a armoria or via Toledo represents the line of the ancient town with water on either Side of it. The two ancient harbours continued on Page 2 frenchmen decorate Cen. Eisenhower Island a few Days ago. The airborne troops took the works nearby. They ranged Over the Ciampino Airport outside the Brunt of the attack and held off in a to i ref Outsole whet the enemy for two Days until they of n it sevc Tal hangars and were reinforced. Gen swim sex ? re number of parked aircraft were reinforced Gen. Swing explained. He described their operations As the greatest airborne invasion Ever attempted larger in scope than the German attack on Crete. Burning. The Littorio Airport which is near the Railroad Yards was also hard hit. The air fighting of the past week was marked by a Scarcity of continued on Page 16 Algiers Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower Allied commander in chief has received Frances highest decoration the Grant Cross of the legion of Honor it was reveals Here. Among other american and British officers who received lesser awards for their part in the tunisian Campaign was it. Gen. Mark w. Clark who As Gen. Eisenhower a Deputy commander in clue helped to carry out the Allied landings in North Africa last november. _ the a Lofs established Long beachhead Brough ii Armidale modern equipment aet up air beeps and moved Forward in a continuous surge to take at least two thirds of the strategic Island. The capture of Palermo a world famous port gave the allies extensive docks and shipping accommodations that should be of great value to future operations. With its population of More than 800,000, the City is also an important Highway and rail terminus being linked to the Eastern Western and Central portions of the Island. In occupying Palermo the troops under it. Gen. George s. Patton jr., have Cut Sicily in two in a Mew which spells the doom of any enemy forces which May still attempt any resistance in the Western part of the Island. Perhaps to East what is probably More important the 7th army can be expected to turn toward the East where the formidable Axis forces have been hotly contesting the determined Advance of the British 8th army on Catania East coast stronghold. Troops now in Palermo Are Over 120 Miles from the East coast but other Allied elements Are doubtless making their Way to the East along the Northern coast. There the allies have a new approach to Messina the Northeast ferry terminus City which has from the beginning of the sicilian Campaign been acknowledged As holding the key to the islands Fate. The position of the Axis troops defending the Catania area would rapidly become untenable if Allied forces in strength began attacking Messina from the West or charged Down on the enemy flank along the Inland Road which skirts the slopes of it. Etna and ends in Catania. The occupation of Palermo a followed by 58 hours the fall of Enna the Central City from which roads Stem to Catania and to North coast Points about half Way Between Palermo and Messina. It was two weeks tomorrow that a mighty Armada landed on Sicily a Southern shores the men and material that constituted the allies first great blow to the fortress Europa that the Axis insisted could not be stormed. Now just 14 Days later american and British troops occupy at least two thirds of an italian outpost Island of 9,860 Square Miles and nearly 4,000,000 people. Most of this territory has fallen into Allied hands during the past continued on Pace ii