Mediterranean Algiers Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1943, Algiers, Algiers                                Page to the 51 aks and by uru it Halx saturday july 24, 1942 invaders welcomed by Sicily civilians Axis graveyard reception of allies indicates failure of Duce s policy Allied Force Headquarters As Allied invasion forces fanned out through the greater part of Sicily this week it became More and More evident that the italian civilian was a fascist Only under pressure. Reports from Sicily showed that the average civilian was so Little in love with the fascist regime that he not Only skipped the last ditch stand ordered by Rome and Berlin but he actually welcomed the invaders As liberators. Everywhere the conquering allies found friends in a country where they were keyed for a possible hostile reception. It was a Happy augury for future operations on the continent of Europe. The smiles with which the americans were greeted by the life Loving sicilians testified to the bitter failure of Mussolini a decade Long Campaign to change America from Beauty to beast in the italian mind. The War weary sicilians had not forgotten that America is the land of Opportunity where Many former islanders found peace and wealth. Yanks welcomed the american soldiers in Sicily came across Many sicilians who had lived in the United states and knew intimately such places As Brooklyn Pittsburgh and Chicago. Many had relatives in the states a relatives who wrote to them and had even until the War started sent Money Back. The sicilian Farmer who tilled the reluctant Island soil Only to have his Harvest seized by the state also Hung out the a a Welcome sign. Surely the head men in Rome and Berlin rested less easily As they heard themselves condemned for the misery and want of Sicily while the men they had denounced As a capitalists and murderers were welcomed with open arms. Pvt. Joseph of Palanco of Berkley Heights n. J., summed up his reception in Sicily in the following words three years earlier because the fascists have starved  a joint statement by the rap and the aah issued on wednesday confirmed the expressions of individual observers and soldiers. The statement said that italian civilians booed German prisoners being marched to the rear and blamed their gloomy teutonic collaborators for the War and its ills. During the Campaign Allied soldiers frequently had to requisition farm animals to carry supplies to Points which motorized equipment could not reach. The sicilians turned their animals Over willingly in some cases helping the americans to Load the equipment. Willingness to cooperate with civilian control set up in the Wake of the advancing Allied armies was also regarded As proof that the people were anxious to renounce Rome and Berlin. Farmers and townspeople quickly obeyed regulations requiring them to turn Over firearms to Allied stations. Civil police helped the Allied military officials restore order after the fighting had passed by. German prisoners were loud in their complaints that the native population certainly did not hinder the advancing allies. There were also Many reports of civilians helping Allied soldiers escape Atter capture by the nazis and fascists. American soldiers reported seeing evidence of fascist propaganda everywhere. Ii Duce a likeness and Sabre rattling mottos were stencilled on Walls and in Many cases the people greeted the american and British troops with fascist salutes the Only one they knew. But the week produced still stronger evidence despite a decade of indoctrination that All of the people can to be fooled All of the time and that a majority of sicilians weren t even fooled half the time. The shattered Corpse of an italian bomber lies Ai cot Niso Airfield Sicily now a graveyard of Axis planes and wrecked hangars. A a photo by British film unit allies hold upper hand in South Pacific fighting trapped japs defend Munda against air ground assaults War department lauds 7th army allies shift continued from Page i Waquiv rom r enemy fighter opposition Over both Washington the War de Italy and by yesterday How part mint is extremely pleased with the performance of the 7th army in Sicily acting Secretary of War Robert p Patterson told his pres conference Here. He pointed out that the Only unit of the army with extensive combat Exigence was the 1st division. The allies have a ten to one ratio in air superiority in Sicily Patterson estimated. Our planes Are flying from several Fields in the Southern part of the Island while the Axis forces had Only two or three Fields left he added. Remarking that the United states has already been in this Ever p-40�?Ts on a sweep Over Sardinia ran into the first real Force of Axis fighters seen this week and shot Down 17 of the 25 attacking planes. Saaf b-17 flying forts made a heavy attack on tile Railroad Yards of Foggia vital transportation con or on the Southwest coast of the Island. Hits were scored on an Industrial Plant a Grain silo and nearby Barracks. A tremendous explosion in the Center of the Yard was seen and Felt by fortress Crews. Quot they re damned glad we re Here and they say we should have come a Long time ago. They told me that the germans took a la the food while the americans gave food to them. The people Are helpful to the boys. The Barbers Are giving us free shaves the women meet us with wine and water. They say they even like the american  pfc. Roy a. Izzo of Providence h. I., who came in with the first wave had much the same comment a they re tickled to death we re Here they be been hoping for this Lor a Long time a he said. Quot the sicilians said we should have come germans in Russia form anti nazi unit with 24 enemy planes to its War longer than it participated in z Jit Dye the had world War i the Active Secretary a Lara est of the week Purine warned that a heavier total of Cas 1 in course Lle Day s fighting Moscow the formation of an anti nazi German National committee was announced this week in the communist party newspaper pravda. Dedicated to the overthrow of Hitler ism and the establishment of a democratic regime in Germany the committee represents German War prisoners political refugees labor leaders and intellectuals. Its president is Erich Weinert famous German poet. The committee has issued a manifesto calling upon German soldiers to Mutiny and go Home. The declaration further appealed to German workers to sabotage German War Industry and demand immediate peace. The German people were warned that the Allied coalition will not consider peace with Hitler and will destroy Germany unless the germans overthrow the nazi government and sue for peace. Unities must be expected men wounded other than mortally injured Are fewer in number so far in this War than in world War i. Since ?941, 17.724 men have been wounded compared with 193 663 wounded in Isi and 1918 however the United states has lost More men As prisoners of War in the second world w a. U s. Military personnel captured by the enemy to Date total 18,192. Only 4.416 were taken prisoner in world War i. Patterson said. War loan drive Washington the third War loan drive starting sept. 9 will have 15 billion As its goal the largest sum Ever set for any financing program in world history. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau jr., announced. He said commercial Banks will not participate in the loan which will be financed entirely by individuals corporations insurance companies lots returned with reports of Little and other no banking sources. Activity behind enemy lines. Ays fighting six Allied planes failed to return to their bases. Intent on crippling Italy a transportation system the allies sent out b-25 Mitchells to plaster the Railroad Yards at Battipaglia important Southern link in Italy a West coast transportation scheme. All week Long Allied bombers continued to Hammer at the port and airports of Naples. Last weekend More than 500 aircraft of the Mediterranean air forces bombed the docks Railroad Yards nearby airfields and the City a Industrial areas. While the bombers shifted the weight of their offensive to Italy fighters and fighter bombers of the Naaf swept Over Sicily and Sardinia. Virtually unmolested they harassed enemy troop concentrations and lines of communication strafing towns roads and railways on both islands. As the week Drew to a close the Tempo of their attack decreased appreciably Aspi Washington the entire Pacific front during the past week blazed with offensive action highlighted by news of american forces creeping closer and closer to the scarred Jap bastion of Munda in new Georgia Island. Both sides fought desperately for the Muddy Southwest Pacific stronghold the allies to forge a ring of steel around the defenders the japanese in an attempt to reinforce and Supply the Garrison. By the end of the week it was obvious that the allies held the upper hand. American ground forces beating off counter attacks had pressed into the outer japanese defences. From the air death and destruction rained Down on the base from a ceaseless Parade of Allied aircraft. Japanese attempts land reinforcements resulted in disaster. In the Mast decisive action of the week Allied bombers Sank an enemy Cruiser and two destroyers probably Sank a third and damaged a destroyer and transport out of a Force of la ships heading for Vila to relieve the Munda Garrison. Futile attempts Allied Headquarters pointed out that other attempts to Aid the beleaguered japanese failure held the Promise of still greater disaster. I predicting that the Garrison faced j a slow but constant deterioration. Far to the North of the Solomon Island theater american aircraft launched the first attack on japanese territory proper since tile raid on Tokyo. A formation of american heavy bombers hit the important japanese naval base of Par Moshiri in the Kuril islands. The bombers coming from the newly won american bases in the aleutians caught the enemy by Surprise and caused fires and damage to shipping. The Par Moshiri base is across the Strait from the Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia and is approximately 1,200 Miles Northeast of Tokyo. In another Surprise raid. Liberator bombers made a round trip of 2,400 Miles to Pound the japanese held naval base of so Rabaya in Java. Allied Headquarters said the attackers earning a Load of incendiaries and 500-Pounders, set the important Oil refinery on fire and bombed docks warehouses and railway installations. Returning Crews could still see the fires blazing 140 Miles away. Not a single Liberator was last in the action. U. S. Aircraft in China also had a Busy week. Japanese shipping and Harbor facilities near Kai Phong and a gang in Indochina Werp the main targets. Liberators bombed a floating dry Dock Bov v 1ncj a Cement Plant. Oth re a based planes struck at enemy installations in Burma and the Hankow area. Mayor asks Italy to oust fascists London mayor f. H. La Guardia of new York City today called on the italian people to shake off their fascist government and German allies to prevent further destruction of italian cities and killing of italian people. The fiery Little mayor in a prepared statement said Quot while Mussolini is in control of Italy we will have to continue to attack until he is completely Defeated. For the italian people therefore the necessity is. To free itself from the fascist government. A italian soldiers refuse to go to the russian front while Hitler is preparing to abandon Italy. Italian soldiers Why continue the destruction of italian cities Wien there is so much work ahead of you in rebuilding a new Talv a la Guardia. Of italian origin commanded the 8th Centre aviation school and american flying Force on the italian front during uie last War