Oran Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 19, 1943, Oran, Oran                               Voc 1 no. 56 monday Only 19, u. S. Army newspaper one franc mighty air blows Rock Naples Are heaviest Force yet from Africa strikes at Italy a Jed Force Headquarters july 19�? with trip Hammer blows set to the terrific Tempo of the Allied Advance on land american and British air Power shifted the weight of their offensive from Sicily to the italian Mainland Over the weekend. Naples focal Point tor shipping railways and Quot manufacture in Southern Italy was blasted yesterday by the greatest combined air assault Ever launched on the aids from Africa. More than 500 aircraft of the Northwest african air forces and the United states army 9th air Force in the Middle East bombed the docks Railroad Yards nearby airfields and the City a Industrial area in Waves. The toll of Axis aircraft Over the weekend was 33. Sixteen Allied planes failed to return to their bases. The attack on Naples began in the Early morning darkness with Raf wellingtons dropping 4.000-Pound Block blisters. They were followed by flying fortresses which made the first Daylight assault. When the forts left the target area b-25 Mitchells and b-26 marauders moved in and paved the Way for another formation of fortresses and b-24 liberators from the Middle East command. The raid lasted an hour and a half and was described by returning Crew members As one of the most punishing attacks Ever made by the Northwest african air forces. Fierce anti aircraft resistance met the first wave but there was no fighter opposition until the medium bomber came Over the target. The bombers were escorted by Saaf p-38 lightnings which shot Down several enemy interceptors. As wave after wave shuttled in Over the target and dropped their bombs Crews observed two tremendous explosions one from the Royal Arenal which was hit earlier on wednesday s raid on Naples and another from an ammunition train. Smoke Rose 12,000 feet in the air As the Railroad Yards were pulverized b-26 pilots reported that they Felt the Impact of the explosion at their bombing level. A sgt. Owen p. Griffiths of Walnutport pa., said Quot it was just a Holiday. We zoomed Over smacked the Railroad Yards and blew them sky High thumbed our noses at a few enemy fighters who kept a mile away and came Home. I could see smoke and fire from 60 Miles  As British and Canadian forces pressed on towards Catania b-25 Mitchells blasted the City. Second it. Robert c. Sellergren of Oak Park i gave a graphic description of the land sea and air attack. A to the South we could see steady flashes of artillery. We dropped our bombs right on the Center of our target. There was Little flak surprisingly enough. There was not a single Searchlight. Incendiaries started at least five  in the Only other important raid of the Day b-25 s hit the town of Paterno in Advance of ground forces. Just West of Catania this town is a focal Point for supplies and troops. Bombs burst in the Railroad Yards Supply dumps and troop  visits King George at Palace Lon Don july 18 King George i has receive a a. 8. Secretary of War Henry l. Stimson at Buckingham Palace it was announced today. It. Stimson is in London for a series of important conferences which observers have linked with Allied offensive plans. Tail gunner gets foe before crash a Jed Force Headquarters july 18�?how the Tail gunner of a stricken b-25 marauder kept firing at a an enemy plane and shot it Down before his own plane crashed and exploded was told today by a sgt. Joseph h. James or. Of Greenville. S. C. A fhe action occurred on. July 12 pm a raid Over one of the satellite Aird Romes of Zerbini Quot i saw a b�26 in distress with its right in it Gine in fire and its bomb Bay blazing Quot said sgt James. Quot it was headed toward the ground with a Macchi 202 on its Tail. I watched it All the Way Down and saw the Tail guns firing furiously to the last. The b-26 crashed with a terrific explosion and the Macchi went Down in about the same place. That Tail gunner surely accounted for one enemy aircraft before he  by sgt George Horsey Allied Force Headquarters july 18�?Gen. Sir Harold r. L. G. Alexander Deputy Allied commander in chief has been appointed by Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower to the military governorship of occupied territory in sic offensive russians Advance forty Miles Ity and the adjacent Iran an islands. It was announced Here today. Immediately following die yanks near Munda base Jap stronghold is surrounded Eylie prisoners1 show resentment for nazis Porto empedocle also foils to. American army task Force commanders As the task Force moves Forward Allied Force Headquarters becomes the direct authority Over am got. An Allied Foice spokesman indicated Here today that the military government would uphold Freedom of religion Ard within limits of Militan necessity Freedom of press and speech apr Proba by y the and mini e t ration s ointment Gen. Alexander issued Post complicated jobs a be to a proclamation suspending the Budvets. Establish currency Powers of the own of Italy and values interpret International Law. Dissolving the fascist party in his supervise medical measures and i proclamation he assured the ital famine Relief the officers Ian people that property and per Del also direct police and prison Sonal rights would be respected systems control wage and Lood that they had Little to fear if thy prices supervise utilities and take London july 18�?russia�?Ts pow obeyed his rules and regulations Over abandoned proper to. They Erful counteroffensive was pounding but that every measure would be Al a administer the property at the approaches to Orel last taken to curb acts hostile to Allied taken from persons no Are Citi by a sgt George m. Hack pm Allied Force Headquarters july 18�? the symbolic v of the Allied forces on a inv lengthened considerably Quot yesterday when it was announced Here in is afternoon that american troops had captured the important uth West Zens of Allied nations and from jews or others unpopular with the fascists. Night As the German High com troops. Mand poured tanks infantry and simultaneously it was disclosed planes into a fierce attempt to de that an Allied military  their Central front Strong Tion is operating in Sicily. Known hold the so Iet communique an As Amgott standing for Allied Mali bounced. Tary government of occupied tar Only 15 Miles from the City and i tory this administration is staff driving from the North East and de equally by american and Brit South the red army had Quot com i amp a officers and functions under Petely regained the positions held Gen. Alexander before july 5&Quot when the German argot officers largely recruited summer offensive began it was re among civilian government experts ported. It was evident that the have been training in a secluded. Germans would not give up the mile High Mountain Camp in North City without a tremendous struggle. Africa against the Day Wrhen the the nazis launched 11 counter allies would invade enemy Terri attacks in their Effort to close the tory. This school of government mide Gap torn in their defences has been headed by Moj. Gen a a but All Mere repelled with High lord Rennell of Rodd who has Washington jul a 18_the Laviest air attacks of the South canons pointed to a  Hus pied by the British m the Middle pact Fly War were reported by a1 t 1 Easi Jed  chief lied Eoutz Pacific Headquarters Tinave far past Oref has been . Frans j me a with Jap potions at a marshal Joseph Stalin Vised Sherry formerly with the u. S. Munda in new or Orrin i inn in his troops and planned the often War department in . A be of Mon to a  Sive on the Orel sector a Ait week the administration was Stab pasting from Allied planes and before they began their big push listed to relieve operational troops seven japanese warships being Moscow repealed. The Trust from of the Job of  the temp sunk in the Solomons area under the North is threatening the Imper tones they conquered. A ingots offi the bombs of a 200-plane Allied Tant Orel Bryansk Railroad while cers were sent to task forces and Armada. The column driving toward Ore sub task forces. Some went Oner to a to a ,v from the South has already Cut the Sicily on d Dav a Hile others Fol circled Mund Murf his inn railway from kursk. Lowed in Short order. Their first a Ember and dauntless bom hours the opening of. The at Tob was to operate civil  82 ton of bombs on the continued on Page a rations and utilities under the japanese lines the of Dean.  out Strong enemy defences is pc relieved to have held up the Advance. Also the marines have encountered difficulties with the Jungle. In one Section the going Mas so difficult it took five Days for an unopposed March of 13 Miles. Jungle swamps Mere penetrated which thi japs considered absolutely impassable. This Penetra advanced Allied head gushed visitor who just returned Tion enabled the marines to wipe quarters july 18�?italian for from a 60-mile motor trip throughput the Nogai Garrison and Cut Ces captured in Sicily reportedly areas captured by to 8th army coff Munda from the possibility of showed great resentment at the said that All along the Ruad peas Relief from the North. Nazi v technique of using them As ants working in the Fields gave in the attacks on Jap shipping the Goat. Him the a a a sign Normal econ ranging Over the Solomon area prisoners on the american 7th Omic and social life has been re generally 200 Allied planes were army front complained bitterly sued in the towns while in the involved and a big air Batte de that the germans had put them villages the peasants welcomed our eloped in which 49 enemy fight in front to defend the coast and troops with gifts of wine and ers Wens shot Down at a Cost of Only then set up a mine Field in the cheese. Cd amp to Linurd on to age Ltd rear to i event them from Retreat following the severe rationing a Quot ing. The germans never told even of All i materials in Sicily the civil the higher italian officers where ians were said to be delighted Mith Squaw pc to the gaps were a the mine Field the allies who took away nothing w in Cruz italian commanders revealed they and were already beginning to a a amp to Csc pac8 suffered great losses in personnel move in supplies for civilian use. A nil a vat and equipment during their re most of the communication fac Atlantic City if a Man at treat. A Fleties in captured areas  this Center of army air forces the nazis were said to be Dis Letey intact and were Beng rap. Training command believes that appointed at being surrounded by idly brought into operation. Re he is a Square Peg in a round Hole a sea of italians who were not put treating italian troops conducted he can let the head Man know Ting up much of a fight. One of almost no demolition and Little about it without knowledge of his Erver related the italian attitude trouble was anticipated in getting immediate Superior officers was Best expressed by italian Cav Normal facilities in Good running form postcards addressed to airy officers who Rode about on order. Airports and harbours were commanding general of this Dis Fine horses with elaborate trap in excellent condition. This was of Crit Are available to All personnel pings and surrendered not until not entirely due to Chance or the. The Square Peg often writes in singly to american infantrymen negligence or Good will of the ital three choices of duty a believes in the occupied territory the ians in Many cases it was due to himself Best fitted for signs his allies were receiving a glad Wel the Swift work of our air borne name sends off his card and Hopes come from the civilians. A Distin and Parachute troops. For the Best. Pm town of Agrigento  hat on the Eastern Side of the Isle a. The British 8th army with the help of British a Irb ome troops or i surged to within seven Miles a i Catania after a Senes of severe clashes with Strong elements of German troops Porto empedocle. A Vita j commercial port and the largest italian naval base on the Southern Side of the Island also fell to the advancing forces of the america1&Quot 7th amry. Porto empedocle to Only a few Miles South of Agria into. In the last 24 hours the Allied Advance has continued in every front. Approximately one third of the Island to now in Allied hands. The City of Agrigento is of extreme strategical importance. It has a population of 27.785 and is one of the important centers of North South communications on the Island. Stubborn resistance in the Catania sector the germans tried desperately a it the bottleneck at Lentini. Thev put up a fierce1, stubborn resist Nee As they attempted to Block the Way to the Plains of Catania but British eighth army units broke through and forced hitlers Cra k g coring troops.1 to1 withdraw to Whin the shadows of Catania. British reinforcements have been moving up steadily from Augusta and a major action is imminent for the cite of. Catania and the Aird Romes of Bernini. As Gen  forces press northward they Are preceded by a Strong Allied Nava Force Quot which has Toen the East coast of Sicily one of the most so i veined bombardments in naval in Story. Hundreds of shells have been poured into the italian Shore positions with the Brunt of Tom attack now brine directed at Cataro a. Meanwhile in the Centra sector Canadian troops have pushed deeper into the Island and captured Gran Michle and Calta drone in then fist major action since Landing in Sicily. Caltagirone is in important Road and railway Junction approximately forty Miles West of Syracuse. C capture came anti on the canadians left flank units of the u. A 7th army have been making excellent Progress As they push North and have inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Advance american troops have Cap tred the key town of Canto Atti and have penetrated 45 Kilometres Inland. This is the farther est Inland Advance that general Patton a to roofs have made thus far there has been no a it coached Earth policy in Sicily. Few reads Bridges or other communications have been destroyed and a reps Are untouched. All fascist officials reports an american Corr soon Dent. Took flight when the allies landed. Total ads strength has not been numerically revealed. Some indication is Given by the fact that the american forces alone include three infantry divisions one moored and one airborne division. A Good percentage of the germans in Sci Are supposed to be expert ack ack gunners