Oran Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 20, 1943, Oran, Oran                               Vol. 1 no. 57 tuesday jufy20, 1943 u. S. Army newspaper one franc trick along Richthofen Heads Axis air forces r a a. S. Navy fights Jap worships a two Engo Geme Washington july left Wule the Navy fought two successful actions with japanese warships trying to Rush Relief to hard pressed land Force in the Battle for the Solomons the american Forward troops in new Georgia Joe in i were attacking tire enemy positions hear the Airfield at Monda according to today a communique from Allied Southwest Pacific Headquarters. A. Hie attacking americans were and Avenger bombers which showered Down tons of explosives on Lambesis near Munda. Old tucks used the japanese were reported to be using All their old tricks As they fed Back on their Josalyn base at Llanda. At night they kept up a continual noise shouting false eiders in English calling names and blowing whistles. Concealed Foxholes were scattered along the line of their Retreat and american troops were kept Busy cleaning out unsuspected enemy nests far behind the spearhead of their Advance. In the enemy s Effort to Rush groups of destroyers through the narrow Waters of the Central Solomons toying to get Relief to his forces Allied naval units two a defeats  the fighting took place off Koto bang amp a Island. The first was against three japanese destroyers intercepted at night. A three were hit and one is believed to have been sunk. Six turned Back Zoh the second action Allied Light units turned Back six Jap destroyers hitting one with a torpedo. In both actions the Allied ships were not damaged. Torpedo and dive bombers for the second successive Day at ked enemy shipping off the Southern tip of to Gainville Island. That was where a 200-plane attack on the preceding Day resulted in the sinking of seven japanese warships. For yesterdays raid almost As Many Allied machines were used. A freighter was sunk and two destroyers and another freighter damaged. Tel teen additional Jap planes were shot Down to add to the 49 of the first Day s raid. These two attacks were the heaviest yet carried out in the South Pacific area. It was revealed in the Allied communique that several Amer valued Force Headquarters. July 19�?field marshal Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen member of the family which produced Quot the red Knight of world War i Fame Hap been placed in command of the combined German and italian air forces in Sicily Allied Force Headquarters announced today. Von Richthofen named a Etna to Fuhrer size lie about a month ago was transferred from the russian front. Allied sources pointed out that the German air expert usually appears when the Luftwaffe is in trouble. Von Richthofen a a air service dates Back to the first world War and through the Spanish civil War. In the present Quot War he has served in the polish French and Low countries campaigns. He also took part in the Blitz against England and in germans drive through the air forces Combine vital rail Center is captured by yank 7th army Allied Force Headquarters july is Bowling Over weakening enemy resistance in a Large Advance into the heart if Sicily. Agrigento is  re r cultural Sites Rich prize for remain unscathed yank troops reds repel nazi attacks soviets gain on Orel Battle front London july 19�?beating off Strong German counter attacks the soviet army made Small gains along the Orel sector and at several Points was within 10 Miles of the Central front bastion today a russian communique reported. Two weeks ago the wehrmacht pushed its summer offensive into High gear and mimed its sights eastward. Two Days later marshal von Kluge a 90 Panzer divisions had made their last Forward March and the germans have been stationary or retreating Ever since. While the russian ground Progress was slowed slightly by the inner defences of Orel the red air Force met no such obstacle and carried out heavy attacks on the City a rail Junction and on enemy Aird Romes Moscow announced. Activity around Belgorod to the South has been confined to reconnaissance As the germans and russians have pushed their heaviest forces in the Battle tor Orel strongest fort Between Smolensk and Kharkov both key cities in the German Supply line on the Eastern front. Advancing soviet units in the Orel sector damaged and destroyed 78 German tanks and 20 armoured cars and 137 enemy planes were shot Down in combat and by anti aircraft batteries it was officially announced. Three russian planes did not return to their Bas. Is. T the american 7 the army has captured Caltanissetta which commands the islands Central rail lines and highways. A it As All Allied forces moved northward the British were within three Miles of important Catania on the East coast and americans British and canadians in the Center of the front made Long advances to straighten out the whole Allied line. The taking of Caltanissetta in the heart of Sicily a Sulphur mining Industry undoubtedly presages a combined move of the 5th army group to converge on the key Central town of emm Only 12 Miles away. With Enna in their hands the allies will control the whole Island transportation system and Whf be to a favourable position to drive northward to the tyrrhenian sea and split the Island in two. Catania s approaches have seen the Only serious resistance by the enemy to the attacking Allied forces. Here the German Hermann Goering division and the italians favored by an easily defended terrain corded by Man made and natural Waterways have stubbornly opposed the drive of the British Arm on Sicily a second largest City military sources Here today revealed however that the British Are expanding Bridgehead they have obtained on the Goma Lunga Between the sea and the Point less than two Miles Inland Here three smaller streams Combine to make that River. Canadian troops have captured Piazza Armenia on the Central front 30 Miles North of the coast line where they first landed. An Allied Force Headquarters spokesman declared today it can no longer be said that italian troops As a whole have their heart in the sicilian fighting. Whole units were surrendering As the number of prisoners Token by the invaders continued on Poye 4 Allied Force Headquarters july 19�?continuing their widespread operations against the i to Han Mainland in powerful Al by James Quot a. But Harb lib Dpi or Arm reached out and lean destroyers slipped in under the very nose off the Jap Fleet to Macc 181 survivors of time Torpe toed Cruiser Helena who were marooned on a Jap held Island. In hew Guinea there was Sharp patrol fighting around bal Amaua upon which american and aus Dalian Tripps Are advancing after Ahw Unhan fascists in wild plea for sicilian resistance officer thespians wonted in Oran a series off plays and an original musical comedy Are Ucb Edued for production by a croup a off army and Navy officers stationed in and around Oran. Preparatory work Lias begun on several comedies and mysteries including the rollicking Quot Man who came to  plenty of parts Are still waiting to be cast the most urgent need is for actors writers and musicians. Anyone who has had any theatrical experience or who would like to get some is urged to Contact the group through the american red Cross officers club. Nurses Are particularly in demand As there a re Many female rotes Itil vacant _ a a the italian people yesterday seemed to be1 on the verge of choosing to live for Italy and civilisation rather than die for mus a Obird and Hitler the Choice Given by president Roosevelt and prime minister Churchill last Friday. H due a a worried government sent Carlos Scorza Secretary of the fascist party before the people in a broadcast designed to lash them into a last ditch struggle. 8 a a resist resist resist a Scorza hammered repeatedly at his listeners declaring that Italy was in greater danger than Ever before in her history. Instead of claiming As some Axis leaders have done that they were forced into the War the fascist official said Quot in this hour whener cd of us is f acing his conscience we solemnly claim the full and absolute responsibility for War. A italians must hate and fight a he told them. They must be prepared to strike Back and every italian who refused to fight to the death must suffer severe and instant punishment Scorza said in a speech that had Only one casual reference to Mussolini. But the Allied armies found the Roosevelt Churchill note was having a powerful effect on War torn Sicily. The people did not hate and were not inclined to fight the  British and canadians. Instead they greeted them with open arms in most cases and welcomed the Allied gifts of food and clothing. Organized to hasten the doom of fascism from within the Antl fascist parties recently issued a manifesto calling on italians to fight not for Germany and War but tor peace the manifesto declared that partisans should attack and sabotage the fascist machinery working under German order a stars and stripes staff writer. Agrigento Sicily july 18 delayed a the fall of Agrigento and adjoining Porto empedocle finest seaport on the South sicilian coast proved a Rich Harvest for the americans the americans counted an italian brigadier general among the 5,000 prisoners taken when the town of 28,000 population fell. Four battalions of big guns also fell into american hands the captured general was Agust de Laverone 53-year-old commander of the 207th coastal division. He was an angry frustrated Man when american troops grabbed. Him. �?�1 know italian civilians guided your troops around the defences of Agrigento a said one of the general a aides. A in fact the Way they be shifted me around you americans Kra it a More about the italians in Sicily than i  general de Laverone who f ought with an american battalion in Italy during the last War revealed that his men captured five americans in the first Days fighting. The drive on Agrigento started at 0300 hours on july 16th when american artillery moved to positions commanding the City. They Cut Loose at Daybreak displaying Beautiful marksmanship. For a time italian artillery replied but it was a hit and run performance. Once our shells started to land in their midst however they tossed in the  watched the entire show from an observation Post of an attached artillery regiment. Locating targets for. Their dozen howitzers were maj. George Quarles of Leavenworth kan., and pvt. James sit Terson of Plymouth  c. A yeah we give them plenty of support a said maj. Quarles Quot but most credit belongs to the infantry. Those foot soldiers did a magnificent Job. Take a look through these glasses and watch them do their stuff. They be even commandeered All the horses and mules in the Vicinity to carry up supplies a the u. S. Navy also took part in the capture of Agrigento. Naval shells came whizzing in from the sea to pulverize important targets in town and port. Their rumbling continued on Paga 4 a invaders plugged As name far a-36 Allied Force Headquarters july 19�?pilots off the a-36 fighter bomber have begun a Campaign to have their plane named the invader. Adopted from the p-51 Mustang the a-36 Nas been called one of the most valuable planes used in this theatre and the pilots want it to be recognized by a different name than the original fighter Type. A a Bunch of the boys who flew them have looked up the name invader and Hope it Sticks a said it. Col. John d. Stevenson of Laramie wyo., commanding officer of the first a-36 outfit to go into by tie in this theater struck at Rome today for the first time since the Start of the War. The bombing of military targets in the area of Rome was accomplished in Broad Daylight by a very Strong Force of heavy and medium bombers of the Northwest african air forces coordinated with a parallel attack by heavy bombers of the u. S. Army a 9th air Force. At exactly 11 13 a. In. Algiers time the first string of bombs were dropped on the ban Lorenzo marshalling Yards by a Baa b-17 flying fortresses. They were followed in Over the target by a Baa marauders and Mitchells escorted by p-38 lightnings. From the 9th air Force came b-24 liberators. Liberators strike forty five minutes later another wave off fortresses off the strategic air Force bombed the same target which is situated four Miles from Vatican City. That was the closest that Allied bombers came to the seat of the holy roman Catholic Church. Just As the fortresses completed the attack on san Lorenzo the first liberators began dropping their loads on the Littorio marshalling Yards and marauders and Mitchells. Escorted by p-38 s. Began an attack on Ciampino Aird Romes. The last bomber did not head for Home until two and a half hours after the raid had Behun. The Littorio and san Lorenzo marshalling Yards Are of vital militant importance to the Axis War Effort. They bottleneck All rail passenger and freight traffic in the Southern italian Peninsula. The Littorio Yard is four Miles to the  Rome and an important goods Center. It is highly electrified and carries the bulk of All freight traffic from Industrial Northern Italy to Rome Naples and the Southwest coast. A the san Lorenzo marshalling Yard is equally As important. It is an important servicing and repair Center tor rail facilities it too is electrified and is on the Belt line joining with the two main lines from Florence and Naples and on the coastal lines from Genoa. It is situated on the Southeastern Edge of the City. Leaflets drop warning leaflets in italian addressed to a a the citizens of Rome were dropped Over the City prior to the raid announcing that a bombing of Italy a capital was imminent. It further revealed that every Effort would be made to spare churches and works of Art and that the Allied target would be military objectives in Rome proper. For several years now Italy s fascist gangsters have sought Refuge in the shadows of the Vatican and have built Many off their factories on the outs hts off the City. The railway Junction and the vast network off rail communications and sidings Are among the most important in Europe and have for months been used by German troops. Increasingly Mussolini has designedly brought More War plants and arsenals to Rome. He increased the size of the big marshalling Yarda which were bombed today Ivan trued m Paga 41