IN FULL BLAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1943, Page 3

IN FULL BLAST

ALLIED AIR ATTACK ON SICILY AND SOUTHERN ITALY. PANTELLARIA UNDER TEST. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, May 12. With the Tunisian air battle ended, the air battle of the Mediterranean has begun. The full weight of the Allied air forces is now being directed against Mussolini’s bases in the Sicilian Straits, Sibily, and southern Italy. There are signs that the Axis no longer has sufficient planes to cope with bombing on such a scale as the Allies are able to carry out. Our heavy and medium bombers yesterday hammered Catania, Pantellaria, Marsala, and Trapani, all of which are either seaplane or land plane bases. Our heavy bombers had fighter escorts for the first time when attacking the Sicilian objective, Catania harbour. This is significant, showing that it is now possible to provide fighter protection right across the Sicilian Straits and almost to the toe of Italy. Malta has assumed a new role in the Mediterranean war. It is providing an ideal advanced offensive base. Spitfires from Malta have escorted the American heavy bombers which are raiding Sicily. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters states that one significant point emerges from these daylight raids by large numbers of bombers against Sicily—astonishingly small losses: three out of 400 which were employed on May 9, and one out of 300 on May 11. It is thought that either the Axis cannot tackle such concentrated fire power, or, as a result of the Allies fierce and continuous battering of Sicilian airfields, simply has not enough planes left on the island. The Italian island of Pantellaria _ is immediately threatened by the Allied victory in North Africa, says Reuter’s military correspondent. Heavy and continuous bombing of Italian bases and airfields during the past week, coupled with a plain hint from the American Secretary of the Navy that Sicily would be a tremendous military asset, point to the shape of things to come. But it will not be surprising if Pantellaria is liquidated first. Mussolini undoubtedly spent vast sums of money and much labour in making it as strongly fortified as possible, but it will be interesting to compare Pantellaria’s powers of endurance with those of Malta. The strength of Panteilaria’s fortifications and underground shelters is now being severely tested. In five days there have been six ‘heavy raids, all on a greater scale than any that Malta suffered. The aeronautical writer of “The Times” says: “The position created by the German occupation of the Low Countries and France is now reversed. Pantellaria is in much the same position as the Channel Islands after the fall of France, while southern Italy, particularly Sicily, is as exposed to bombing raids as England was during the Battle of Britain. Even northern Italy becomes a nearer target for our heavy bombers in Tunisia. Southern Italy has already begun to creak under the weight of bombs the Allied air forces have dropped as a ‘part-time job.” Now the Allied aircraft will be able to devote almost undivided attention to strategical attack. Doubtless Italy will have greater cause to lament the approach of the war to her doorstep.” The Columbia Broadcasting System’s Algiers correspondent a bombernavigator after the latest raid on Marsala as saying: “After two days of bombing there won’t be any use going back where Marsala was.” NOTABLE PART PLAYED BY NEW ZEALAND TROOPS. CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM MR. CURTIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) has received a telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Curtin, stating: “The Government and people of Australia extend their congratulations to the sister Dominion of New Zealand on the notable part their gallant troops played in the Tunisian victory. We pray that the successes may result in a speedy and complete victory for the Allied nations over the Axis forces and pave the way for enduring peace.”