ALLIES SUPREME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1943, Page 4

ALLIES SUPREME

IN THE SICILIAN STRAITS AND CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN. AIR AND SEA DOMINATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. “The Allies, during the past 24 hours, have demonstrated their complete supremacy in the Central Mediterranean, by air and sea,” says the British United Press Al- ' giers correspondent. ‘‘We have smashed an Axis convoy southward of the toe of Italy and sent its ships off hopelessly routed. We have bombed and strafed Pantelleria at will and also, from ground level, attacked objectives throughout Sardinia. “The engagement against the convoy and the almost unchallenged double bombardment of Pantelleria a day earlier demonstrate the complete mastery we now hold of the Sicilian Straits and elsewhere in the Central Mediterranean. The convoy, engaged off Cape Spartivento, was relentlessly batteied until it steamed off for cover. A merchantman which blew up is believed to have been laden with explosives. Our medium-bombers and fighter-bombers yesterday roamed Southern Sardinia. Objectives included Axis soldiers in camp areas, wireless stations, telephone installations and military buildings in the Teulada area. Pantelleria got its daily dose of trouble from Marauders, Lightnings and Warhawks, which ceaselessly raided the island, attacking military targets and also dock works in the tiny harbour. We managed to do there what the Axis failed to do at Malta—knock out our air opposition. The result was that we attacked at will and did not lose a single plane.”

PANIC TALK EXTENDING IN ITALY. NEWSPAPERS DEMANDING “UTTER CRUELTY.” (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. Mussolini has called up even his civilian Home Guards and guerilla units, as a precaution against an Allied invasion. Italy’s fears of invasion are reflected in newspaper demands for a more savage fighting spirit in the ItaL ian forces. The Rome newspaper II Tevere” urges Italian soldiers to adopt a policy of utter cruelty.. It advocates the machine-gunning of enemy pilots who bale out, and the concentrating of Allied war prisoners in target areas. The paper says: “If this war is to be total, then let it be. We must win at all costs. We must win in cruelty. The enemy has asked for it, and he will get it.”

DEFIANT GREEKS RESISTANCE CONTINUED. IN SPITE OF GERMAN THREATS. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 3. Greek patriots are still resisting, after defying the German ultima - turn to lay down arms and to return heme. The Algiers radio says they refused the Germans’ offer of an amnesty and ignored German threats of retaliatory measures if they continued their resistance.