FERRY LINK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1943, Page 3

FERRY LINK

BETWEEN SICILY & ITALY

AGAIN HEAVILY BOMBED.

NIGHT ATTACK ON DOCKS & WAREHOUSES.

LONDON, June 20

In the Mediterranean Allied bombers attacked the train ferry link between Sicily and Italy, the second heavy air attack in two days. A hundred tons of high explosives and incendiaries were dropped on two Italian mainland terminals.

Allied fighters drove off persistent attacks by enemy fighters. One enemy plane was destroyed and four more probably were destroyed. On the preceding night, targets on the east coast of Sicily were attacked, when 40001 b. bombs were dropped on docks and warehouses at Syracuse. Last night intruder aircraft were out over Western Italy, attacking railway and other targets. OPEN OUTLOOK POSSIBILITIES OF ACTION IN MEDITERRANEAN. PREPARATIONS AT EASTERN END. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright i LONDON, June 19. A new flare-up in the battle of the Mediterranean is likely very soon says the military correspondent of the Press Association. The Allies are already engaged in the softening process preparatory, it appears, to an attack on Sicily. But it would be folly to expect that Sicily will be subjugated by the same methods as were used in conquering the smaller islands. If we attask Sicily we should probably have to engage in severe fighting, for the estimated forces on the island number something like 200,000. 'After Sicily would probably come operations against Sardinia, and, possibly, Corsica, but there are other possibilities worth considering. We might, for instance, consider it worth while to run certain risks and open our attack against the mainland, leaving the enemy island garrison isolated and impotent. When these operations, whatever the form they take, begin it would not be surprising to see others carried out simultaneously at the far eastern end of the Mediterranean.

Algiers radio today says that while British troops arc concentrating in Syria the Royal Navy is concentratingin the eastern Mediterranean. PEACE RUMOURS DENIED. Strong rumours were current in Algiers today that Italian peace emissaries had arrived there, says Reuter’s correspondent. Crown Prince Umberto and Marshal Badoglio, who is recognised as an opponent of Mussolini, were mentioned as envoys. Official circles in London emphasise that there is no information giving credence to the rumours, and the Italian news agency denies that Umberto and Badoglio have gone to Africa. A decree which calls up war wounded throughout Italy for compulsory labour was issued today by the Itealian Cabinet. Another decree increases the pay for State employees, with service men retaining their preferential standard. A third decree authorises State credit for repairing bomb damage and the use of public and private buildings to house air raid refugees. The Romo radio warned the Italians that the latest Allied, bombing attacks marked a new phase in aerial warfare. “The whole weight of the Allied air forces in North Africa is now directed against the Italian mainland, but Italy is resolved not to yield either to the renewed and extremely violent air offensives or to the treacherous and sometimes tempting offers from the Allied radio stations,” it said.