AGAIN BLASTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1943, Page 3

AGAIN BLASTED

ITALY’S MAIN INDUSTRIAL CENTRES

Strong R.A.F. Bomber Forces Attack Milan, Genoa and Turin PROGRESS IN THE SICILIAN OFFENSIVE IMPORTANT ALLIED CAPTURES WEST ' OF MT. ETNA LONDON, August 8. Milan, Genoa and Turin, the three largest industrial centres in northern Italy, which produce the greater part of the Italian armaments, were bombed last night by a strong force of R.A.F. Lancasters which flew from Britain to southern Europe. It is indicated that the attacks were well concentrated. Mosquito bombers were over the Rhineland. Altogether two aircraft are missing. This is the first raid on northern Italy since the attack on Leghorn on July 24, made by Lancasters on their way back to Britain from North Africa.

The Eighth Army in Sicily has captured Aderno, the key German defence centre west of Mt. Etna, and also Bronte, nearly 20 miles further north, on the route around the mountain. The town was entered early yesterday morning, and the enemy withdrew after fierce resistance on the outskirts. Our forces are now driving northward. The Americans have captured Troina, north-west of Aderno, reducing the Axis front (from coast to coast, around Mt. Etna) to 45 miles. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that the Americans who captured Troina stormed up the precipitous heights from a dried up river valley south of the town and fought for possession of the town street by street. The central gateway to Messina is now threatened.

On the north coast the Americans are reported to have reached San Agata, about 50 miles west of Messina.