The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-18
Figures May Reach
 Total Of 100000
Continued from Page 1.)

Allied headquarters that he was highly Rratified with the results but disappointed over the escape of even "a single German"
 Ahead Of Schedule
 The campaign came to an end on The beaches of Messina well ahead of schedule" Eisenhower said. The campaign was won, he added, when the Allies placed their divisions on the island without substantial losses.
 The statement of Axis losses up to Aug. 10 listed 260 tanks and 502 field guns destroyed or taken. Axis planes shot down or captured on the ground up to Aug. 12 inclusive were 1913, of which 59S were Ger man.
 It was emphasized that the sta tistics failed to take into account the last week of the fighting, in which rich booty was left behind on the evacuation beaches by the withdrawing Axis forces.
 "Allied armies twice within the last few months inflicted severe de- feats on the so-called "invincible" German army, in each case at very small cost to themselves" the offi- cial statement said.
 Axis Empty Boast
 'The enemy's proud boast that ne would drive the Allied forces into the sea wherever he met them Tn Europe seems to be as empty as the pronise to the German people that not one bomb would fall or their cities"
 Eisenhower revealed that the AXIS evacuated all or most of it's effec- lives during the last days of fight. ing in Sicily. He pointed out that the Straits of Messina are narrow only two miles wide at the narrow. est point -and in the last hours oi evacuation the commanders used Italian troops in a rear guard coV- ering action.
 GAS an American had as much pride in the Eighth Army as any Britisher, and 1t was gratifying that we had developed an American army which can be its partner Eisenhower said.
 "The American soldiers showed themselves in this campaign to pc tough, good soldiers"
 He praised Lieut.. Gen. George 5. Patton for personally rallying ana leading the Americans against the critical Axis counter attack at Gela soon after the invasion. He said he had no doubt that Patton's com manding presence had much to oo with the victory.
 Range Up Italian Peninsula
 American and Allied bombers and lighter bombers ranged up the 1tal- ian Peninsula almost to Naples blasting and strafing bridges ana other railway and highway obJec- lives along the route over which the Axis soon must evacuate It's troops or reinforce them against an Ailleo inyaMon of southern Italy.
 Light bombers of the tactical air force rounded out their offensive on Axis evacuation boats in Messlna Strait yesterday with a series of at- tacks on disembarkation points on the Italian mainland.
 An official tally for the almost continuous assault on evacuation craft from August to IT showed 34 destroyed, 47 knocked out of action by direct hits and 225 damaged severely by near or partial misses The craft included every tpe vessel from medium sized supply ships to barges.
 Allied artillery mounted in and around Messina bombarded Axis positions across Messina Strait. Axis guns on the mainland were shelling Allied positions in north eastern Sicily.
 Prisoners captured in the final swift advances of the American Seventh and British Eighth Army into Messina still were being count ed. There has been no total an nounced for the Sicilian campaign since that of 130,000 last week.
 Great Damage
 Flying Fortresses which pene- trated to the Istres Le Tube and Salon airfelds near Marseilles, France, yesterday caused great damage among parked planes, 1t was announced. Only two heavy bombers were lost, while bombs were showered among 150 grounded planes at one field. Six enemy fight CTS tried to intercept.
 Mitchell and Marauder bombers, aided by Lightnings, bombed and strafed railroad lines and highway Intersections across the toe of the Italian boot, setting several railway