Evening star., 1943-09-03
Axis Propaeandists
BeIatedIy Broadcast
News Of Invasion
Berlin Predicts Potton's
Forces Will Strike
In Another Sector


INVASION GIVES LONDON LIFT
probably won't satisfy Russia,
Page A-Ie
BY the Associated Press.
After a gloomy silence which
lasted several hours, the Axis
propaganda machine today be-
gan broadcasting the news of
the Allied invasion OF Italy. Ger
man garrisons along the French
Mediterranean coast sharpened
their vigil.
Berlin predicted that the battleA
hardened American 7th Army of 1t
Gen. George S. Patton, jr., which
conquered Sicily with the British
8th Army. would soon strike the
continent in another sector. But SO
far 1t appeared that Americans were
holding back their punch.
After telling the German public
there were mo fresh reports from
any OF the fronts"-many hours
after the Allied headquarters had
broadcast word of the invasion-the
Berlin radio finally declared that
the assault on Italy was expected
and that the Axis was prepared for
two or three blows against the con-
| tinent."
Italians Admit Vast Opera tions.
Italian headquarters frankly ad-
mitted that the Allies had launched
operations against the Southern
Italian headquarters "on a vast
| scale"
simultaneously Capt. Ludwig Ser.
torlus, military commentator of the
German news agency, DNB, noting
that SO far only British and Ca.
madam forces were involved in the
landings on either side of Reggie
Calabria, told the Germans that .it
Is to be expected that the Americans
will not remain idle in Sicily fol
long" and that other landings were
likely, possibly in an adjacent Sec
tor"
In Berlin broadcast recorded in
London by the Ministry of Informa-
ton, Capt. Sertorius said the land
1ngs with strong air and naval sup
port were exactly what the defend
ers looked for and that heavy
fighting is in progress"
Italy Seen as Main Battlefield.
IF the Allies now are employing
a maximum of forces against the
Italian mainland" he continued
then Italy will become Europe's
battlefield. But then also the prob
ability of second front In France
or the Balkans will have vanished
because in such a case the Allies will
have the need of all their forces OF
the Italian mainland.
The near future will show
whether a maximum of forces l.
being used in the invasion attempt
in Italy or whether this is only 9
diversionary operation to be fol.
lowed by major invasion at somt
other point"
The commentator said, however
that from statements by Prime
Minister Churchill it can be deducec
that the potential of the Anglo.
Americans is so great as to allow
them to deliver two or three blows
against the continent"
He estimated the Allied strength
IN Sicily now at 16 divisions, OF
which only small part has yet beer
put into Italy.
Attacks on Conveys Reported.
The Italian communique said:
Last night the enemy, who in the
past had attempted isolated land
ings which were then promptly re-
pulsed, began operations against
the Calabrian coast facing Messina
on a vast scale.
Enemy conveys on the sea and
shipping in the roadsteads at Cata-
mia and Augusta were effectively at
tackled by German aircraft.
"Bolzano, Trento and Bologna anc
the outskirts of Naples were bombed
by enemy planes which dropped
numerous bombs, causing damage
which was especially heavy al
Bologna.
Yesterday British and American
air forces altogether lost IS planes
Seven of these were shot down b,
Italian fighters, six by anti -aircraf
fire and three by our motor gun
boats.
From the operations of the pas
few days nine of our planes ar,
missing"
Germans living along the Swis
frontier originally may have hear,
the news in a German-languag,
broadcast by the Swiss Schwarzen
burg radio at las am. CEWT)
The Swedish home radio gave tn,
Allied invasion communiQue as it.
first news item in program at
am.
The Office of War Information -ir
New York picked up a Moscow
broadcast at $3.50 am. E. w. T.
in which the Free German Ma
tional Committee organization
formed in the Russian capital-tole
the German people of the landing
The Nazi-controlled Vichy radi,
suggested that the Allied assault or
Italy was launched at several points
observing:
"It still is impossible to say which
OF the landings was OF the creates
strategic Importance"
For home consumption the Ger
man radio and press took the elab
orately optimistic tone laid dow1
by the Voelkischer Beobachter
which said:
I'VE control the coast from
Kirkenes Norway to Biarrit
(France). The Soviet offensive pow
er is slowing down. the Anglo-Amer
leans have only their terror raid
and the day of retaliation is near.
The book Of the week is the wal