Evening star., 1943-07-10

Rome. is believed here to be the
most heavily defended part of Italy.
Although 1t may prove tough
nut to crack, Gen. Eisenhower had
powerful land, air and sea forces
steadily increased since the Ameri-
British landings in French
Africa last year-to sustain his Of
fensive.
New Weapons ceiIevec Used.
Some of the newest weapons In
the Allied arsenal are believed re-
ceiving their first battle tryout.
Allied air power. which forced
Italian Pantelleria into submission
just month ago tomorrow. paved
the way for the landings by "satu-
ration bombing" of Sicilian targets
Yesterday was the sixth consecutive
day of almost constant around-the-
clock air attacks. officially described
as almost comparable to the mighty
air blows against Pantelleria, one
of the greatest air offensives in his
tory up to that time.
The Italians. expecting the in
vasion for weeks, already had in
augurated a scorched earth program
in Sicily by destroying harbor in
stallations at Trapani, long the
main base for the Italian feet and
nearest important Sicilian port to
Africa.
"A broadcast by the Algiers
radio to North America, record
c1 htrT Ty~it
monitors, said landings had been
carried out on the rock studded e
western tip OF Sicily near that
portD
The triangular shaped island Of
fered few accessible beaches to the
invaders except along the l8o-mile
southwest side, where the shore
spreads back some distance before
the first hills appear High cliffs
protect most OF the northern and
eastern shores
First Stage Of Liberation.
Gen. Eisenhower's personal mes
sage announcing the start of the Of
fensive was first read in French by
Allied radio announcers and advised
the people OF France that this was
the first stage in the liberation of
the European continent" II urged
them to remain calm and avoid ex-
posing themselves to Nszi reprisals.
The general indirectly promised
the French they eventually would
get their chance to help strike back
at their NaZi conquerors.
When the hour of action strikes
We will let you know" the COM
mander in chief declared
I'ne statement later was read in
Italian, German and English.
radio Algiers said in a broad
cast heard in London by the AS -,
sociated Press that it would keep
repeating the announcement all
day and all night. To the Italian
version. it added this postscript:
C"The words of Roosevelt and
reality. Italy. dragged in this
German war by, Mussolini, has
become a battlefield The Ger
man rearguard action will now
be fought on Italian soil.'J
Text Of Message.
Gen. Eisenhower.s message to the
French said:
The United Nations armed forces
have today launched an offensive
against Sicily.
1T is the first stage in the liberia
ton of the European continent. l
call on the French people to remain
calm and not to allow themselves to
be deceived by false rumors which
the enemy might circulate.
The Allied radio will keep you
informed on military developments
I count on your sangfroid and on
your sense OF discipline. Do not be
rash. for the enemy is watching.
Keep on listening to the Allied
radio and never heed rumors Verify
carefully news you receive. BY re-
naming calm and by not exposing
yourselves to reprisals through pre-
mature action you will be helping us
effectively.
When the hour of action strikes
we will let you know. Until then
help us by following our instructions.
That is to say, be calm, keep calm,
conserve your strength We re-
peat: When the hour of action
strikes We'll let you know
Canadians Take Part.
The communique announcing the
start of the landings gave the first
information that Canadian troops
had been moved into Gen. Eisen-
howers area Of command. For three