Evening star., 1943-07-18

treatment at the hands of the arrog;
likelihood, would much prefer days G
rest to the Understanding words of de-
f1ance which emanate from Mussolini,
punctuated as they are by bursting Allied
bombs and roaring flames.
On Sicily, where nearly a third of
the island is already under Allied con-
troll. surrendering italian troops are
pouring into the lines of the Allied
invasion force with the same eagerness
as their predecessors in surrender in
North Africa and in the overrunning
of half of the eastern and half of
the southern coast of the triangular
island, Allied casualties have been so
light it is evident that resistance, at
has been very light.
Emphasizing the joint statement to
the people on the mainland, Allied
planes in one devastating raid on Turin
In the north knocked out practically
all Of the electric power in the city
and so seriously crippled the water
system that the inhabitants are leav-
ing for rural areas as rapidly as possible.
Naples Left Blazing Ruin.
Heavy as the damage was it was
nothing compared to the destruction
which rained down on Naples Thursday
IN "a hours of unbroken assault by
the largest bombing formations to
hop off from Africa. The planes left
the city great blazing inferno from
which smoke rose 10000 feet in the air.
The royal arsenal was practically wiped
out and the port which was the main
base of supply for Sicily was as nearly
III complete ruin as Messina, which re-
ceived the same treatment the day
before.
Slightly northeast of Naples on the
Adriatic side, the Foggia airport with
two satellite fields was reduced to
flaming shambles by 10 huge bombers
from Cairo which dropped 100000 pounds
OF destruction on the base.
The developments on the Mediteran-
mean front coupled with the definite
turn of the tide against the Germans
on the Russian front and the steady
hammerlng on Jap holdings in her far
flung sphere of conquest marked another
week of waning Axis power in the face
of rapidly growing Allied strength on
land. on sea and in the air In fact,
SO low do Allied losses continue in rela-
tion to the gains which have been made
there are already indications of slack
ened demand on the draft boards in this
country, and growth of optimism
which perhaps is greater than the &C
complishments to date justify. There no
longer is any serious doubt of ultimate
victory. but slackening of the tempo,
many leaders point out, could lengthen
both the time required for defeat of the
Axis and the casualty lists associated
with the attaining of the victory.
During last week it was revealed that
the new escort carriers, affectionately
termed baby f1attops," have taken part
in attacks on II surfaced submarines and
that there were 10 probable kills out of
the II attacks. This new weapon in the
warfare on the German U-boat wolf
packs has aided materially in cutting
down ship losses in the battle of the
Atlantic.
The announcement by the Navy was
Issued at about the same time as a
statement by Secretary of the Navy
Knox that the Japs are to be driven out
of the Aleutians although he would not
give specific information on the plans
for attaining that desirable objective.
British Near Catania.
On Sicily, where attention is largely
focused now, Allied troops have moved
northeastward up the coast almost to
Catania where the Italian airfield has
been rendered practically useless and
northwestward to a point beyond Palma
where the line held by the American 7th
Army moves inland to Canciatti. From
Canciatti the line runs eastward to meet
the most advanced point in the hands of
the British 9Th Army at Brucoli, roughly
40 per cent of the way up the coast to
Messini, whose smoking ruins are only
two miles from italy proper.
About 10000 Axis prisoners have been
taken, of whom 10000 surrendered to
the Americans with the foremost ques-
zion on their lips, when will we be
shipped to American"
The British, meeting more determined
resistance at the hands of two German
armored divisions, the Hermann Goering
and the 18th, have advanced to within
l3 miles of Catania fighting bitterly for
every foot of the advance. AS the
Invading force broke out on to Catania
Plain great tank battle was launched
Allied air supremacy, established
largely through the destruction of 5000
Axis planes in the fighting since the
time of the North African landing, has
aided materially in smashing at Axis
reserves and lines of communication, and
Allied headquarters state that the cam
paign Is moving along much ahead of
schedule and is slowed now only by
the problem of transport. Ships, how
ever. continue to pour reinforcements
and supplies onto the island.
Expectations are high that now while
the Axis is hardpresed, both on the Rus
sian front and in the Mediterranean,
new blows will be struck at other points
and the movement of German troops
end supplies from one menaced point to
another will be found seriously crippled
by the steady blows of the small hedge
hopping planes from England which have
blasted locomotives. canals and other
transportation facilities.
At many points eager Allied forces