Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-27
Heavy Bombers Blast
Italian Airdromes al
Grosseio and Bari
Other Planes From Motto
And Tunisio Set Fires
On Sicily and Sardinia

~ the Associated Press.
LONDON, April. 27.-Italy was
brought under unprecedented
aerial bomhardment yesterday
as Flying Fortresses made their,
longest flight from North Africa
to bomb the .unscarred Grosseto
Airfield 80 miles northwest of
Rome and United States Liberia
tors from the Middle East dev-
astated the Bari Airdrome on the
Southern Adriatic with 100000
pounds. OF explosives.
Other planes from Malta and Tu-
nisia were reported to have re-
kindled fires on much bombed
Sicily and Sardinia, the large italian
islands southwest and west of the
Italian peninsula.
Spectacular though the raid on
Grosseto was, it was viewed as but
a hint to Premier Mussolini of the
aerial blows that are imminent.
Raiding Grosseto entailed a
round trip flight Of at least $50
miles for the Fortresses capable of
far greater distances. It laid bare
new set Of Italian targets between
Rome and the charred industrial
cities of the north such as Milan,
Genoa, Savona, Turin and Spezia.
Direct Hits on Airdrome.
These northern cities have been
frequent targets of the black-winged
Raj bombers which flew across the
Alps from Britain to cripple Italy's
chief arsenals and snarl communi-
cations to Germany by way OF
Switzerland.
Rome, the italian capital, has
been spared attack thus far al
though intruder planes from Malta
have flown over the. suburbs.
Direct hits were scored on air.
dreme buildings at Grosseto, an AL
lied communioue from North Africa
said. The Italian radio announced
that "a were killed and 277 were
wounded, attesting to the severity
of the Fortresses' attack. Hundreds
of augmentation bombs were
dropped.
Bari, so miles north of the Ital-
ian naval base OF laramie, was at
tackled by the largest concentration
of United States Liberators yet used
from the Middle East in daylight
yesterday. Hangers and grounded
planes at the airdrome, a principal
concentration point for Axis fight
ing planes, were hit and fires were
started among oil tanks near the
field.
|, American Planes Return.
Enemy fighters did not attack the
American planes, which returned to
base without loss. The airmen par
ticipating said it was doubtful If
single plane aground was left in
tact. Railways nearby also were
ripped up.
Also due west across the Italian
Peninsula lies the bomb pocked port
of Naples, which has been under re-
peated attack since the North At
rican offensive entered its decisive
stage. No fresh raid was reported
on Naples today. although an attack
Saturday by the Raj was an
nounced yesterday. Reports recent
ly have said that the great port had
been rendered largely useless by the
air assaults.
Malta bombers raidedaAugusta, ION
Sicily, yesterday and the Italians
said 10 were killed and IL injured.
Although Allied sources did not con-
firm 1t, the Italians said that Tram,
IS miles up the Adriatic from Bari,
and San Antioco, in Sardinia, also
were attacked At Bari and San
Antioco. the Italians said, 10 were
killed and Is injured.
Cagliari Attacked.
The Rome radio reported another
attack on Cagliari on the southern
coast Of Sardinia where 10 persons
were injured. Reports from Allied
headquarters in North Africa said
British bombers had pounded .Sar-
DINA dropping huge block busters
and incendiaries on the Decimo-
manu-, Elmas and Villacidro airflelds.
American Mitchell and Marauder
bombers attacked docks at Porto
Ponte and Ramona.
The continuous raids on Axis ship
ping-predominantly Itanan-were
pressed in. the Mediterranean mar
rows between Tunisia and Southern
Italy and her guardian islands.
Battle; developments in North
Africa have brought the whole of
Italy within range of American and
British bomb sites, but as yet the
northeast around venice, Ancona,
and Trietse had not been attacked.
The central city Of Florence, some 50
miles north of Crosseto also has