Evening star., 1943-06-10
Panteneria Invasion
Believed Imminent;
Threat TO Italy Grows
Mediterranean Outposts
Undergo Prolonged
Heavy Assaults
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 10.-The Italian
mainland today faced a growing
threat of invasion with Italy's
Mediterranean island outposts
undergoing heavy prolonged as
sault and sections of the London
press asserting an Allied landing
possibly was imminent on Pan
telleria.
Unofncial observers and the press
here believes that the failure of
Pantelleria Island to capitulate
after being called on yesterday to
surrender, might be the signal for
landing parties to storm the tiny
rock in the sea, halfway between
Tunisia and Sicily.
"Ofncial news of landing expected
this morning" was the headline in
today's Daily Express over sur
vey of the Pantelleria situation.
The headline was a reflection Of
widespread belief that important
operations were impending if not
actually under way, although there
was no official word to bear out the
belief.
Bombarded Sixth Time.
A special Allied communique said
the demand for surrender was
made to save the garrison and in
habitants unnecessary suffering"
and added that since no reply was
received Pantelleria will continue
to be subjected to bombing, bonn
bardment and blockade"
The sixth naval bombardment in
10 days and heavy plane assaults
followed the deadline for an answer
to the unconditional surrender" de-
mand.
The voluble Rome radio. however,
indicated that the Pantelleria gar
rison was under orders to resist, de-
clarjng that Allied appeals for its
surrender had been scorned by its
defenders. proudly accepting all
privations and sacrifices
Sardinia and Sicily also continued
to feel the weight of Allied air
power. and these key islands also
figured in the general speculation
over possible invasion moves.
Meanwhile. throughout the re-
mainder OF Hitler's European fort
ress there were continued STRINGS
of resistance as the CZecSs marked
the first anniversary of the massacre
Of Lidice. when an entire village was
destroyed by the Germans for hav-
ing harbored the assassins of Rein
hardt Heydrich. Reichsprotector for
Bohemia and Moravia.
More U. S. Troops Reach Britain.
"Mussolini is beginning today to
suffer the consequences Of his cruel
ties and treacheries," Czech COM
ment ran. 1T must be a dismil, fear
full anniversary for him. Tomorrow
it will be Hitler's turn to feel the
crushing blow of Justice Today is
the third anniversary OF Italy's en-
trance into the war.
AS though to lend weight to the
prediction, came the announce ement
last night that sizeable new con-
tingent of United States soldiers
had arrived recently in British
port after fast trip without Incl
dent.
Numerous airmen. swelling the
fast-growing 9th United States Air
Force, were included in the group.
it was declared. 1t was the second
disclosure in recent days of addi-
tions to the Air Force here
The Germans were meeting such
announcements with words. filling
the air with broadcasts that spoke
tauntingly of the Allies forth
coming invasion of the continent.
A sample of the Axis morale build
up was Paris radio broadcast last
night which quoted Berlin military
circles as declaring the European
ti-invasion wall had been CON
siderably strengthened in the last
10 days, with new and heavier
armaments installed
Italian Projects Reshuffled.
The Rome radio said the third
anniversary of Iiaiy's entry into the
war had been chosen for the an
nual reshuffle" of the projects of
provincial capitals, including the
head men of such heavily bombed
cities as Messina, Palermo and
Catania on Sicily and Cagliari on
Sardinia. In all, 20 projects were
removed, but Rome broadcasts in
sisted it was a normal procedure and
in no wise connected with the effects
of Allied bombing attacks.
The Berlin radio said Premier
Gen. Hideki TOTO of Japan sent an
anniversary message to Mussolini
in which he expressed the firm
conviction that victory is inevitable"
for the Axis powers and volunteered
the opinion that an Allied offensive
was impossible"
Allessandro Pavolini, former Ital-
ian minister Of education, con-
tributed an anniversary article cal
culated to cheer up the people in
which he said that a landing on
italian soil would be extremely
difficult and might be considered
impossible
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