The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-09
ISLAND DEFIES
IT, S. ULTIMATUM
Continued from Page u

bombed relentlessly.
Nevertheless, there was mount
ing air of expectancy in London
following Prime Minister Winston
Churchill's speech saying that haz-
ardous amphibious operations we're
impending and interest still CEN
tered principally on the Mediter-
ranean, where Pantelleria was
prime target for air and naval at
tack. The island was reported COW
cred with smoke and showing little
signs Of ability TO put up strong re-
sistance despite the Axis COM
munique's statement that the gar
rison was ready TO fight any land
ing attempt.
The ultimatum expired at 6 p. m.
yesterday and the reply of the COM
mander of the garrison was TO pre-
pare with all means to repulsc any
landing the Rome radio said.
The station reported that the de-
mand for surrender was contained
in leaflets signed by Lieut.. Gen. Carl
A. Spattz, commander OF the north
west African Air Forces. The leaf
lets presumably were dropped dur
ing yesterdays continuous air as
sault on the Island.
The reported ultimatum conceded
with one OF the heaviest air and
sea commandments yet directed
against Pantelleria yesterday.
Allied cruisers and dcstroyers stood
off the coast and poured tons OF
shells into important installations
on the tiny 32-square mile island
In the Sicilian narroWs while
Spaatzs air forces stepped up their
aerial bombardment to new pitch
Today's communique from Allied
headquarters In North Africa re-
ported that the results of the naval
bombardment were satisfactory"
There was certain amount OF
retailiatory fire. the communique
said, but our ships suffered neither
casualties nor damage
The communlque AIDED that Allied
bombers In ceaseless waves as
saulted Pantelleria throughout yes
terday and on the previous night.
The latest naval bombardment
was the sixth In the last 10 days
and the seventh since the fall OF
Tunisia The island has been raideo
almost daily on a crescending scale
ever since the Allies conquered Tun-
isia.
Possession Of Pantelleria, 81 miles
southeast Of Tunisia's Cap Bon and
10 miles southwest of Sicily, would
give the Allies an advanced base
| for an assault on Sicily and helr
consolidate Allied control OF the
Mediterranean.
A supplement of the Italian COM
munique said that the Allies now
were raiding the Islands on aver
age of IL times day In daylight
while in the last nine highs, raids
| followed each other without inter-
ruption."
Altogether. the Italians said, the
Allies have bombed Pantelleria from
the air about 140 times since May
and lost 116 attacking planes.
Yesterdays bombardment, ac-
COlulIlB W TIC biOodNdoC, woo Wy
big" naval formation. Italian
planes were credited with scoring a
hit on one enemy naval unit.
Disclosure of the reported ulti-
matum to Pantelleria followed by
only "a hours an Axis report that
British Commands were repulsed
in an attempt TO land on Lampe-
dusa, another ITALIAN stepping stone
island 100 miles TO the southeast.
Today's Italian communique made
no further reference to Lampedusa
and there still has been nc confirma-
ton from any Allied source OF a
raid on the island.
The text OF the section Of the
italian communique referring