Monday, August 8, 2011

Current Events July 13, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 13, 1943:

Allied invasion troops, striking lightning blows at Sicily's defenses,
have pushed their coastal bridgeheads ten to 20 miles inland, overwhelmed
the important, harbors of Syracuse and Licata, captured eight more towns
and then launched a tremendous thrust toward Catania and the Messina
Straits.

The belief that the Germans may be pushed back beyond the lines from
which they began their' offensive a week ago was gaining ground today.
After pinning down the Germans' furious onslaughts on both main
sectors of the Orel-Byelgorod front during the first week of the offensive,
Russian counter-attacks today were being launched with growing frequency
and strength.

The final attack on Munda, biggest known Japanese air base in the southwest Pacific,
is expected at any moment and its fall within a week is being predicted. Thousands
of U.S. troops and marines are closing in on the New Georgia base.

THE STARS AND STRIPES
Daily Newspaper of U.S. Armed Forces! in the European Theater of Operations
New York, N.Y.—London, England Tuesday, July 13, 1943

Allies Capture Syracuse Harbor

9 More Towns Fall
As U.S. Beats Armor
British Drive North
Invaders Penetrate 20 Miles, Speed North
Toward Messina, Gateway to Italy; jj
Yanks Smash Seven Tank Attacks
Allied invasion troops, striking lightning blows at Sicily's defenses,
have pushed their coastal bridgeheads ten to 20 miles inland, overwhelmed
the important, harbors of Syracuse and Licata, captured eight more towns
and then launched a tremendous thrust toward Catania and the Messina
Straits.
While Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's American troops crushed seven tank
attacks on the west flank and advanced against an Italo-German force
north of Gela, British veterans of Alamein swept through Syracuse under
Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery, then struck north in a great British blitz
up the east coast.
The day's successes—achieved under complete air supremacy, while reinforcements
of men and supplies poured in on the landing beacheswere
accomplished with unexpected speed, within 60 hours of the first
assault. Casualties were said to be lighter than expected.
Allies Have Airfields Already

Soviet Holds
New Drives
By Germans
Axis Is Believed Halted
With Little Gain and
Heavy Losses
MOSCOW, July 12 (UP)—
The belief that the Germans may be pushed back beyond the lines from
which they began their' offensive a week ago was gaining ground today.
After pinning down the Germans' furious onslaughts on both main
sectors of the Orel-Byelgorod front during the first week of the offensive,
Russian counter-attacks today were being launched with growing frequency
and strength.
The Germans began the second week of their huge drive to iron out the Kursk
salient with renewed heavy attacks on the sector just south of Orel. For three days
the Germans Byelgorod and Orel have been breached
and a major formation of Russian armored and infantry forces surrounded
and captured, were made by Berlin yesterday. The Germans claim several thousand prisoners taken and 129 tanks destroyed.
The German communique on Sunday claimed 200 Russian tanks were
destroyed, making a total, according to Axis claims, of 1,640 Russian tanks and
1,400 guns destroyed, as well as 28,000 Russians captured since the offensive
began a week ago.
(Berlin Radio claimed the Russians in the Byelgorod area once more had thrown
in all their available armored forces, including numbers of 52-ton tanks protected
by motorized heavy artillery and massed anti-tank defenses, but had been
unable to break the German lines.)
Fury of Nazi Effort Gains

Yanks Close In
On Munda Base
GUADALCANAL, July 12 (UP)—
The final attack on Munda, biggest known Japanese air base in the southwest Pacific,
is expected at any moment and its fall within a week is being predicted. Thousands
of U.S. troops and marines are closing in on the New Georgia base.
The softening uip process of the base, according to U.S. forces which have been
pulverizing its defenses from the air, sea and land for the past 11 days, is now
about completed. Yesterday 52 tons of bombs battered the Jap base.
Munda has been virtually surrounded by U.S. forces for days and reports
earlier today stated that the advanced patrols in the area were only two miles
from the base.
                                                                Airfield 'Sunk'
So great has the air attack on the airbase become that Allied torpedo planes,
usually used against shipping, dropped their "tin fish" on the airdrome defenses.
Every type of Allied plane is being pushed into the attacks on the air base
Other U.S. heavy bombers attacked Kahili airdrome on Bougainville Island
after dark with 40 tons of explosives and several fires were observed. Three enemy
night fighters intercepted without effect.
Northeast of Georgia, at Rabaul, New Britain, U.S. heavy bombers attacked
Vunakanau airdrome before dawn,

 

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