Current Events June 7, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY JUNE 7, 1943:

With Winston Churchill safely back in London after his strategy conferences

with President Roosevelt in Washington and Allied military leaders

in Africa, the world waited yesterday for the curtain to rise on the Allied

invasion of Europe.

The Prime Minister and his colleagues were closeted over the weekend in

the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing St., and in America, the British Isles,

Russia—and undoubtedly the Axis-dominated nations—the chief topic of

conversation -was when and where.

Well over 100 Flying Fortresses—the biggest armada of Forts to be

used from North Africa in a single raid—yesterday flew out on a roundtrip

of more than 1,400 miles to blast Italy's naval base of Spezia.

The raid, in which an immense hailstorm of bombs was plastered

over the target in only six minutes, brings a new bombing threat to Italy,

for the Fortresses, stretching farther northwards than ever before, have shown

that most of Italy's great industrial centers; now lie within the range of

bombers flying from either Great Britain or Africa

A new Argentine government has been established

with Gen. Rawson, one of the leaders of Friday's short revolution, at

its head. The country remains under martial law and is quiet; Only 32 deaths occurred

as a result of the revolution.

Rawson took over the leadership after the former president, Ramon Castillo,

had come ashore at La Plata, the Argentine naval base near Buenos Aires, and

surrendered to Gen. Masson, commander of the Army's second division. He resigned

soon afterward and was set free.

       THE STARS AND STRIPES

    Daily Newspaper of U.S. Armed Forces in the European Theater of Operations

Vol. 3 No. 184                        New York, N.Y.—London, England Monday, June 7, 1943

Churchill Back, World Waits Zero Hour

Gen. Marshall Flew

Back With Premier

To See Eisenhower

Cabinet Is Summoned to 10 Downing St.

As Invasion Dominates Discussion

Throughout World's Capitals

With Winston Churchill safely back in London after his strategy conferences

with President Roosevelt in Washington and Allied military leaders

in Africa, the world waited yesterday for the curtain to rise on the Allied

invasion of Europe.

The Prime Minister and his colleagues were closeted over the weekend in

the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing St., and in America, the British Isles,

Russia—and undoubtedly the Axis-dominated nations—the chief topic of

conversation -was when and where.

The methodical pounding of Italy's outpost islands—and of strategically

important targets in Italy itself—continued meanwhile.

Both warships and planes again poured high explosive on Pantellaria, between

Tunisia and Sicily, and more than 100 Flying Fortresses dumped bombs on the

Italian naval base of Spezia, where three battleships and numerous other vessels

were moored.

Marshall in Africa

The U.S. Army's chief of staffs-Gen. George C. Marshall—was in Africa, it

was revealed. He flew over with Mr. Churchill and participated in the conferences

with the Prime Minister, Gen. Eisenhower, Air Vice Marshal Tedder,

Gen. Alexander and other Allied leaders.

The result of the conferences there and in Washington may be told in part by

Mr. Churchill when he addresses the House of Commons next week.

The part which the world in general is discussing today, however—the time

and place of the Allied assault on the continent—will not be disclosed until the

crashing of bombs, the cannonading of naval guns, the rattle of machine-guns

and the swarming of troops for shore give the signal to Hitler that the final

offensive of the war in Europe has opened. Mr. Churchill arrived back in England

early Saturday morning by plane. He had been gone since early in May, making

the trip to the United States by ship and the return trip by plane.

100 FORTS Fly

1,400 Miles

In Italy Raid

Strike Spezia Naval Base

In Longest Mission;

All Are Safe

ALLIED HQ, North Africa, June 6

(UP)—Well over 100 Flying Fortresses—the biggest armada of Forts to be

used from North Africa in a single raid—yesterday flew out on a roundtrip

of more than 1,400 miles to blast Italy's naval base of Spezia.

The raid, in which an immense hailstorm of bombs was plastered

over the target in only six minutes, brings a new bombing threat to Italy,

for the Fortresses, stretching farther northwards than ever before, have shown

that most of Italy's great industrial centers; now lie within the range of

bombers flying from either Great Britain or Africa.

The Forts flew without an escort, and all returned. They met heavy AA fire

over the target but that did not prevent them dropping most of their loads as

planned. Only a few Axis fighters were met.

Three Battleships There

Spezia, the great naval base which lives about 50 miles southeast of Genoa, was

sheltering three of Italy's largest battleships— all of the Littorio class, 35,000

tons, with complements of 1,600 men. At the beginning of the war Italy had four,

the Littorio, the Vittorio Veneto, the Impero and the Roma.

A number of other warships as well as merchant vessels were lying in Spezia

harbor at the time of the raid, and one of the merchant ships was seen to explode

and sink.

Smoke and fires obscured accurate observation, but the crews of more than

one Fortress believe that one of the battleships received at least one direct hit and

a number of near misses. A town of 10,000 inhabitants, Spezia

already had been raided four times this year, each time by bombers based in

Great Britain, and during the last of these attacks, Apr. 18, nearly 30 buildings in

the naval dockyard were destroyed or damaged.

Island Bases Pounded

Argentina Calm

Under New Rule

Only 32 Died in Revolt

Against Pro-Axis

Government

BUENOS AIRES, June 6 (UP)—A new Argentine government has been established

with Gen. Rawson, one of the leaders of Friday's short revolution, at

its head. The country remains under martial law and is quiet; Only 32 deaths occurred

as a result of the revolution.

Rawson took over the leadership after the former president, Ramon Castillo,

had come ashore at La Plata, the Argentine naval base near Buenos Aires, and

surrendered to Gen. Masson, commander of the Army's second division. He resigned

soon afterward and was set free.

All other members of the old government, except the Minister of the Interior,

Miguel Culaciati, also have been set free.

Realizes Axis Losing

WASHINGTON, June 6 (UP)—Argentina's revolution came when President

Castillo's own supporters decided he had "bet on the wrong horse," Elmer Davis,

director of the Office of War Information, declared last night.

Argentina is the only American republic remaining neutral and maintaining diplomatic

relations with the Axis. Now, Davis said, it was obvious that even the conservatives

and the military, who had supported Castillo's policy against the wishes

of most of the people, were convinced the Axis could not win.

He pointed out Argentina had lost considerable economic and political prestige,

while Brazil, enthusiastically on the Allied side, was assuming leadership in

South America.