Current Events August 15, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, AUGUST 15, 1943:

The Italian government announced Saturday night it had decided to declare bomb battered Rome an open city, but initial British official reaction made it clear that the declaration would have to be accompanied by demilitarization steps before the Italian capital is removed from the list of Allied military targets. Marshal Pietro Badoglio's government announced that its decision with regard to Rome was communicated through the Vatican two weeks ago and that the Allied reaction had been awaited.

Big American Liberator bombers, in a record-breaking round flight of 2,500 miles, turned Japan's oil port of Baltkpapan on Borneo into a fiery cauldron in the first air blow of the war on that base, General MacArthur announced Sunday

            The Midland Reporter-Telegraph

                            MIDLAND, TEXAS, SUNDAY, AUGUST IS, 1943

Italians Declare Rome Open City

Allies Indicate Capital Must Be

Demilitarized Before It Will Be

Taken Off List Of Aerial Targets

LONDON —(AP)—

The Italian government announced Saturday night it had decided to declare bomb battered Rome an open city, but initial British official reaction made it clear that the declaration would have to be accompanied by demilitarization steps before the Italian capital is removed from the list of Allied military targets. Marshal Pietro Badoglio's government announced that its decision with regard to Rome was communicated through the Vatican two weeks ago and that the Allied reaction had been awaited.

The announcement s a i d that in view of the repetition of the air attacks on Rome it had been decided to make the declaration immediately an international law.

There was no disclosure up to a late hour Saturday night that any overtures on the subject had been received by Great Britain, the Algiers radio flatly declared that no official information making Rome an. open city had reached the Allies.

Italians Celebrate

Allies Batter German Troops

Attempting To Escape Sicily

Americans Race To

Within 34 Miles Of

Messina Bridgehead

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS

IN NORTH AFRICA—

Liberator Bombers Turn Japanese.

Oil Port Into Fiery Cauldron In

Round Trip Flight Of 2,500 Miles

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC —(AP)

—Big American Liberator bombers, in a record-breaking round flight of 2,500 miles, turned Japan's oil port of Baltkpapan on Borneo into a fiery cauldron in the first air blow of the war on that base, General MacArthur announced Sunday.

The bombers struck Friday night and in the early morning hours Saturday at the enemy's oil refinery and fuelling center.

The raid capped stepped-up air activities of the Allies over a 2,700--mile arc of the Pacific. On New Guinea, 172 tons of bombs were dropped Saturday in the Salamaua area, already strewn with ruins caused by a 177-ton attack the day before. And, in the Solomons, th/cor>d aerial pounding in as many

days was given Japan's big airdrome

of Kahili on Bougainville.

Troops Advance