Current Events August 2, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, AUGUST 2, 1943:

Allied armies have launched an offensive to crush Axis resistance in northeastern

Sicily, smashing forward on the entire Messina bridgehead front of more than

60 miles despite strong enemy opposition.

Advices from the. Balkans said today that great fires still were roaring through the Ploesti oil fields of Rumania, 24 hours after a long-planned precision

bombardment of- nearly 200 American Liberators, more than 20 of which were lost.

Details of the devastation wrought in the first mass attack on the Ploesti fields confirmed

A partial evacuation of civilians from Berlin was reported in progress today as German reaction to severe air bombardment of other Reich cities turned panicky and the Nazis pushed a propaganda campaign apparently designed to prevent a break in morale.

An unconfirmed report that American forces had landed on Kiska, last Japanese-

held island in the Aleutians, was broadcast by the Axis-controlled Vichy radio.

The Wisconsin Sate Journal

MADISON, MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1943

Allies Launch New Offensive in Sicily

U. S. Bombers Fire Rumanian Oil Fields

San Sfefano,

4 Other Towns

Fall to Yanks

Seventh Army

Takes 10,000

More Prisoners

BULLETIN

LONDON — (U.P) — T he

Rome radio said tonight that

the Allied air force in Sicily

Is attacking* ceaselessly and

"the Germans are unable to

repulse these attacks, as they

do not dispose sufficient

fighter planes."

By VIKGIL FINKIJET

(United Press Staff Correspondent)

ALLIED HEADQTJARTEES,

North Africa —

Allied armies have launched an offensive to crush Axis resistance in northeastern

Sicily, smashing forward on the entire Messina bridgehead front of more than

60 miles despite strong enemy opposition.

An official announcement said that "Allied forces in Sicily have started an offensive,"

with the American Seventh, army capturing 10,000 more prisoners — half of them Germans—and driving 12 miles into the enemy's northern flank. The north,

coastal town of San Stefano and the town of Mistretta, 6 miles south of San Stefano, fell to the Americans, as did Castel di Lucio, Castel di Tusa, and Matta Pettrao.

Today's communique reported steady progress on all sectors despite strong counterattacks which were repulsed.

Raid Successful

Despite Loss

of 20 Liberators

Attack Called

Staggering Blow

to Nazi War Machine

CAIRO — (U.P) —

Advices from the. Balkans said today that great fires still were roaring through the Ploesti oil fields of Rumania, 24 hours after a long-planned precision

bombardment of- nearly 200 American Liberators, more than 20 of which were lost.

Details of the devastation wrought in the first mass attack on the Ploesti fields confirmed

earlier reports that the finely-tuned raid by the Ninth United States air force dealt a

staggering blow to the Major source of oil for the German war machine. .

A communique revealed that 20 Liberators were shot down over the target area and that

others failed to return from the 2,400-mile flight. But the attack was hailed as a success, with the results far outweighing the cost.

(The Italian radio broadcast a Berlin report that 60 American airmen parachuted

down on the Ploesti area and became prisoners.)

Latest reports said the Astro-Romano refinery, believed to be the largest in Europe, was damaged heavily and still was,burning.

Civilians

Evacuating;

Berlin, Report

STOCKHOLM—(U.P.)—A partial evacuation of civilians from Berlin was reported in progress today as German reaction to severe air bombardment of other Reich cities turned panicky and the Nazis pushed a propaganda campaign apparently designed to prevent a break in morale.

Berlin was untouched by last week's record British and American air .offensive, but the Berlin correspondent of the Dagens Nytheter said a pamphlet had been delivered to homes in the capital urging all persons whose presence was not essential to leave for areas not threatened by bombs.

Schools Moved East

The pamphlet said "all school classes" — probably meaning all except universities — were being transferred to eastern Germany. Previous reports told of orders for general evacuation of Hamburg, main target of the Allied bombers.

Vichy Claims Yanks

Land on Kiska

LONDON — (U.P) —

An unconfirmed report that American forces had landed on Kiska, last Japanese-

held island in the Aleutians, was broadcast by the Axis-controlled Vichy radio.

(The navy department in Washington had "no comment" on the report.)

The broadcast said the landing was made by naval forces.