Current Events July 16, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 16, 1943:

President Roosevelt and

Prime Minister Churchill Friday gave Italy her choice—

to surrender honorably, or be blasted out of the war.

In a virtual ultimatum, the Allied leaders said the

time has come for the Italian people "to decide whether

Italians shall die for Mussolini and Hitler—or live for

Italy and civilization."

Outwitting the wily Japanese at his own jungle game

of stealing up from behind, American and Australian

fighters of Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur possessed the

Mubo gateway to Salamaua Friday after wiping out 950

surprised defenders in a brilliant New Guinea maneuver.

The Russians struck fresh

blows at the Germans Friday from points 37 miles north

and 25 miles east of Orel, sending elements of ten Nazi

divisions reeling back and scattered in rain-soaked forests

and fields.

                                      The Midland Telegram

                            MIDLAND; TEXAS, FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1943

ITALIANS.SERVED ULTIMATUM

Axis Expected To Abandon Sicily

People Told To Surrender or

Be Blasted; Out Of Conflict

WASHINGTON _ (AP)— President Roosevelt and

Prime Minister Churchill Friday gave Italy her choice—

to surrender honorably, or be blasted out of the war.

In a virtual ultimatum, the Allied leaders said the

time has come for the Italian people "to decide whether

Italians shall die for Mussolini and Hitler—or live for

Italy and civilization."

The statement added: "The skies over Italy are dominated

by the vast air armadas of the United States and

Great Britain," and "Italy's sea coasts are threatened

by the greatest accumulation of British and Allied sea

power ever concentrated in the Mediterranean."

In a joint statement issued simultaneously at the

White House and in London the two United Nations leaders

told the people of Italy that the sole hope of Italy's

survival "lies in honorable military forces of the United

Nations."

Must Suffer Consequences

Allies Take Mubo

Brilliant Move

Catches Enemy

Forces Napping

A L L I E D HEADQUARTERS

IN THE SOUTHWEST

PACIFIC —(AP) —

Outwitting the wily Japanese at his own jungle game

of stealing up from behind, American and Australian

fighters of Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur possessed the

Mubo gateway to Salamaua Friday after wiping out 950

surprised defenders in a brilliant New Guinea maneuver.

The abrupt collapse of of hill positions bestride which the Japanese

for moi'ths barred the way along the jungle track leading to their

Salamaua air base, 12 miles to the north, was announced in a communique.

which also recorded a spectacular air victory.

Over Rendova Island in the Central Solomons, 45 Japanese planes

were shot down out of a formation of approximately 80 while on nearby

New Georgia American jungle fighters edged still closer to the

enemy's key air. base of Munda.

Jap Tactics Used

Nazi Divisions Reeling —

Soviets Driving On Orel in

Great Two-Pronged Attack

MOSCOW —(AP)— The Russians struck fresh

blows at the Germans Friday from points 37 miles north

and 25 miles east of Orel, sending elements of ten Nazi

divisions reeling back and scattered in rain-soaked forests

and fields.

Other Red divisions whittled down the minor German

gains in the Belgorod bulge some 165 miles to the

south and repulsed all fresh enemy attacks which con-

tinued at a furious pace, dispatches said.

German tank losses had reached the enormous toll

of 3,052; 1,686 planes had been destroyed; and upwards of 54,000

men had been killed or captured in the 12 day battle of attrition,

on the basis of official Russian estimates.

Three Towns Retaken

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