Current Events July 21, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 21 1943:

American bombers completely destroyed

the Littorio railroad yards in Rome, blasted the Lourenco yards

out of operation, and left Ciampino airdrome wrecked and burning after

Monday's 500-plane raid, reconnaissance photographs showed in Cairo

yesterday.

IN A FLYING,FORTRESS, July 19 (delayed)—Red and yellow flames

licking up against :a background of blue mountains—that was Rome as we

turned out over the sea_with the city behind us.

Liberators struck within 645 miles of the Japanese mainland yesterday, starting fires

and damaging warships at Paramushir in the Kurile Island group north of Japan,

a brief War Department communique said today.

The U.S. Navy is planning to fight Japan until at least 1949, Vice-Adm.

Frederick Home revealed today. The- Vice Chief of Naval Operations,

at a press conference at which Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox

strongly deplored current optimism over "winning the war in a hurry,"

     STARS AND STRIPES

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

             New York, N.Y.—London, England Wednesday, July 21, 1943

Main Battle for Sicily Looms at Catania

Rome Rail Yards Knocked Out

Photos Show

Destruction;

4 PlanesLost

Thousands Fleeing City;

Rome Admit Damage

Very Heavy

American bombers completely destroyed

the Littorio railroad yards in Rome, blasted the Lourenco yards

out of operation, and left Ciampino airdrome wrecked and burning after

Monday's 500-plane raid, reconnaissance photographs showed in Cairo

yesterday.

The city's first air attack in three years of war left its populace badly

shaken. Berne heard that thousands were trying to move into the country.

Whole districts were evacuated because of delayed-action bombs. The press called

on all-persons not needed for essential work to leave, the city.

German radio said damage was done to the city's two great aqueducts—the

Aqua Marcia and the Aqua Virgine—but the Italian communique made no mention

of this, although it claimed that religious and cultural buildings, including the San

Lorenzo basilica, were badly hit.

                                                    Only Four Planes Lost

Reporter on Rome Raid Says

All Bombs He Saw Hit Targets

By Richard McMillan

United Press War Correspondent

IN A FLYING,FORTRESS, July 19 (delayed)—Red and yellow flames

licking up against :a background of blue mountains—that was Rome as we

turned out over the sea_with the city behind us.

Over the city a great pillar of black smoke rose in the still air, mushrooming

out above the red roofs and shining domes like clouds from a genie's lamp.

We had taken off 'from a North African airdrome at 8 in the morning. Some

hours later we saw Sardinia, a blurry smudge through the light Mediterranean

haze. The pilot turned to me: "It won't be long now.

U.S. Hits Island

650 Miles North

Of Jap Mainland

Planes May Have Come

From Attu or Bases

In Adreanoffs

WASHINGTON, July 20—U.S. Army

Liberators struck within 645 miles of the Japanese mainland yesterday, starting fires

and damaging warships at Paramushir in the Kurile Island group north of Japan,

a brief War Department communique said today. It was officially estimated that 12

planes made the attack. Aside from raids on enemy bases in

China, the attack brought American planes the closest to Japan since Maj.

Gen, James Doolittle's historic raid on Tokyo in April, 1942. Paramushir is

about 1,000 miles from Tokyo.

The communique did not say where the raiding planes were based, but it was possible

they flew from the airfield on Attu (750 miles from the Kuriles), which was

partially completed by the Japs before American troops captured it two months

ago: or from bases in the Andreanoff Islands, 250 miles further east.

Close on Munda

U.S. Prepared to Fight

Japanese Until 1949

WASHINGTON, July 20 (AP)—

The U.S. Navy is planning to fight Japan until at least 1949, Vice-Adm.

Frederick Home revealed today. The- Vice Chief of Naval Operations,

at a press conference at which Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox

strongly deplored current optimism over "winning the war in a hurry,"

declared: "We still have tremendous distances to cover in the Pacific, and

we have to build bases from the ground up as we advance."

Asked how long victory would take in Europe, the Admiral refused to

“guess" but predicted there would be "no such moral collapse in the German

army" as there was in 1918 because Hitler's training had cut the

soldiers' off from family connections.