Current Events July 9, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 9, 1943:

The German Army, hurling fresh reserves of man-power and increasing

numbers of tanks and planes into the battle, were checked by stubborn

Russian defenses yesterday for the fourth consecutive day of the new NazI

drive aimed at Moscow

American troops, landing at two more points on the eastern shores of New Georgia, were closing in from three directions today on the key Japanese

base at Munda.

The new footholds—at Zanana, six miles south of Munda itself, and Rice

Anchorage, 15 miles northwest of Zanana—came several hours before

the naval battle in Kula Gulf in which nine Japanese warships were officially

disclosed today to have been sunk.

Signs multiplied in the news dispatches yesterday that the stage is almost set for

Allied invasion in the Mediterranean. Amid recurrent reports of rioting and

guerrilla warfare in Greece, unrest in the Balkans, and a state of siege in Crete.

    THE STARS AND STRIPES

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

              New York, N.Y.—London, England Friday, July 9, 1943

Nazis Pay 30,000 Lives for Small Gains

Reds Check Drive

By 650,000 Troops

On 125-Mile Front

Claim l,539Tanks,649PlanesKnocked Out

In 'War's Most Furious Fighting';

Germans Rush Up Reserves

The German Army, hurling fresh reserves of man-power and increasing

numbers of tanks and planes into the battle, were checked by stubborn

Russian defenses yesterday for the fourth consecutive day of the new Nazi

drive aimed at Moscow.

Fighting was described in dispatches as the most furious of the war, and

the losses the Germans sustained were the greatest ever recorded in such a

short space of time, Moscow radio asserted.

An official communique issued in Moscow early yesterday placed the

German toll for the first three days of fighting at 30,000 men killed, 1,539 tanks

destroyed or damaged, and 649 airplanes shot down.

Yanks Converging on Munda

Land at Two

MorePlaces;

9 Ships Sunk

U.S. Troops Approaching

Base From Three

L rectio-is

WASHINGTON, July 8—

American troops, landing at two more points on the eastern shores of New

Georgia, were closing in from three directions today on the key Japanese

base at Munda.

The new footholds—at Zanana, six miles south of Munda itself, and Rice

Anchorage, 15 miles northwest of Zanana—came several hours before

the naval battle in Kula Gulf in which nine Japanese warships were officially

disclosed today to have been sunk.

Another American column, which landed earlier at Viru, was pushing northward

through the jungle toward the base. Across the narrow channel from New

Georgia, American artillery on Rendova Island was shelling the Munda airfield,

14 miles away.

Every Ship Damaged or Sunk

Signs Increase

Mediterranean

Action Imminent

Axis Says Allies Massing

Troops and Ships;

Bombings Continue

Signs multiplied in the news dispatches yesterday that the stage is almost set for

Allied invasion in the Mediterranean. Amid recurrent reports of rioting and

guerrilla warfare in Greece, unrest in the Balkans, and a state of siege in Crete,

these developments stood out:

1—Airfields on Sicily and Sardinia suffered intensified 'bombing for the fifth

consecutive day, on a scale so great that Gerbini in eastern Sicily was attacked 19

times throughout the day.

2—Allied naval units, including two King George class battleships, were

reported by German news agency to have left Gibraltar for the western Mediterranean.

3—-Berlin said the Allies have 44 infantry divisions, 20 tank units and a

million tons of shipping in the Mediterranean, including American parachute

battalions and airborne troops to establish bridgeheads in Europe. American

cruisers and some aircraft carriers now are reinforcing the Mediterranean fleet,

Berlin added.

State of Siege in Crete

________________________________________________________________

Current Events July 10, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY;

Allied forces leaped across the Mediterranean from Africa

bases today and climaxed weeks of aerial pounding with

a major invasion of Italian soil—the island of Sicily off

the Italian boot.

The RAF cascaded more than 1.000 tons of bombs on battered Cologne last

night, ending the temporary relief storms which had given Germany

this week from wholesale Allied air raids.

The Charleston Gazette

Charleston, West Virginia, Saturday Morning. July 10. 1943.

Allies Invade Isle Of Sicily

English, American

Canadian Forces

Landed Off Toe Of Italy After

Heavy Bombardments By Air, Sea

Eisenhower Cautions French

Not To Revolt, This Only Start

Reinforced Axis Outpost Expected

To Offer Strong Resistance

WASHINGTON, July 10.—(Saturday)—(AP)

Allied forces leaped across the Mediterranean from Africa

bases today and climaxed weeks of aerial pounding with

a major invasion of Italian soil—the island of Sicily off

the Italian boot.

Powerful air forces, aided by naval bombardments,

preceded the landing of soldiers on the big island which

had been softened up by precision and area bombings

mounting in intensity over weeks.

RAF Batters

At Cologne

Bombers Cascade 1,000

Tons on Rhineland

LONDON, July 10. Saturday—

(AP) For the second successive

nlght, Royal air force bombers

roared out over Germany last

night, it was announced today.

LONDON. July 9.—(AP)—

The RAF cascaded more than 1.000 tons of bombs on battered Cologne last

night, ending the temporary relief storms which had given Germany

this week from wholesale Allied air raids.

The blasting of the Rhineland industrial center was smaller in seals

than the last two British attacks on that city June 28 and July 3,

but still constituted a heavy assault.