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THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, OCTOBER

-1951.

ALL MR CHURCHILL'S PREVIOUS VOLUMES OF SECOND WORLD WAR MEMOIRS WERE SERIALISED EXCLUSIVE- LY IN HONGKONG IN THE CHINA MAIL, THE FIFTH BOOK, ENTITLED "CLOSING THE RING," BEGAN ON THIS PAGE YESTERDAY. THIS VOLUME COVERS THE YEAR FROM SICILY TO THE NORMANDY LANDINGS

F

we

On the American front the air landings were also 100 widely dispersed, but the many small parties creating damage and con- fusion inland worried the Ealian The sea-borne which made coastal divisions.

under continuous enemy landings.

OR reasons of policy fuel. No enemy outpost now re-

had hitherto mained south of Sicily.

Intense air attack upon Sicily vielded the command began July 3 with the and direction of the bombing of atheids both there campaign in Northwest and in Sardinia,

unusable. The Africa to the United States. meny

fighters were thrown

oh to the futh!

fighter protection, were every- At the beginning they were defensive, and their long-range where highly successful. Spra- forced 10 withdraw cuse and Pachino on the British preponderant in numbers bombers

their bases to the Italian main- front, Licals and Gela on the and influence. In the months fand. Four of the five train American, were captured. The that had passed since ferries operating Across the Eighth Army took Augusta on

Messina were Surak. the 12th. "Torch" began, the arrival Straits of

approaching

assault

Convoys were The major effort of the Eighth of the victorious Eighth By the time our

the island air Army was now directed against Army from the Desert and superiority was firmly establish the airfields at Catania and Ger- the building up in Tunisia ed, and Axis warships and air- bini. Aided by more airborne and seaborne landings of of the British First Army craft mude no serious effort to

with the seaborne parachu.e and Commando troops, had given us the proportion interfere

which captured vital bridges, the there of 11 British divisions

Army crossed the river Simeto. By our cover plans, the enemy But German

now

troops from, weg' ad were kept in doubt until the last farther

reinforced the

fall.

Our naval movemen's and American militury preparations in Egyp expedition, and in every suggested expedition

Since the fall of Tunis. way supported Gen. Eisen- Greece.

they had sent more plenes to the hower's position as Supreme Mediterranean, but the aditionei Commander.

squadrons had gone, not to Sicily.

to four American. Never- theless

strictly

hered to the theme that moment where our stroke would allans and progress tbeyond the

"Torch" was an

aa

Επ

river was stopped. On the 18th the left flank of the Eighth Army reached Caltagirone, in close touch with the Americans, wh were also pressing westwards along the coast and had taken Por'a Empedocie.

SICILY CONQUERED BY ALLIED ARMIES

By Winston S. Churchill

THIE CONQUEST OF SICILY.

Bed int

British

Raci

ilusata

20:8

Avola

Syracu

Andőrmű i

EEEH

KILINCORPS

AARMY

CommEINE

Fist Di

EIGHTH ARMY

KIX CORPS

It was, however. understood but the Eastern Medit:rranean.

Tw Ive airfields were now in aelon, under a well-ried German in proctice that Gen Alexan- Northwest Italy and Sardinia. our hands, and by July 18 there commander, Gen. Hube. But the der 95 Eisenhower's Deputy July 10 was the appointed day. were only 25 serviceable German speedy collapse of Italy becom hud the full operational carn- On the morning of July 9 the aircraft in the island. Eleven probable. There was a marke

I was in these circum- great armadas 1:18

from east and hundred planes more than half change of feeling in our circles stances that the victory wcs. were converging south of of them German, were left be- v Whitenall and

«

presented in

Wa

decided

MALTA

Conflict thus arose. The Ameri- We must now return to the can Chiefs of Staff did not be- Sicilian battlefield. The bril

by eve that the conquest of Italy liant capture of Centuripe would threaten Germany, and our newly arrived 78 h Division they may have also feared that marked the last phase. Catania th: Germans would withdraw fell on Aug. 5, and thereafter and that we should and ourselves the whole Brillsh line swung

biting the air. They did no

no: forward to

to the sou hern and think there was much 18 be western slopes of Mount Ena.

by bcmblog Scuthera ga ned

Division U.S. 1st Germany from airfields in Troica

6 afte: on Aug. Southern I aly, and they wanted fign), artd their 8th Division,

here

The

took

a stiff

OLI

all eftoris against Germany to be passing through the 1rt, entered concentrated ca the shortest cou e Casato on the 9.h.

1be 402038

English Channel. Along the north coast the U. S. al.hough nothing could happea 45h Division, followed by their

for 10 men hs.

3rd Division reached Cope The British Chiefs of Staff Orlando on Aug. 18, with the

skilful Pinted cut that the Washing to aid of two small bu Conference had expressly saved flanking amphibious operations. Cen that the elimination of Italy from Ale: the capture of Randazze on the war was cae ef the prime the 13th the enemy broke con-

on The at ack Allied objects.

tact all along the front, and. Naples,

the code under cover of their strong anti- now given

the aircraft defences of the Messina best means of accomplishing this, Straits, escaped during the and the elapse of Daly would following nights to the main-

Tunis was gained and the Malla, and it was time for all hind destroyed or damaged. Our on the bolder plan of a direct me of "Avalanche," was

10 steam for the beaches of air forces tried hard to stop the tack on the west coast of Italy Sicly. On my way to Chequers, passage of troops from the main to size Naples.

general picture

Che American public and to the world as an averriding United States enterprise

נן

43

גנצי

unseasonable sprang up.

the circumstances tha! не should have at least un equal WHE share of the High Command. And This was willingly conceded by our loyal comrades We were. mo; rover, given the direct con-

net of the fighting Alexander

northwest

land to Messina. They were only

nease enormously the chances tand.

of

the ass-Chann invazion being

decisive.

caly successful but The race for

Portal, Chief of the Air Staft, but emphasised that the full-scale

more at

had

Messina

UR

ter

Gen. Alexander to Prime Minis-

17 Aug. 43. The following facts are of in- terest. Stelly Invaded July 10. Messina cntred Aug. 16. island taken in 33 days. Sicily has coastline 800 miles and area 10,000 square miles. Island is heavily fariñed with concrete pill-boxes end wire.

ri

Axis

gorrison;" Italian, nine divisions. German, four divisions, equalling 18 divi- sins; total forces: allen 315.000

German

90.000, making total 405,000 soldiers, Our forces. Seventh Army,

here I was to awal: the result, I spent an hour in the Admiralty partly succénful against the Italy becomes But now we had enteres upon War Room. The map covered an heavy anti-aircraft fire. wall and invasion of entire

showed the On July 18 Gen. Alexander next target new stage---the

and ordered the Eighth Army to at- Sicily, and what should follow enormous convoys, escorts

WASHINGTON agreed, The proportions of the supporting defachments moving lack the western side of Mount

insisted that ΓΙΟ

at ack to German industry, an

armies raced for Messina. their assault beaches. Etna, and the Seventh Army to armies available in July, 1943, towards

to force could be provided than ticularly cn factories producing

Enemy demolitions on the were British, eight divisions, This was the greatest amphibious seize the roads around Ena and

those agreed

upon at th lighters, could only be effective coastal road from Cataniu slowed United States.

Air.

the operation

cut the west-cast so far attempted in

highway at Triden" Conference. The with the help of the Italian air up the Eighth Army, and by a The 50'h But all depended on Petrulis. United States 55 percent; British, history

Division Americans heid that nee fflelds.

Their possession would narrow margin the prize fell to could make little progress, and the Naval, 80 percent British the weather.

and the operations elsewhere, es- therefore be a great contribution the Americans, who entered it remained

The Germans had Besides all this there

brought pecially "Overlord" the man a

of successful uvasten 12 the considerable British armica in

Too late for

reinforcements, including six future assault in France), should Fraze. The Americans remained Aug 18. The Middle

battalions of the redoubtable 1st be p::fud.ced by more vigerous East and In the

unmoved. Parachute Division from the Eastern Mediterranean includ postponement

action in the Mediterranean. This However, most of the forces On its left we made ing Layn. which were inde- THE morning of the 9th was mainland,

eservation was to cause keen to be employed in "Avalanche" pendently commanded by Gen. fine, but by noon a fresh and some ground, but it was clear anxiety during the landing

were British, a

and we resolved Mai Lund Wilson, from the British

to do everything on our power wind that a new plan and more troops Salerno. radquar.ers at Calro

During the after- were needed. There was a lu! Gen. Eisenhower and his prin- to ensure its success. To over- I did not seem too much in oon the wind increased, and by on the British front till the 78th cipal commanders now agreed come he weakness in long-range

ths aly should be the sex: fighters evening there was a heavy swell, Division arrived from Tunisia.

the Admiralty alloted which wou'd make Jandings

and immediate target. They still four esco-carriers and a ligh hazardous, particularly on the Next move still

preferred to land first on the toe. feet carrier to support the land- wastern beach.9 in the American in suspense

b:cause they were short cf ing. and the Air Mailey geve landing-craft

And

Eleephower three cf cur sector. The landing-craft con-

planes, bu: Ges.

which was for the first time they too began bombe: squadrers voy's plunging northward from Majia and

the direct attack on been due for early withdrawal. from many African OUR nex: strategic move parts between Bizerta and Ben- ertes the Straits of Messina and Naples.

still in suspense, Should we favour

This was so far from The fall of was to command The Fifteenth

ghazi were having E

rough seize the ice of Italy, should we cur newly-won air bases in Selly Group consisting of the Seventh United Sates and the

Voyage

ecize

mo, or that it would much reduce the Mussolini the heel at Taranto,

o fighter cover Eighth Brilish Armies.

for the landing WHILE these somewhat sharp Arrangemen's had been made stculd we Air

kand higher up the None the less Naples soon became discussions were in progress Manbul Tedder cominanded the for postponing the landing in West CRS, in the Gulf of Allied

Air Force, and Admi

A would have to be taken not later again mus: we start ourselves seemed to justify delaying opera- on July 25. The argument for in-

necessity, but a decision Salerno, and capture Napies? Or the care of all thoughts.

channe

crushing Italy the scine was completely trans- Cunningham the

of quickly Alled

formed by the fall of Mussolini frees. The whole was under

than noon, Watching anxiously to the occupation of Sardinia? In em

and the vading tions against Burma: 1.e overall

from the Admiralty the First Sen Jure Gen. Eisenhower had been or

seemed over- command of Gen. Eisenhower.

Lord inquired

As will be seen, the asked for his opinion. The prob- Admiralty stopped the assault wh by signal about

whelming. shipping for India from leaving Germans reacted very quickly, The British

the weather conditions. Admi. lem was a difficult one.

A: the Washington Conference the Mediterranean.

end cur invasion, and particular- entrusted to Gen. Montgomery Cunningham replied at 8 pm.

"Weather

WE ("Trident") May

On July 22 the British Chiets ly the stack on Naples, was no! and h's Eighth Army, while Gen.

but i

decided to transter India abou of Stan urged their American greatly eased. "Avalanche" only Palon was nominated to com- operation proceeding." mand the United States Soven'h "It was," he says, "manifestly August much of the assault ship- ecleagues plan the direct at- just succeeded, and it was fo-- Army. The naval collaborators too late for postponement, but pins and certam air forces then fuck ca Naples on the assumptunate that we had provided ad-

alloted to the Sicily attack. He ilon that extra shipping and ar- dusenal

British seo and air were Admi. Ramsay, who had considerable mxiety was felt, had also been warned that after craft carriers would be avaliable, power. planned the British landings in particularly for the small-crafi Net, & four American and three The Americans tock

"The risks different a

would have been "Torch," and Adml. Hewitt, convoys making up against the British divisions would have to view. While agreeing to the at- further reduced if the ex::a U.S.N., who with Gen. Patton had sea."

They were indeed much be withdrawn 10 Britain for the teek, they adhered io the shipping which we considered By 10 am, this morning, Aug. carried out the Casablancs land- delayed and became scattered. crass-Channel invasion of 1944. original decision that no rein- essential to accelerate the build- 17. 1949, he last German ing. In the air the chief com- Many chips arrived late bur On June 30 he proposed tha: forcements from America should up after handing there had bezn

soldier was flung out of manders under Air Chief Marshal fortunately I great harm

when the capture of Steily had be sent to Gen. Eisenhower for accorded. In this we could not

Slally and the whole island Tedder were Gen. Spaatz, U.S. resulted. "The wind"

says been completed we should at this or any other purpose,

He co

canry American opinion with us, is now in cur hands. Army Air Force, and Air Marshal Cunningham, mercifully cased to ether the tes of Ialy, or should do the best he would with and before the operation began Coningham, while the air during the night, and by

the Sardinia.

what he had. Moreover, they many American ships were with- World, Copuricht reserved. Repro operations

in conjunction with morning of the 10th had ceased, II Sardinia ware chosen

insisted that three of his heavy drawn and some of the British duction, partially, in any Eighth Army were in the leaving only a tirdsome swell and could probably be ready

by bomber groups should be with assault shipping was also re-

language, strictly prohiölted meat hands of Air Vice-Marshal surf on the western beaches." October, but he did not expect,

drawn to Britain.

leased to India.

MORE TOMORROW) The bad weather helped to to be able to invade the main give us surprise. Adml. Cunning- land of Italy betere November. ham continues:

and by the the weather might

the

Haull was

Broadhurst, who had recently added to the fame of the Western Desent Air Force.

No casualties

in Pantelleria

IN

TN the channel between Tunisia and Sicily lay the small island

of Pantelleria, which served as an enemy base for aircraft and E-boats. In January, 1941, we had planned to assault and cap- ture It, but the opportunity passed and It remained a thorn in our side throughout the hardest period of the siege of Malts. Now it became necessary not only co subdue it, but to UIC it ourselves for our fighter gircraft,

Attacks by air and sen began immediately after the fall of Tunis Bombardment continued unill June 8, when unconditional surrender was demanded, This

cage of

not favourable,

had

ho

The very efficient cover plan be too bad for amphibious land- Bad the deceptive routeing ings. To justify so late a descem: of convoys played their part. upon Italy there had to be a

In addition the vigilance of goed prospect of a speedy nd- the enemy was undoubtedly vance.

relaxed owing to the un-

*

favourable phase of the Three German

moon. Finally came this divisions

wind, dangerously close at

the time to making rome, I THE progress made in Sicily

lun

being refused, a landing from for airborne

acvire.

Less

The

aly

Drinking

six divisons, including akc- berne division: Eighth Army, feven divisions, Including abo: me arzd armoured brigades, making Allied total 19 divisions.

that all on

It can be assumed

Italian forces in laland July 10 have been destroyed, though a few battered walls may have escaped to main- land Anti later:

Gen. Alexander to Prime Minia-

ter

17 Aug., 43.

In Britain,

But More People Get Drunk

(By A Special Correspondent)

THOUGH less liquor is is not enough for a day Here is an extract from the being consumed in Bri- And then he made another report of Chlef Constable W. E

not all, the landings imprac-. clarified the scent, Meanwhile tain than for many years, point: "This country has been Schofield, of Oldham, Lanes, licable. These apparently Allied Air Forces were harrying cases of drunkenness have living on its nerves for the where lost year's The drunken- unfavourable

factors had the enemy communications and

last couple of years, he said, ness cases were 19 more than actually the effect of making airfields in weshers, Italy, and markedly increased. This is "Much of the population is in 1949 and double store, of the weary Italians, who had the port of Naples, On July 19 particularly so in the Mid- drugging tack with pheno- 1948) An Micrcase was first been alert for many, nights, a strong force of American bom- lands and North of England, barbitone and such things to noticed in May law, when the

Thankfully in their bers attacked the railway yards where increases of up to beer to make people drunk and t

ભણવા keep going it takes very little gravity of Chan, beds, saying, "Tonight at end airport at Rome. Havoc was 800 percent have been re-u

may, bé any rate they can't come wougal; and the shock was

under such conditions,

detrimentally affected by But they came.

corded in police reports. Where laures have been stronger brew. Lets In Sicily Itself the Americans Magletrates, police chiefs booked down to show the m- aze being consum Hard fortune

were advancing steadily under and social workers have cidence of drunkenness, The corkition may be side t the spirited leadership of Ger. Come to the conclusion that peculiar fort emerges.

lack of bodily resistance, Patton Palermo was taken or lack of sustaining food is

his would not be to our credit Highest numbers were record-4 sewere, l'an redikeri

spelin, when workers would

adjust their drinking A midikest authority told me otherwise have been enjoying coastal that he was largely in themselves in the openin

Magistrates, pollod, and social entirely seen with rin cauale many of the men, they carried drive while the " Division was ment with thost who blamed ties ercept, tepording to sulfora" drowned, “The rest brought ever from Africa, where Eritain's unbalanced diet for workers are alarmed that PS

~78th, it had been Mineroines ini diunkenesa, 52 a phenomenal

four diety, is woefully abort

Yew shou af protein tie said." Protein buildi, tigriraalstance to infection, trade

body

The sea was carried out on June THE bome forces mot hard July 92, and by the end of the

DEVEL fortune

More than one-mouth hemipleen, fed rushed the main cause. Britons and oir bombardment.

Stefano, Much had been mute before- 1st Air Lending Brigade were 3rd hand of the mogultaide and perils released -

11. supported by houveninind of the gliders carrying our the line Nicos EYEWPORNE just can't take it! Med during last year's rainlest to

of this, ventingelsesbeiti wa American towing airaraft and Expught inge

Noo early by their 916-74. Dren]

stories) ons soldier "blöjen by a

mule. Over

1000 girlsotieła fed

· our bandage during the Bath 1 til riportort bri

Intu