STIFFER RESISTANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 247, 29 July 1943, Page 3

STIFFER RESISTANCE.

GERMANS ON FRONT IN SICILY. ALLIED FORCES REGROUPING. LONDON, July 2S. The Bth Army is still held up south of Catania by very strong German defences; the Canadians and Americans to the north-west have repulsed a • heavy counter-attack; and the Americans on the north coast have come up against German forces. The Germans are delaying the American advance by blowing up bridges and using 88-milli-metre guns to shell the American”cbT- r_ umns. . - • —■ -r- >- “Axis resistance along the wTiole of the shortening Sicilian front is stiffening,” says the Algiers correspond- ■ ‘ ent of “The Times.” “This ..may be .. partly due to the undoubted fact that the political repercussions of the events in Italy are not yet felt at the front, but it is more probably due to the fact that Germans are now found along the entire line. “Proof that Germany is attempting, to reinforce Sicily is found ill Hie -* shooting down of 21 Junkers transports near Messina. Previous cam- . paigns show that however many ...air-- ; fields the Royal Air Force, may render .--/ unserviceable there is always at least - one place where transports can land • ' or crash-land. “The Axis line opposite • Catania -; along the Dittaino river seems tb haVe been stabilised, hut patrol activity is increasing, which usually presages bigger operations. The Canadian front in the centre and the 7th Army • front toward the north coast are certainly still fluid, with the fluidity increasing northwards. Little information regarding these sectors is being published, as the Allied forces are re-' grouping and it is essential to keep the enemy ignorant of how fast the Allies are moving.” • The correspondent adds: “The clearest statements of the position is eontained in a list of towns, representing the Allies’ farthest advances, released ; yesterday. These are Termini, Lercara Vallelunga, Santa Caterina, Enna, Raddusa, and Ramacco, and then along. , the Gornalunga river south-west of Catania to the sea. ' . ,

Reuter’s correspondent with the Sth Army reports that- the Germans are, blowing up dumps and other, supplies on the Catania airfield. This suggests that the Germans are : unable to get the stores away or are unwilling to. risk'the attempt. -