AXIS REPORTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 163, 12 July 1943, Page 3

AXIS REPORTS

ENERGETIC DEFENCE "Effectively Holding Enemy Pressure" N.Z. Press Association —Copyright «6c.,n00n. LONDON, July 11; Berlin radio, stated that German a nd Italian reserves had counterattacked in Sicily early to-day. Today's Italian communique says that nerce fighting is progressing along tne coastal stretch in the south-east oi .Sicily. Italians and Germans are energetically engaging the enemy landing forces and effectively holding tfteir pressure, it is claimed. ;Air activity is intense on both sides. Both the German and Italian communiques claim that Axis fighters are active. The German communique says that 64 enemy planes so yir have been shot down over Sicily. Both communiques claim that Axis torpedo planes repeatedly attacked enemy convoys ana. sank two steamers and one unidentified vessel. Two cruisers andnumerous merchantmen were seriously damaged and the Luftwaffe repeatedly hit a light cruiser, seven transports and numerous landing craft, the sinking of which can be regarded.as certain, it is alleged. Berlin radio said that General Lisenhower apparently intends to build up the south-eastern tip of

Sicily into a large-scale bridgehead. The south-east tip is relatively unpopulated. Access to this part of the island is difficult, as it has few roads. The Americans brought up many transports, landing barges and warships; including a number of battleships to land their forces.-This fleet rfprietrated the south and eastern coasts of Sicily. Immediately after the landing airborne troops, under the protection of heavy artillery from thl¥eet, also massed planes landed near" Cap Passero. The defenders successfully beat off another landing attempt north of Syracuse. A second group of landing vessels nnriPr cover of many warships including battleships, penetrated Ge a BisM and formed two bridgeheaas Z.JL r T icata From this point Ameri?ans Carefully went forward to the mountain area northwards but their Advance was" soon stemmed by local aSs troops/ Fierce fighting devel°PAd" landing attempt north-east of ,t A failed owing to the resistance M f a the defended wfio wiped out the ? f th rfJ?cTo7 compelled them to reinvaders oi comp defence f eat 'e have so far been engaged. goweVer'lxis reserves launched a hunter attack early to-day.