Reinforcements For Montgomery

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 171, 21 July 1943, Page 3

Reinforcements For Montgomery

FIERCE GERMAN STAND

Battle For Catania Plain Will Decide Sicily's Fate

(New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. The battle for Sicily has entered a new phase following the reinforcement of General Montgomery's forces on the Catania Plain, according to latest reports reaching Allied headquarters in North Africa. "It is regarded as practically certain that the battle for the Catania Plain will decide the fate of Sicily, says the correspondent of the British United Press. The Germans, who comprise the majority of the Axis troops in the Catania area, are putting up a desperate resistance, since this is the only point at which the Allied drive against Messina can be held up for any considerable time. The Germans are attempting to push back the Allied bridgeheads over the last river "which bars our passf-ge and have been counter-attacking fiercely. Both sides are using armoured units unstintingly. Our bridgeheads have been held. The enemy is using paratroops as infantrymen in this area." The Germans made desperate but unavailing efforts to dislodge the British Eighth Army from several bridgeheads which it established north of the rivers flowing across the Catania Plain. The British line runs west to Rammacca, I 0 miles northward of Scordia.

American forces have thrust forward against feeble opposition westward of Agrigentc. "The situation in Sicily is developing hourly in favour of the Allies," reports Reuters correspondent in Algiers, "despite heavy, rugged resistance. The Allies along their main front are now only 20 miles from the northern range of hills which form the west to east backbone of the island. The Axis forces have been thrown back on to the last lateral highway which links Messina with the western part of the island." United States and Canadian forces, though meeting with stiffer resistance, are pushing into the interior, and the fall of Enna, west of Gerbini, is believed to be imminent. The general advance of the Allied forces against stiff German opposition continues rapidly, states British Official Wireless. The main east to west railway has been reached' between Caltanissetta and Enna, and this places enemy communications between the western and eastern parts of the island-in a precarious position. Apart from this the enemy has a railway and road along the north coast which is liable to be attacked from the sea like the route along the east coast.