HEAVY FIGHTING IN CORSICA

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 7

HEAVY FIGHTING IN CORSICA

U.S. Commandos Help Push

(British Ofliciiil Wireless.) RUGBY', September 22. General Giraud’s headquarters states that the Germans have withdrawn on tiie Levie sector in Corsica after heavy fighting. American commandos are fighting with French patriots and regulars. The enemy is withdrawing' northward from Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio. It is announced in Algiers that the Allied strategic air force has been strengthened by the arrival from Britain of a strong force of United States Liberators. In their first operation in the Mediterranean they attacked the port of Bastia, in Corsica, and its opposite number on the west coast of Italy, the big harbour °f Leghorn. Leghorn was crowded with shipping, and considerable damage is believed to have been done. The raid on Bastia was followed by night attacks by Wellingtons, and crews report seeing violent explosions in the harbour area, indicating the destruction ot large ammunition dumps. These two ports represent the beginning and end of the possible road of escape. for the. 12,000 Germans now retreating in Corsica. They are being driven back to Bastia by French regular and patriot forces.