GERMANS IN DANGER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 31, 5 August 1943, Page 5

GERMANS IN DANGER

CATANIA-MT. ETNA AREA

(By .Telegraph—-Press Associauou—Copyright.)

' LONDON, August 4. The German positions in the whole of the Catania-Mt. Etna area have been endangered by the Eighth Army's latest advances, while a report from Allied headquarters in North Africa states that the entire northern wing of the German; line has fallen* back.

The "Daily Telegraph" war correspondent in Sicily says that the American force which is driving from San Stefano-has advanced 20 miles along the coast and captured Santa Agata. Another message .says that following upon the capture of Trbina'the AmericSh spearhead was driven deep into the enemy flank" between Troina and Mistretta. ~ The latest . developments on the Eighth Army's left flank have brought the Allies within a few miles of the main Etna defences.

The British and Canadian troops are now pressing on in the face of fierce enemy opposition towards Aderno, Algiers radio announced. It added: ''The /road to Messina is operi." It stated that two battalions of the reconstituted Hermann Goering regiment have been completely wiped out.

ESCAPE ROUTE CUT.

A British United Press correspondent aboard '> a warship reports that as a result of the heavy British bombardmerit of the cliffs near Taormina yesterday. morning thousands of tons of rock were brought down qver the road and railway, the main route of escape for the Germans in. the Catania area. The damage was done at the narrowest point where the road and railway, run in a two-decker line- round sheer, rocky cliffs, and it is pointed out that if the route at ihis point is made impassable the Germans at the southeastern epd of the present defence line will be completely cut off from Messina, the north-eastern tip of Sicily, as the loop running round Mt. Etna, in front of which the. Germans, are now fighting, is also served by the same coast line. Apart from meeting the full, force of the savage land offensive, the enemy is being ceaselessly harried from the air. Pilots state that hundreds of Axis transport vehicles are being destroyed ever^y day, and. a wing commander said: "At this rate the enemy, soon will not have any transport left." r.. ... - ... • . Increased enemy shipping activity is reported at Messina and Millazzo, and Allied planes have redoubled their efforts against both ports to prevent an Axis Dunkirk from Sicily. MORE GERMANS AND SUPPLIES.

Another message says that the Germans are still bringing .in _ supplies and also a few men. Ten ships were seen at Messina yesterday. The enemy, obviously now desperate, wants _to gain time by extremely fierce delaying actions. ... . ~., The enemy air opposition is still very slight. Six Spitfires which were escorting Kittybombers . saw for the first time for the fortnight an equal number of Messerschmitts over the toe of. Italy, but the enemy, immediately fled without trying to interfere with the Allied bombing.