AMERICANS BEAT OFF COUNTER-ATTACKS

Evening Star, Issue 24916, 14 July 1943, Page 3

AMERICANS BEAT OFF COUNTER-ATTACKS

(Received 12.20 p.m.) EUGBY, July 13. The Allied troops in Sicily have made good progress, and in the south-eastern corner now hold a sizeable piece of Italian territory, in some places 20 miles deep, according to correspondents, whose despatches were lodged after the latest communique was issued. The Allies now hold - Augusta, 30 miles northwards of Cape Passero, Floridia, eight miles inland from Syracuse, and Ragusa, which is the provincial capital. The capture of these places is not officially confirmed, but the fall of Augusta seems certain, since the German radio announced that the Allied troops were pushing northwards from Augusta towards Catania. - ■ The Rome radio said Allied ships were already using the k roadstead in Augusta Harbour.- Axis radio stations stated that fresh Allied troops had been landed near Catania, but this is not confirmed. ' The Algiers radio reports that the Americans are advancing westwards fromyLicata towards Agrigento. It also stated that the Americans met and threw back strong » enemy counter-attacks near Gela. One of the Italian prisoners in American hands is an Italian general. The port and harbour facilities of Syracuse are apparently undamaged. A North African communique received earlier reported that Augusta had been bombed and that mine sweepers had swept a passage to this port, which is important as a naval base. Allied naval operations, in which; more than 3,000 vessels and craft of all types are taking part, are proceeding successfully