HOURLY MORE CRITICAL

Evening Star, Issue 24920, 19 July 1943, Page 3

HOURLY MORE CRITICAL

AXIS POSITION IN SICILY CATANIA AFLAME AND LIKELY TO FALL (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. The situation in Sicily is hourly becoming more critical for the Axis. Catania, for which the Germans and Italians fought the hardest of the campaign, ..is reported to be aflame and about to fall, if it has not - fallen already. The Press - Association's military writer to-night noted a tendency to agree that the end of the.battle for Catania is in sight, but it is suggested that it would bo a mistake to become over optimistic concerning the subsequent phases of the campaign in that sector. The place captured by the Americans a few miles southward of Agrigerito is Porto Empedocle. The Press Association's military correspondent says: " Our forward elements in Catania are undoubtedly meeting considerable resistance. If, must be expected that their progress, compara-

tively speaking, will be slow. There will be even, harder fighting when we start up the coast beyond Catania. The Eighth Army will be faced with natural obstacles as difficult as any yet overcome." '"■..'■■ Reuter's Algiers correspondent meanwhile reported that one Eighth Army side column by-passed Catania, and is hurrying towards Paternb; It is officially revealed, says'Reuter, that the Allied air forces, attacked Paterno " ahead in advance of the Allied land troops.". This suggests that the column which by-passed Catania is now threatening Paterno, which is due north of Gerbmi, 11 miles north-west of 'Catania, ,at the foot of Mount Etna. , To-day's Italian communique says the raid on Naples caused intense damage in the city and suburbs.