NON-STOP ADVANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1943, Page 5

NON-STOP ADVANCE

FURTHER GAINS IN SICILY

TOWNS, AIRFIELDS & MEN

PROGRESS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

LONDON, July 14. No official news has been received this morning of the Allied progress in Sicily, but Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers says that gains are being made along the whole front. ( The correspondent adds: The bridgehead in the Syracuse area has more than doubled in the last 36 hours (to midnight last night). The British troops in this sector can see the 10,000-foot mass of Mount Etna to the north. The lack of Axis coun-ter-attacks on a very large scale indicates that the Italian-German command is unwilling to take the risk of full-blooded action until it is satisfied that it will not be imperilled elsewhere. It is apparent, however, that the Catania Plain, which in a military sense is the heart of Sicily, must be defended, since it commands most of the vital approach round the side of Mount Etna to the Strait ol Messina. „ . “The Allied position lor a push across to the north is very favourable. Axis reinforcements are already forced to swing north round the hill mass to counter the Allied drive, and this manoeuvre is constantly exposed to deadly strafing and bombing from the unchallenged Allied air force. Catania also possesses Sicily’s finest string of airfields, including the Gerbini network, which has had first priority in the attentions ol Allied bombers. The massive Allied salient in the south-east corner has put the Axis defenders in a perilous position. Their movement is now seriously restricted.’’

CAPTURE OF AUGUSTA

LONDON, July 14. J A “Daily Express’’ correspondent | reports the capture of Augusta. Des-1 cribing the capture, he says: A' cruiser squadron, patrolling between Syracuse and Augusta, plastered the hillside town of Mellilli, eight miles south-westward of Augusta, when it threatened the west flank of our, land forces going north. The warships also bombarded roads in support of our tanks. Later, as cruisers patrolled outside Augusta, a report was received that a white flag was flying at Cap St. Croce, northward of Augusta. A Greek destroyer steamed inshore, and put out a boat, but the boat was fired on. The Greeks withdrew. Then every unit of our squadrons pounded enemy positions in the town. It was the most accurate shooting I have ever seen in the Navy. The battery was silenced immediately. The Greek destroyer returned to the harbour accompanied by two other destroyers to find only one man left in the town. A transport later landed troops. I All the way from Syracuse to Augusta and beyond, under the lava streaked saddle-back of Mount Etna, there was a range of (ires of ammunition dumps fired by Italians, red fires from Melilli, black bursts from our naval bombardments, and white puffs from 25-pounders creeping north. A small south-eastern port, Pozzallo, fell to a Lieutenant and a handful of men in a boat. They went from a small destroyer, with a cruiser off shore ready to fire on the town, but it surrendered unconditionally. Shells were sent over Pozzallo later towards Modica, several miles inland, enabling troops to capture that town. BATTLE FOR CATANIA. (Recd 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. Great numbers of Axis troops and fantastic quantities of equipment are being sent to the bottom of Messina Straits, says the Algiers radio. Airborne troops are incessantly harrying the enemy rear destroying lines of communication and spreading confusion everywhere, seizing military installations. Allied troops are less than six miles from Catania according to reports from Berlin, says the British: United Press Stockholm correspond- I ent. Advanced Allied storm-troops j are moving up the coast and are reported to be even closer to Catania, | the civil population of which have been largely evacuated. The Algiers radio says that although no major enemy forces have yet been encountered, enemy columns have been observed moving south in the direction of Catania and Gerbini. Allied tanks are in action, but have not yet engaged Axis tanks on a large scale. . . Another Berlin report claims that the battle for Catania has already started, and heavy fighting is going on. CANADIAN PROGRESS LONDON, July .14. A British correspondent says that the Allied soldiers in Sicily are fighting smoothly and efficiently. mile by mile, and are not walking in nmop pO »We came un against German units yesterday,” he'adds. “They were captured and taken to our camp. They were well equipped and are in excellent physical condition They were visibly impressed by the lai ge Al lied tanks and heavy guns rolling towards the hills. While the advance, continues another chapter ol beymsm is being written on the beaches, j where our men ore Jinloudiug supplies under the blasting and of German fighters and bombeis which swoop low to drop then bombs and machine-gun the beaches and j r °A mSge received in Madrid from Italy says that British landing pai tics have appeared near Porto Empedocle, and are attacking Agrigento. A Canadian correspondent. Ross Munro, cabling from Ispica, on Monday says: “Sweeping. the Ital ians before them and with a bag more than 1000 prisoners, “finding a divisional general and his !staff, the Canadians have penetiated some miles inland from the Pachino peninsula beachhead and are still speeding on. Town after town is. surrendering. The lack ol determined resistance is surprising, even to qui divisional staff. This morning Modica 10 miles north-west of Ispica, sunendered to Canadian inlantry General Bavet and his staff of the Coastal Division were taken prisoners, and hundreds more prisoners are pouring in. With the capture of Ispica, Pozzalno, and Rosolini, the Canadians cantured the principal towns of south-eastern Sicily. Our infantry is advancing with incredible speed, and it is practically impossible to keep in touch with the moves. Our casual ties are at a minimum.” ANGLO-U.S.A. JUNCTION LONDON, July 14. Th° correspondent of the “New York Times” Mr Matthews, emnhasises as tremendous tne stiategic value of the British-American junction at Ragusa. As a result, he says, Allied forces are holding solidly an entire corner of Sicily with the unscathed port of Syracuse, a complete road svstem, an easily-defendable highland, thus greatly reducing the enemy’s chances of a counter-attack there. Mr Matthews adds: The Italians are fighting just as badly as they

did in Tunisia. Indeed, it is obvious that they do not want to fight, and it is questionable whether they are not a handicap to the Germans. Mr Matthews concludes: The Axis, unless it strikes within the next few days, will finally have lost the chance to take the offensive. Between 900 and 1000 Italian and German prisoners were. brought to North Africa from Sicily on Monday, says the Associated Press of Great Britain. All seemed in high spirits and they smiled broadly as they stepped ashore. They are mostly youths in their teens, unkempt in appearance, and with badly-worn uniforms. One group included about 35 Italian officers. Four Italian lieu-tenant-colonels walked up and surrendered on one Sector, explaining that they had been caught while making a front-line reconnaissance. MODICA AND COMISO ~ RUGBY, July 14. In Sicily correspondents report that Canadian troops have captured Modica, a town of 50,000 inhabitants north-west of Cap Passero. The Allies have also captured Comiso airfield as well as the town of Comiso itself; also the town of Noro. The Allied advance continues all along the line, correspondents report, but the capture of Modica is not yet officially confirmed. The town is 20miles north-west from Cap Passero and ten miles from the coast on the railway between Syracuse and Ragusa. Another correspondent reports that the Allies have taken an airfield north of Gela. American troops, fanning out from Licata, captured Noro, some ten miles inland. '

At Augusta we found the harbour undamaged. The occupation of Augusta is officially confirmed by today’s communique. It is also confirmed that American and Canadian forces have linked up and that Ragusa is in our hands. The Allied line is now roughly in the form of qn arc with a maximum depth of 30 miles, the minimum nowhere being less than six miles inland. We have successfully landed armour and are everywhere pushing on. Ten thousand Axis prisoners, including the Commander of the Italian 206th Division, and the whole of his staff, have been captured. The Division has been almost completely eliminated. SPEED OF ADVANCE. LITTLE STRONG RESISTANCE (Rec. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. The Allies in Sicily are advancing along the entire line. Eighth Army columns in a phenomenal advance north of Augusta are pouring across the foothills on the southern verge of the Catanian plain, with Catania, the key Sicilian port, as iheir objective, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters. The push is gathering weight and speed and the resistance is reported to be not very determined. This brilliant sweep north is the biggest news to-night in the general advance of the Allied forces in the past 36 hours. Catania’s airfield has been twice battered from the air and from the sea in the past 24 hours. We have captured two more important airfields, Pon'eolivo and Comiso. The town of Palma has also been captured. Reuter, summing up the Allied position, to-night, says the latest advices reaching Allied Headquarters show: Firstly, that the main British drive is progressing along the coast road from Augusta:' secondly, that the Americans fanning out westward from Licata have extended their left flank between eight and 10 miles and have captured Naro; thirdly that the second American force striking northcast from Gela has seized Ponteolivo airfield and that this force is now less than two miles from Niscemi; fourthly, that other American troops who yesterday linked up with the Canadian left flank outside Ragusa have i pushed on and captured Comiso air- | field. The Allied penetration on this trout has now reached.a depth of 10 i miles; and fifthly, that the Canadians fighting east of the Americans have occupied Modica. These troops captured General Davet. AMERICAN SUCCESS The British in the area south-west of Augusta are not meeting serious resistance. The Canadians further south are driving a big salient into the hills by linking up Modica and Palazzolo. The American Army’s extreme left, which is the western limit of the Allied front, now rests on the seashore in the neighbourhood ol Palma. The line then runs almost due north to Naro, turns sharply east to the American central sectors, north of Gela. The Americans in the Gela area emerged with the greatest distinction from the most bitter fighting of the campaign against the-Hermann Goering Division,. The enemy retired and the Americans are pushing on. The average advance on the American front is approximately six miles. The British United Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters says: The Allied offensive has apparently con- ! tinned to surprise the enemy by the soeed, force and perfect execution. I The fall of Augusta and Ragusa keeps the Allies well ahead of their time plan. Allied penetration at some noints is 30 miles, and nowhere less than six miles. The British captured Priolo, north-west of Syracuse, the I Allies using the triple superiority on land, sea and in the air, to keep the forces rolling forward on all fronts. Supply ships are shuttling backwards and" forwards, bringing in more and more men and supplies, and most important of all, tanks, which will be a prime factor in the advance against the enemy’s armoured strength which lies somewhere on the Allied line ol advance across the island. The Press Association's military writer declares: Wo are now sufficiently well established in Sicily to deal with any large counter-attacks the enemy may launch. I ' DRIVE ON CATANIA. LONDON, July 14. British, Canadians and Americans are storming the Catania defences, ' wherein a breach has been made, rej ports the Algiers raciio. The report I that the Americans are participating lin the drive against Catania is the first indication they are operating so far east. Despatches from Allied Headquarters in North Afirca state that spearI heads of the Eighth Army are thrustI ing into weak enemy defences and | are within 15 miles of Catania. New Allied landings near Catania are also reported. One-thiro of the Sicilian coast is now in Allied hands. The Rome radio says: The Italian High Command anticipates that the i Allies from Pantelleria will soon at- ! tempt a landing on the west coast of I Sicily. A landing attempt on July 13, I west of Licata, was repulsed. It is reI vealed at Algiers the + General AlexI ander yesterday travelled to Sicily m i a light cruiser, and spent several hours 'with the troops. Allied forces have occupied onetenth of Sicily, says Reuter’s correspondent. The Allies'are fighting a

way deeper into the heart of the island meeting serious opposition. ' The casualties continue to be slight. Many Sicilian families wno fled inland when the invasion forces landed on the south-eastern beaches, are now returning to their homes. They are friendly and helpful and are being supplied with food. Reporters at Allied Headquarters in North Africa say that British, American and Canadian troops are now threatening Caltagnono 20 miles north-east of Gela and two villages on the road to Catania. • AERIAL OPERATIONS AXIS .TRANSPORT DESTROYED ”RUGBY, July 14. Continued strafing and bombing of trains by every fighter and fighterbomber of the strategic air force was carried out during daylight over Sicily yesterday, states a correspondent at the headquarters in North Africa. Severe damage was done to enemy transport and communications. At least 160 trucks were destroyed, and an equal number of locomotives and 25 freight waggons reduced to junk. In addition, the Coastal Command Air Force played havoc with enemy shipping, sinking two merchant vessels and leaving two new destroyers damaged. . Fortresses gave the airfield at Catania, Trapani, and Milo a heavy pounding, hitting many aircraft on the ground at Catania. At Milo, the Fortresses were attacked aggressively by about 15 enemy fighters, but the giant bombers fought them off. At Catania they destroyed three enemy fighters in the air. R.A.F . Baltimores were on intruder patrols over Sicily throughout Monday night. The pilots said that they were reminded of Guy Fawkes night to judge by the number of aircraft bombs, flares and fires. A formation of Mustangs scored one direct hit and several near misses on three Italian destroyers near Palermo yesterday afternoon. One of the destroyers hit headed sharply for the shore, the crew apparently trying to beach her. Several bombs were dropped before the destroyers attempted to separate or take evasive action. Ships were sunk by the Canadian crews of flying Beaufighter torpedocarriers. Two ME 109’s which aproached the Tunisian coast at dusk on Monday were successfully intercepted by American Spitfires. One was destroyed and the other damaged. MAINLAND ’ ’DROMES HIT RUGBY, July 14. Middle East Liberators of the Ninth American Air Force smashed at Crotone and Vibo Valienta aerodromes in Calabria, on the Italian mainland at daylight yesterday. Nearly 200 tons of high explosive bombs were dropped, causing great damage. At Vibo Valienta, hits were observed on three hangars which were left unserviceable. Other direct hits were seen among administrative buildings, and munition storage sheds which exploded. Transport planes were seen blazing. One enemy aircraft was seen to-burst as it landed. Several oil fires were also started. Great columns of black smoke rose from aerodromes as the American bombers turned homewards.

At Crotone two waves of attacking bombers covered the target area with bursts, starting many oil tires, anti causing explosions. An unquoted number of aircraft were set on lire by incendiaries dropped in the dispersal areas. Sixteen fires were observed in one section. Large fires burning could be seen by our bombers over Vibo Valienta. Our Liberators met no enemy fighters. All the aircraft returned. ENEMY CRAFT ~DESTROYED. RUGBY, July 14. Since the opening of the Sicilian campaign Malta fighters have destroyed 106 enemy aircraft. Eleven of these were shot down last night when Beaufighters and Mosquitoes patrolling over Sicily had one of their best nights’ hunting. The record was achieved by single aircraft searching the skies for the enemy. Three Beaufighter pilots each shot down two enemy aircraft during one patrol. The pilots also kept a watch on aerodromes, roads and railways and attacked trains and convoys with cannon fire. One shot out a searchlight and later raked a goods train with cannon fire. Spitfires and Kittyhawks were out from Malta yesterday and destroyed 23 enemy aircraft. They also attacked columns of German and Italian transport on the roads with machine-gun and cannon fire,, wrecking many vehicles. The invasion beaches and ships were given unceasing protection by Spitfires in relays. The most striking action occurred when Spitfires caught ten Messerschmitt twin-engined fighters approaching Syracuse. They shot down seven and damaged two within a minute. Stuka dive-bombers were also badly mauled, the Spitfires destroying five and damaging the remainder. The same squadron also shot up Catania aerodrome and shot down a Dornier 217, and a Messerschmitt 109. Other Spitfires escorted Fortresses which attacked Catania aerodrome. RECORD CONCENTRATION. The Allies are putting into the battle of Sicily the greatest concentrated air offensive ever mounted, according to a broadcast from the Algiers radio. The broadcaster added: “The enemy air strength in Sicily is being drained away. When Flying Fortresses raided Catania yesterday the enemy put up only six fighters, three of which were shot down. Other Fortresses raiding Milo airfield met 15 enemy fighters, only two of which made attacks. One pilot described the enemy’s position as hopeless. 99 The'National Broadcasting Company’s Algiers correspondent says air traffic over Sicily is becoming so congested that pilots are requesting traffic control. The Air Force has enormously supported the troops. Here are the results of yesterday s operations over Sicily: At least 150 lorries were destroyed and an equal number damaged; six locomotives and 45 goods waggons were destroyed; airfields were bombed through the island; communications were strafed; two merchantmen were sunk and two destroyers damaged; 45 planes were shot down. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says the defenders of Sicily all yesterday underwent a tremendous ordeal as every type of plane in the North-west Africa Air Force participated in the intense blitz. The daylight assault which was unleashed with increased venom followed a night of relentless pounding. It is now confirmed that the Allies are operating from advanced landing grounds in Sicily and that fighters are operating in close support of the front-line troops.

DAMAGE AT MESSINA

LONDON, July 14. “Messina looks far worse than if an earthquake had struck it. The port looks like a combination of scrap-heap and brick-kiln.” This description, says the British United Press correspondent in Algiers, was given by pilots returning from smashing attacks on Sicilian ports and communication centres. They say that the devastation is widespread. One pilot said: “I doubt whether the German North Sea ports are any worse after three years of bombing.” Seventy-three enemy aeroplanes

have been shot down in two days, compared with 20 Allied aeroplanes lost, the correspondent adds. MONTGOMERY’S MESSAGE “COMPLETE”CONFIDENCE” ~~LONDON, July 14. “The time has now come to carry the war into Italy and into the Continent of Europe. The Italian overseas empire has been exterminated, and we will now deal with the home country,” declared General Montgomery in a message to the British forces under his command before the invasion of Sicily. He added: “To the Sth Army has been given the great honour of representing the British Empire in the Allied force which is now to carry out this task. On our left will be our American allies. Together we will set about the Italians in their own country in no uncertain way. They came into this war to suit themselves, and they must take the consequences. They asked for it and now they will get it The task in front of us is not easy, but it is not so difficult as many we have had in the past and have overcome successfully. In all our operations we have always had the close support of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, and because of that support we have always succeeded. In this operation the combined effort of the three fighting servicees is being applied in tremendous strength. Nothing will be able to stand against it. I want all of you, my soldiers, to know that I have complete confidence in the successful outcome of this opwith faith in God and with enthusiasm for our cause and for the day of battle, let us enter this contest with stout hearts and determination to conquer. The eyes of our families, and, in fact, of the whole Empire, will be on us. Once the battle starts we will see they get good news and plenty of it. To each one of you, whatever be your rank or employment, I would say: Good luck and good hunting in the home country of Italy.” ITALIAN PRESS COMMENTS The Rome radio, in a broadcast in English designed for Britain, claimed that the Italians in Sicily had not intended to try to stop the British landings. “British and American units on the fourth day after landing are still on the narrow strip of coastline where they first landed,” it said. Another Italian commentator admitted that there is nervousness in Italy, and that it is increased by the scarcity of news from Sicily. The Italian Stefani News Agency, quoting the Bologna newspaper “Avvenire,” says: “The battles going on in Sicily are as hard and serious as those fought in Russia and the Pacific. The attack on our territory is apparently intended as the start of an invasion of the Continent.” The newspaper “11 Lavoro Fascista” says: “The struggle is hard, but only in the first phase. Everything indicates that the battle will be long and bitter.” The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the German authorities are already preparing for an Allied occupation of Italy. News has reached London that large quantities of pamphlets in Italian are being printed at The Hague and elsewhere. These will be scattered over Italy instructing the population in methods of resistance to the army of occupation. ITALIANFLEET. LONDON, July 14. “Lack of destroyers is imposing inaction upon the Italian Naval Command,” says the naval correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” He points out that the two Italian fleets have not attempted to put to sea since the Allied invasion of Sicily. “It is doubtful whether Italy at present could send to’ sea more than 25 destroyers.” he adds. “Italian destroyer strength was so whittled away when these craft wore responsible for escorting reinforcements and supplies for the Axis armies in North Africa and the Dodecanese, that the Italian Navy now has insufficient destroyers for the needs of even one fleet.” FRENCH TROOPS IN ACTION. NEW YORK. July 14. “French trooos are fighting by the side of their Allies in Sicily,” said General Giraud in his first public speech in America, addressing West Point cadets. “The battle for Tunisia was the first victory; to-day, in Sicily, British. American, and some French troops are winning an even greater victory; to-morrow, they will liberate Europe. But a task will remain in the Pacific, where French troops will also light by your side until final victory is won.” ROMMEL REPORT. LONDON, July 14. The German underground radio station savs that Marshal Rommel was shot down by Allied fighters yesterday while flying to Sicily to assume command there. . Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says that the Swedish newspaper “Svenska Dagbladet,” giving this information, says that Marshal Rommel was travelling in a transport aeroplane under strong fighter escort, accompanied by German and Italian staff officers. A Malta dispatch yesterday reported that Spitfires had shot down a Junkers 52 transport aeroplane escorted by more than 30 German and Italian fighters over the Sicilian coast. Six of the fighter escort were also shot down in flames. LONDON, July 14. Authoritative circles in Berlin deny that Rommel has been killed. LAMPEDUSA'S GOVERNOR. RUGBY, July 13. Lampedusa is settling down under its new rule, and one of the first things the inhabitants did after the surrender of the island was to paint out all the Fascist signs all over the town, according to the Air Ministry News Service. “The people seemed genuinely pleased to be under the new rule and adopted this method of displaying their disgust with the old order,” commented Wing Commander J. B. Bisdee, D.F.C., a 27-year-old ace fighter pilot, who was recently appointed military governor of the island. Wing Commander Bisdee, who regards the work as a fascinating experiment in practical post-war reconstruction, holds a Court every morning to deal with the islanders’ problems. The garrison consisted of about 4000 Italians, and the new governor has kept about 400 of them, who are Lampedusians. These are now employed on rebuilding the town, filling in bomb craters, and repairing the fishing fleet. “The people certainly have nothing for which to thank Fascism and Mussolini,” Wing Commander Bisdee said. “I have reopened the schools, which were closed by the Italians months ago. I am doing mv best for the local people, particularly the children, for whom I have arranged a daily distribution of milk and orange juice.” JAPANESE PROPAGANDA LONDON, July 14. The Japanese are pouring out propaganda over the Tokio radio to the effect that the Allied invasion is a complete failure. To-day the radio announced that the British were boasting about invading the Sicilian coast but said the 'Japanese, the invasion attempt had been pushed back into the sea. There was not a figment of truth in the

British claims, said the announcer. These statements, however, were made in Japanese and were not put out in English.