GATES OF CATANIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21150, 19 July 1943, Page 3

GATES OF CATANIA

THE EIGHTH ARMY NAVY POUNDS CITY AMERICAN SUCCESSES (11.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. .Catania was bombarded last night by. a British battleship lying five miles out in the bay. On land, the Eighth Army captured an important bridge on the way to Catania and in the south-west the Americans occupied more places.

While the Eighth Army was seven miles from the gates of Catania, a British battleship steamed close inshore and smashed up a big barracks in 30 minutes of pounding. The bombardment took place at dusk, the battleship entering Catania harbour and opening fire at the close range of seven miles. A correspondent describes the shells falling on selected targets, including barracks, and tells how they tore through buildings, leaving them masses of rubble. Broadside after broadside was poured in and after she steamed away her after turrets added parting shots to the blazing targets. Depth charges were dropped to counter U-boats. Two enemy aircraft appeared, but did not stay when they saw what they were up against. British motor torpedo-boats operating in the Messina Straits scored torpedo hits on an 8000-ton Italian cruiser in a night attack which was delivered from a distance of 400yds.

On land, the Eighth Army is slowly overcoming very strong German resistance seven miles from the gates of Catania.

The Allied line is now 10 miles longer as a result of the American capture of Agrigento, and American rangers are reported to have captured a place a few miles to the south. The main forces are driving steadily inland to the heart of Sicily. Our air offensive was being maintained at a high pitch and during the night medium bombers attacked Catania, other bombers raiding enemy communications. A North African communique reports the destruction of 18 enemy aircraft in the latest operations, which included attacks on southern Italy. The combined Allied losses for all operations were 13 planes. A correspondent says that the Allies are hitting Sicily so hard thai the island’s defenders’ only hope of averting a complete collapse is the Arnim plan—a rearguard action on ttie pattern which enabled the Axis to hold out for six months in Tunisia. Eighth Army tanks and artillery are concentrating terrific fire-power north of Lentini, and the Axis forces, including the 15th Panzer Division, are suffering 'heavily. The main battles of the campaign are about to be decided on the Catanian plain, the features of which favour defensive tactics. The plain is seared with streams and river-beds, forming excellent natural barriers and trenches across our advance. The Germans are estimated to form a quarter of the Axis strength. The Italians have shown previously that they can light well if strongly entrenched and their flanks are well secured. The fall of Canicatti, which is the inost northerly point the American;, have reached, marks the Allies’ steady progress towards Caltanissetta, one of Sicily’s most important road and rail centres. • Its capture will jeopardise the supplies and mobility of the Axis forces. The fall of Biscari gave the Allies their eighth airfield in Sicily. When Catania falls, the Axis troops based in th£ mountains westward will be in serious danger of being cut olt from all supplies. A message from North Africa says that the Americans sustained a new attack at Barrafranca, 11 miles southeast of Caltanisetta. Sixteen enerm tanks were employed. The attack was repulsed and the Americans continued to advanced. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent .at Allied headquarters reports that the number of prisoners taken on the entire Sicilian front is now nearing 30,000, of whom the Americans captured more than 20,000. Most of the prisoners are Italians. Bitter fighting is still going on on the Catania plain, with the enemy putting up increased resistance, states a press correspondent in Algiers, cabling yesterday. Despite this, the Eighth Army continues to advance towards this important keytown and port and are now within 15 miles. Yesterday we advanced further north in this neighbourhood. The Germans have been using one of their crack regiments. The Americans in the western sector continued steady progress yesterday through mountainous country. There are no reports of any enemy air activity over the battlefront yesterday. Italian troops are still showing little heart and yesterday a British field artillery regiment captured 160 with some tanks, lorries, and motor cycles.