ALLIES APPROACHING ASCENDANCY IN SICILY

Grey River Argus, 16 July 1943, Page 5

ALLIES APPROACHING ASCENDANCY IN SICILY

RESISTANCE NOWHERE CAUSES A HALT

Struggle for Plain of Catania Starting

[Aust. & N-Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, July 14. No official news was on Wednesday morning received of the Allied progress in Sicily. Reuter’s Agencj' stated: Allied gains are- being made along the whole front. They have taken a third of Sicily, and are fighting deeper into the heart of the island without meeting serious opposition. The casualties continue to be slight. Many Sicilian families who fled inland when the' invasion forces landed on the southeastern beaches, are now returning to their homes. They are friendly and helpful and are being supplied with food. The British main drive is progressing along the coast road from Augusta. Americans fanning out westward from Licata have extended their left flank between eight and 10 miles and have' captured Na'ro. A second American force striking northeast from Gela seized Ponteolivo airfield and is now less than two miles from Niscemi. Other American troops who linked up with a Canadian left flank outside Ragusa captured Comiso airfield. Allied penetration on .this front has now, reached a depth of 10 miles; Canadians fighting east of the Americans have occupied Modica. The British United Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters says: The Allied offensive has apparently continued to surprise the enemy by, the speed, force and perfect execution. The fall of Augusta and Ragusa keeps the- Allies well ahead of their time plan. Allied penetration at some points is 30 miles, and nowhere' less than six miles, the 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 he a prime factor in the advance against the enemy's armoured strength which lies somewhere on the Allied line of advance across the island.

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.

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.

It is now confirmed that the Allies are operating from advanced landing grounds in Sicily and that lighters are operating in close support of the front-line troops. Sicily yesterday, underwent a tremendous ordeal as every type of plane in the North-west Africa 1 Air Force participated in the intense blitz. The daylight assault which was unleashed with increased venom followed a night of relentless pounding. The Press Association’s writer declares: We are now sufficiently/ well established in Sicily to deal with any large counter-attacks the enemy may launch.

Non-Resistance Attitude

SOLDIERS IN SICILY.

WALK-OVER FOR ALLIES IN SOUTH-EAST TIF.

(Rec. 7.30) RUGBY, July 14. One newspaper correspondent stated: Invasion of the south-eastern tip of Sicily has become pursuit of almost a non-resisting enemy'. in three days the assault force has gone twice as far and twice as fast as planned. An armoured spearhead by midday on Monday was at Palazzolo, thirty miles from the landing beach and was expected to be miles further north-west by the end or the afternoon. Shock forces swarmed ashore early on Saturday. They brought with them scarcely enough transport for the progress expected. That transport is still inadequate. Now the invaders have assumed the role of pursuers of the world’s fleetest retirers. I saw men on Monday footslogging along. Under lhe’ blaze of noonday! sun they were going slightly wearily. They are feeling the heat, and must be -starting Io tire as they plod on. But their spirit and morale are as good as ever. The Italians’ non-resistance reached a new peak when they abandoned twentyfour field guns following the start of an infantry attack on their positions. Though well placed along a line of commanding heights, they fired only a few token rounds. Then some gunners fled. Some gave themselves up. The guns were captured by attacking infantry, without a single casualty. An impression of the capture was given by Captain James Pennie, who said that one minute the men were fighting forward and a few minutes later they were giving cigarettes to prisoners. Five minutes after that they were pacifying nearby women and children. Axis aircraft swept over too late to save the batteries. Nevertheless opposition was chiefly encountered by artillery. Italian infantry was still as light-shy as at the start of the invasion. A captain commanding a company, whom I asked how the battle was'going, replied: “1 fired one Bren gun magazine, and. captured one hundred and seventy prisoners.”' Axis air ‘activity on Monday was still relatively slight in this sector, especially during the day. Axis air forces missed a great chance. Great concentrations of shipping no longer cluster on beaches, as at the start of the invasion. Here is an indication of the enemy’s failure to seize chances. One-tank landing ship stuck fast on one- beach, and was moved only after a three days’ effort to pull her off. During the whole time not one attempt was made to attack the ship. Pachino airfield was found ploughed up, but it is quickly being brought back to a’ usable condition. It is now becoming possible to form some estimate of Axis strength in Sicily, and of total armour available to him. This includes some Tiger tanks. The majority are Italian tanks. Sunday and Monday saw a steady trek back to farms and villages of civilians in numerous donkey carts. It is interesting to note that men smile and salute in a British fashion. Children laugh and cheer and give the “V” sign. But most of the women are serious faced, and undemonstrative. Some raise a hand in the Fascist salute. Lorry,loads of prisoners, nearly all cheerful, come in with many of the men singing. There is no doubt we caught the local troops with their trousers off, but it is impossible to believe that the majority ran without eVen putting on that garment, as would seem to be indicated by a large number of Italian uniforms scattered all over the place. Judging by the number of men of apparent military age and fitness working on farms, there has been a certain amount, of unofficial demobilisation by Sicilian soldiers, who quickly seized a chance to return to their vineyards, vegetable gardens, and homes as civilians, rather than spend the rest of the war as prisoners.

ALLIED ADVANCE.

ALONG EAST COAST.

LONDON, July 14.

The British in the area south-west of Augusta are not meeting serious resistance. They cantured Priolo, north-west of Syracuse-, z British, Canadians, and Americans

are storming the Catania defences wherein a breach has been made, reports the Algiers radio. The report that the Americans are participating in the drive against Catania is the first indication they, are operating so far east. Eighth 'Army spearheads are thrusting into weak enemy defences and are within 15 miles of Catania. New Allied landings near Catania are reported. One-tnird of the Sicilian coast is now in Allied hands.

Eighth Army columns in a phenomenal advance north of Augusta are pouring across the foothills on the southern verge of the C'atanian plain with Catania, the key Sicilian port, as their 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. 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, Ponteolivo and Comiso. The town of Palma has also been captured. Allied troops are less than six miles from Catania according to ■ reports from Berlin, says the British United Press Stockholm correspondent. Advanced Allied storm-troops 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.

A Berlin report claims that a battle for Catania has started, and heavy fighting is going on. The occupatin of Augusta is officially confirmed by to-day’s communique.

SOUTH SECTOR. CANADIAN PROGRESS. LONDON, July 14. Press correspondents report that Canadian troops captured Modica, a town of 5,000 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. Capture of Modica is not yet officially confirmed. The town is 20 miles north-west from Cap Passero and ten miles from the coast, on the railway between Syracuse and Ragusa. Canadians are' driving a big salient into hills by linking up Modica and Palazzolo.

WEST SECTOR. THE AMERICAN LINE. LONDON, July 14. The American Army’s extreme left, which is the western limit of the Allied front, now rests on the seashore in the neighbourhood of Palma. The line then' runs almost due north to Nafo, 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. Reporters at Allied Headquarters in North Africa sav that British, American and Canadian troops are now threatening Caltagirono 20 miles north-east of- Gela and two villages on the road to Catania. Another correspondent reports that the Allies have taken an airfield north of Gela. American troops, tanning out from Licata, captured Noro, some ten miles inland. At Augusta we found the harbour undamaged.

BRITISH PUSH. ' TOWARDS CATANIA. (Rec. 11.40) LONDON, July 15. Algiers radio stated: British forces late on Wednesday night were about twelve miles from Catania. The Allied advance has been progressing well in all sectors. No serious opposition was encountered. Canadians occupied a further locality south-east of Ragusa. British, Americans, and Canadians north of Augusta are advancing in open, fan-like formation towards the interior of the island. An Allied advance, since the fall of Augusta proceeded with clock-like precision. A menace to Axis forces is taking on dangerous proportions. British troops are making a mass infiltration towards Catania. The British United Press stated: When the Eighth Army enters Catania, it will have covered two thoiisand miles by land and sea since it started its victorious advance from El Alamein.

ALLIED WALKOVER.

NO SICILIAN RESISTANCE

(Rec 11.20.) LONDON, July 15. A combined British Press party, which landed in Sicily on Tuesday, says: “We drove for many hours far inland through territory already in Allied hands after only three davs fighting Everywhere there was evidence of how slight the defence had been. In the first place it remarkable to see scores of Allied ships Ivin- with impunity off this hostile coast. Throughout the day we did not see a single enemy plane. Everywhere on the roads we met prisoners as smiling, docile and lightly guarded as those* we saw on the roads in Tunisia. Here and there by the roadside Sicilians in some villages blotted out ‘Elliva II Duce and Evviva Mussolini’ sitms on walls and substituted ‘Evviva George Sixth. The population in other parts seems entirelv inert, and uninterested. Peasants and village flolk sit on pavements- as troops come in. they scarcely look up. People aie not hostile. When Questioned they show marked antipathy to the Fascist gime 'and the Germans. We saw captured guns, and tanks, mostly undamaged. Several towns have been bombed. It has been found that tn.s brings the garrison out to surrender prettv promptly. Our troops report much snipin'” is still going on in areas from which the mam body oi the enemy has withdrawn.

’ ITALIAN SUS. CAPTURED. (Rec 11.10) 'LONDON', July 15. The Exchange Telegraph Agency stated: One of our minesweepers entering Augusta Harbour after the occupation captured an Italian oliomarine which was, deavouring to escape. The minesweeper’s crew saw the submarine s perriscope, and turned to ram it. q hereupon the submarine surfaced, and surrendered. Augusta is tne biggest naval base in Sicily. It was used as a submarine and E-boat base. The Italians spent huge sums in building moles there, two miles long. ALEXANDER’S VISIT TO FRONT. (Rec. 11.10’ LONDON, July 15. A representative of the combined British Press at Allied Headquarters

in North. Africa said; General Alexander has returned from a visit to Allied troops at the front. He appeared fully satisfied with the progress of the invasion. He saw something of the country in which Allied troops are fighting. Narrow tortuous roads through hills favour the defence. Our troops at many points are finding the country is more difficult than Northern ’Tunisia. The fact that the Luftwaffe has done so little initially strengthens General Alexander’s belief that it has been- overworked by the German High Command, and is losing taste for combat. During three hours General Alexander spent on the island he motored along some narrow roads running through hills, and passed a number of burnt out German tanks.

MESSINA STRAITS BATTLES.

BETWEEN SMALL CRALT.

[Ans' & N.Z Cable Accn.l

(Rec. UNO) LONDON, July 15. A “Daily Herald” correspondent stated: The Royal Navy's mosquito fleet, now operating in the narrow Messina' Straits, is making the Axis task of sending reinforcements and supplies to Sicily most difficult. Since the invasion began small ships have been, ranging the Straits at night when the enemy might send ships across the narrows. These highspeed motor torpedoboats and gunboats thus deny use of the Straits to the enemy, and at the same time cover Allied transports unloading troops and stores further- down the coast from boat attacks. Early on Tuesday the mosquito fleet met a flotilla of German E-boats coming through the narrows. immediately they attacked, driving two ashore m flames, and also damaged another E-boat in another brush with the enemy later. ENEMY SITUATION. GROWING WORSE. (Ri?c. 11.0.) LONDON, July 15. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent states: The battle for bridgeheads is over. Allies to-day are entering the Sicilian battle as a mainland force with complete control of mountain approaches in the south-eastern area. British, Canadian and American advances now gravely imperil Caltagirone at the central entrance to the Catania Plain, also Leritini and Carlentini, key villages on a road along which the Eighth Army is advancing towards Catania. Operations are now been cleared of initial hazards. The situation appears more difficult for the Axis than for the Allies. Our advance along the coast still appears to be rapid. TOTAL OF* PRISONERS. (Rec. 11.50.) LONDON, July 15. Allied Headquarters in. North Africa say that more than twelve thousand prisoners have been captured in Sicily.

Allied Air Attack

LONDON, July 14. On Tuesday 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 tightens, but the giant bombers fought them off. At Catania they destroyed three enemy fighters in the air. A formation or Mustangs scored one direct hit and several near misses on three Italian destroyers near Palermo yesterday afternoon. One of the destroyers hit headed sharply ioi’ the shore, the crew apparently trying to beach her. Several bombs were dropped before the destroyers attempted to separate or take evasive action. The Ninth American Air horce smashed at Crotone and Vibo Valienta aerodromes in Calabria, on the Italian mainland at daylight on Monday. 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 fires, and causing explosions. An unquoted number of aircraft were set on fire bv incendiaries dropped in the dispersal areas. Sixteen Vires were observed in one section. Lprge fires burning could be seen by ( our bombers over Vibo Valienta. • Our Liberators met no enemy fighters. All the aircraft returned. In Tuesday’s Allied air attacks in 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. 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 Aii’ Force played havoc with enemy shipping, dinking two merchant vessels and leaving two new destroyers damaged. Ships were sunk by the Canadian crews of flying Beaulighter torpedocarriers. , , . Two ME 109’s which approached the Tunisian coast at dusk on Monday were successfully, intercepted by American Spitfires. One was destroyed and the other damaged. Baltimores were on intruder patrols over Sicily throughout Monday night. The pilots said that they were reminded of Guy Fawkes night to judge bv. the number of aircraft bombs, flares and fires. Since the opening of the Sicilian campaign Malta fighters have destroyed 106 enemy aircraft Eleven of 'these were shot down last night wh«n Beauiighters -and Mosouitoes patrolling over Sicily had one of their Joest nights’ hunting. The record was 1 achieved by single aircraft seal citing the skies for the enemy. Italian Anticipation ALLIED AIR AND SEA SUPERIORITY. LONDON, July lb. The “Giornale D’ltalia” in a leading article stated: The battle of Sicily has entered an acute phase. The British-American command is taking advantage of the naval and air inferiority wherein Italy finds herself, despite the assistance of German forces in the face of a vast deployment of enemy forcese. The Rome radio says: The Italian High Command anticipates that the Allies from Pantellaria will soon at- ■ tempt a landing on the west coast of i Sicily. A landing attempt on July 113, west of Licata, was repulsed. It ■ is revealed at Algiers that General Alexander yesterday travelled to j Sicily in a light cruiser, and spent J several hours with the troops. ALLIED PLAN TO CUT OFF SICILY. GERMAN PREDICTION OF A CHECK ' (Rec. 10.20.) LONDON, July 15. , Captain Sertorious Berlin radio s military commentator, stated: Fighting in Sicily has become a great

battle, which is taking its course with increasing violence. The Allies are receiving reinforcements continuously. Attempts to penetrate inland are backed most efficiently by a far superior air force, which is operating ceaselessly. It cannot be said that the British and Americans are having a walk over. The progress in many places is really very modest. They have won in the Italian zone approaches to the south-east mountainous regions, and forced a path to Catania Plain. They are supported by their battle fleet. The offensive aims at the conquest of the whole east coast to Messina, thus completely isolating the island from the Continent. It is obvious that the Axis High Command has already made adequate dispositions to . prevent the achievement of this aim. GERMAN CLAIM. ALLIED PARATROOP REGIMENT WIPED OUT. (Rec 10.26.) LONDON, July 15. The Berlin radio claims that there was' a large British paratroop operation on the Catanian Plain on Tuesday night. It involved at least a regiment The operation completely failed The! paratroops landed to attack in the rear of the Axis forces opposing the drive against Catania. The paratroops jumped into the middle ’of German concentrations. Most of the paratroops were wiped out or ta The says: “The Axis has put all available reserves into the field in Sicily!, thus .stiffening the Axis resistance and slowing down the Allied advance. More Allied reinforcements. however, continue to pour into the island. 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.