BELATED RESISTANCE IN SICILY

Grey River Argus, 17 July 1943, Page 5

BELATED RESISTANCE IN SICILY

ON BOTH ALLIED FLANKS

Catania Plan Battle Begun

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.J LONDON, July 15. A correspondent says more than 12,000 prisoners have been taken, and 8,000 of them have been evacuated. (Rec. 1.10.) LONDON, July 16. The Exchange Telegraph Agency states: Eighteen thousand prisoners have thusfar been taken in Sicily. Italian prisoners complain bitterly of lack of equipment, due to the corruption of the Fascist Government, stating what little is available is hopelessly obsolete, this being due to members of the Government having interests in armament firms, and refusing to spend" money on new machinery, which could produce more up-to-date weapons. A despatch tells of the capture of Polish troops in the German Army. Two had brothers who fought in the Polish Army, and are now prisoners in German prison camps. One actually fought in the Polish Army against the Germans, then had been captured, released, and conscripted into the German Army. Most came from the Polish corridor of Danzig, or Upper Silesia, and because of their German names were listed as racial Germans. Most of them were 19 or 20 years old, and had six or eight months’ training. As soon as possible they got across.,to the Americans. They could scarcely find word§ enough to express delight at being captured. As the correspondent adds, this seems to be another glaring example of Hitler’s shortage of manpower. The German Army in its prime would never send into the front line troops who could not speak German; and who must from personal experience be anti-German.

A rift between the Italian and German troops is widening, the correspondent adds.

EIGHTH OF SICILY CAPTURED.

(Rec. 10.30.) LONDON, July 16. An Algiers report stated the Allies hold more than a thousand square miles, which is one-eighth of Sicily. Berlin stated a new convoy of forty-six merchantmen reached Gibraltar, and is preparing to leave for the Mediterranean Letting Sicily Go ? ITALIANS UNABLE TO RESIST INVADERS. (Rec. 9.5.) LONDON, July 15. The Allied headquarters on Thursday morning reported: ‘.‘Our forces are not meeting with any serious opposition.” Quoting this report, the “Daily Mail” in a leading article says:—lt begins to appear that neither the Italians nor the Germans are making any serious attempt to hold the island of Sicily. These people what-' ever may be said of their , courage, are not efficient in war. They never have been. Military observers consider that the scale and suddenness of the Allied attack have disorganised the defence plans, and that the defenders’ equipment is not adequate for their task. The Allied headquar- . ters report of meeting no serious opposition in the sixth day of the invasion. Resistance should have developed, however, in six hours. The enemy, if he were going to contest our landings, should certainly have thrown in a big counter-attack during the first seventy-two hours. Frankly, we do not believe that the Axis is in a position to mount an attack on the expected .«cale, or anything like it. There may be hard fighting before our men, but the enemy cannot fight hard enough to hold us up now. They have Jost any chance they may have once had of saving Sicily.

ITALIANS LACK GUNS. LONDON. J'uly 15. A correspondent at Algiers says that the Allied forces now moving along together in one unified plan of attack. Reports indicate that the Italians have not any modern field guns, and there is a shortage of old types. The latter is borne out by our troops discovering that a number of the coastal defence guns on the island were wooden dummies. Italian tank crews are forced to go into action in archaic Fiat tanks, designed in 1918, and then called the “Break-Down Tank.’’ CATANIA PLAIN' BATTLE Enemy Attacks ON ALLIED RIGHT. LONDON, July 15. The Germans on 'Tuesday succeeded in infiltrating into (?he Augusta base, but Eighth Army units strongly; attacked and drove them out. The Eighth Army met increased opposition "around Augusta from German units to the west and north. There have been several clashes, and heavy fighting on the road north of Augusta, where the enemy is striving to hold up our advance. The enemy threw in a number of tanks, some of which were knocked out. British forces repulsed a strong German attack on Augusta and pushed on to a small coast town, Brugoli, four miles north. Fighting round the harbour of Augusta was severe, but the dash of the British troops made a famous German regiment retire, with heavy losses.* Correspondents say that hard lighting is going on north of Augusta, on the east coast of Sicily,, where troops of the Eighth Army are pressing on. British troops met increased opposition north and west of Augusta. At one time German forces infiltrated into their positions, but a counter-at-tack drove them out.

A correspondent says that after Augusta had been captured Allied warships moved up the coast and shelled Lentini and Carlentini, northwest of Augusta; and new forces of paratroops and- glider-borne troops landed on Tuesday night round Lentini to wipe out enemy resistance. An Allied communique stated: The Eighth Army advanced several miles beyond Augusta. A 8.8. C. correspondent stated the Eighth Army carried through to the plain of Catania, and directly threatens Catania. Catania is believed to be within range of the heavy guns of British forces. The Commander of the Fiftyfourth Napoli Division, surrendered with his staff and of his troops, when the Eighth Army captured Mellin, eight miles south-west of Augusta'. On the Eighth Army’s north-west-ern front. British and Canadians are fighting together. The latest advance here has been seven to eight miles in hilly country, where the going is worse. Allied forces captured Lentinia and Carlentini between Augusta and Catania, and Bruso four miles west of Augusta’, and Mellila, five miles south-west, A heavy tank and infantry battle is being fought south of Catania, where, for the first time, advancing Allied forces are meeting strong resistance. London . military observers believe

the full force of the best Axis troops and equipment is now coming into action.

The Associated Fress Algiers correspondent says: Heavy opposition is now being encountered, as Germans and Italians attempt to block the Eighth Army’s advance on Catania. The Axis Command has apparently decided to concentrate most of their forces in the eastern coastal area. Our main coastal forces are still moving on but the Germans have drawn up in strength, supported by tanks and artillery. The British United Press, describing the strong German counter-at-tack against Augusta, to-day, says it began at dawn, and succeeded in isolating a British brigade, holding the town for several hours. The British let loose with heavy lighting and ousted the enemy. The situation was restored by mid-day. The Germans used a number of heavy tanks, some of which were destroyed. Another correspondent stated: Up to now, enemy, resistance has not been nearly as strong as expected, but it seems highly probably he will light zor Catania, and generally we expect resistance to stiffen. '

Eighth Army RUNS INTO POWERFUL FORCE. (Rec. 12.25 a.m.) LONDON, July. 16. A report from Algiers says: A battle for the Lentini bottleneck, which is the gateway to the Catanian Plain, is in full swing. The German radio stated; Whole districts in Catania' region are ablaze, following an Allied sea and air bombardment on Tuesday and Wednesday. Petrol and oil installations are still smouldering. Battleships, cruisers, aircraft-carriers, and smaller units are hammering at selected points in support of Allied ground forces. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters stated: Eighth Army spearheads, advancing on jLentini, encountered outposts of a powerful Gerup across the Lentini bottleneck, and man force. Apparently it is drawn up across ’the Lentini bottleneck is guarding the entrance to the Catania Plain. The bottleneck, northwards of Lentini, is four miles wide. It is a strop of land between Lentini and the Lake Carlentini marshes, which run to the sea. The major highway to Catania strikes across the centre of this neck. German forces are now deploying in the vicinity of this bottleneck in ever increasing strength. They hope to check the Eighth Army’s advance and to remove a threat to the Catanian Plain with its chain of airbases, as well as to Catania City. Reports from Algiers said more Allied paratroops and airborne troops were dropped to reinforce those already fighting behind the Axis forces. Thdv deployed on the plain behind the bottleneck. ' a The Axis Command is reported now to be throwing in only German units into Sicily so as to stiffen the resistance to the Allied threat to the Catania Plain. ALLIED RIGHT ADVANCE. PREMATURE ’CLAIMS'. (Rec. 10.50) LONDON, July 16. Algiers radio reported that Allied forces were storming the city of Catania. The report is premature. The capture of Lentini and Carlentini was also reported earlier. Their fate, however, is still doubtful. A British United Press correspondent stated: Allied forces, after beating back Axis counter-attacks Augusta, advanced at least six miles north, captured the little coastal town of Bracoli.

Advance Checked

THE GERMAN ACCOUNT.

LONDON, July 15. German sources state that Allied troops in Sicily are fighting forward through clouds of smoke from burning olive groves which they, set on fire to prevent Axis forces hiding in them, also to use as cover for attacks on machine-gun nests and other centres of resistance. Berlin radio’s military commentator, Captain Sertorius stated: “The enemy to-day continued their attempts to penetrate the interior of Sicily, but encountered most violent resistance from the Axis forces, who at a number of points repelled tanksupported attacks. The Germans and Italians have a number of reserves not yet thrown in. The enemy are bringing up further reinforcements, but the influx is confined to former landing places. “General Montgomery’s right wing continues to advance in strength towards Catania, but has not yet crossed the plain south of the town. British tanks did not succeed in reaching parachutists dropped in the Catania area on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Speedy annihilation of the parachutists probably upset the British tactics. German reserves thrown in south of Catania threw the British back several kilometres at various points. “The Eighth Army, in the mountains west of Syracuse, also Avola, is still engaged in indecisive fighting which has resulted in heavy British casualties. Montgomery’s left wing, after the original rapid advance through Modica to Ragusa, has now encountered fresh sustained Italian resistance north of Ragusa. “The Americans further west, especially south of Caltagirone, are engaged in heavy fighting and have advanced only slightly" beyond the coastal sector. The Canadians who attacked from Licata in a northwesterly direction and reached Naro have made a somewhat greater territorial gain.’’ ENEMY RESISTANCE. GROWS IN WEST SECTOR. LONDON, July 15. A 8.8. C. correspondent says that the Americans driving up from Noro threaten all the lines of communication in the centre of the island. The American Seventh Army captured an important aerodrome, and several dominating- hills. British and American airborne and parachute troops carried out successful operations. The Americans captured the aerodrome at Biscari, about 12 miles east of Gela. It is officially announced that further parachute and airborne troops made landings in Sicily. An Allied communique reported considerable gains in (the western sector. Americans made an advance in the west. Algiers radio stated Americans were 20 miles north of Comiso.

Enemy resistance is reported in the Gela sector, on the south coast, where American forces are engaged. The enemy is said to be using tanks against the Americans, some’ of them the giant Tigers. (Rec. 11.10.) LONDON, July 16.

A British United Press correspondent reports': United States forces, in pushing up wooded- valleys from Gela into hilly country are meeting with increased enemy resistance. The Axis forces defending this area are

trying to,ward off Allied thrusts, which would be likely to cut communications running from the southeast to the north-west. The Axis is reported to be massing on the Americans’ extreme left flank. Americans from Naro are pushing northwards towards Canicatti. Their occupation of Canicatti would sever Axis communications behind their, present lines. CAPTURE BY AMERICANS. LONDON, July 16. It is reported that American forces captured Campobello about twelve miles north of Licata. BETTER ITALIAN FORCES. DEMANDED FOR SICILY. (Rec. 12.10.) LONDON, July 6. A Berne report said: A change in the military leaders in Sicily and its assignment of Italy’s best forces to th e island’s defence are demanded by Signor Farinacci, prominent member and former Secretary of the Fascist Party. Writing in his paper “Regime Fascista” he headed ms article “Look Reality in the Face!’’ Signor Farinacci attacked what he termed “useless elements of the Fascisti Hierarchy.” He demanded “a hierarchy of values, that knows how to give the people a little sunshine after so many fiascos and so much bitterness.” Signor Farinacci asserted that large bands of Sicilian partisans were fighting on the side o the Allies.

MESSINA AGAIN BOMBED. LONDON, July 15. Nearly three hundred bombers made concentrated attacks on Messina. from North Africa and the Middle East. Nearly 180 tons of high explosives were dropped in daylight by about seventy-five Middle East United States Liberators, which attacked the ferry terminal in three waves. Great destruction was caused among transport facilities. Direct hits were scored on the marshalling yards and railway tracks. A large explosion among naval oil storage tanks was followed by a great fire. Mustangs continued the offensive over Sicilian areas at daybreak and maintained it throughout the day, bombing towns and railways in Leonforte. Vallelunga and Stefano in Central Sicily. Three locomotives and at least thirty railway wagons and dozens of trucks were destroyed besides many damaged. Spectacular attacks were made on enemy shipping near Corsica and Sardinia. R.A.F. Beaufighters torpedoed a tanker which blew up and was left blazing, and also left a cargo vessel sinking. They also shot up a small cargo ship and a destroyer. A Junkers 52 was destroyed.

1000 TURIN RAID CASUALTIES. LONDON, July 16. The Rome radio announced that 402 people were killed and 601 injured in the R.A.F. raid on Turin last Monday night. CAPTURE OF ENEMY AIRFIELDS. (Rec. 6.30.) LONDON, July 15. A British United Press correspondent stated: Probably the most spectacular reverse the German air force has suffered in the war has. been the Allied occupation of six important airfields. There is .already increasing British and American air supremacy. They are attacking remaining Axis-held airfields with continual relays of fighters and fighter-bombers. Deterioration in Axis air resistance in the last three days has been rapid. It is estimated that barely half as many ’planes are being put into the air, whether from aerodromes in Sicily or the mainland. A correspondent at an advanced Allied base in North Africa stated: With the capture of the key airfield, from which Allied planes can operat air battles, Sicily is almost won. A correspondent stated the Allies have seven of the Axis airfields in Sicily and a seaplane base. Allied fighter planes are now operating from captured airfields in Sicily, and from Fantellaria in support of the advance.

Messina ferry came in for increasingly heavy attacks from Allied bombers.

Americans were the first to occupy Comiso airfield. They found some dozens of aircraft bh and round the landing ground, most of them destroyed by bombing. Three huge hangars were gutted, and the operations block was a skeleton of burnt wall.

Within a few hours of the occupation by American air-borne troops, R.A.F. units arrived at the Comiso airfield, with American Engineers and ground troops. At Comiso town, the population gave the Americans and R.A.F. a remarkably warm welcome. An R.A.F. officer described the devastating bombing of Comiso by the Allies, before' the enemy evacuated it. He said that everywhere on and around the aerodrome were found scenes of destruction and of hurried departure, such as were seen on the Tunisian battlefields —meals half eaten, half-empty wine bottles strewn about, and cars laden with personal baggage ready to move. A few yards away were- letters, newspapers and magazines with pictures of Axis victories in Tunisia' on the front page, and picture postcards with slogans by Goering and the Duce, announcing a complete victory. The aerodromes and three' huge hangars were completely destroyed. The operations block, with the control tower, was one large skeleton of smashed halls. The preponderance of the German material points to the fact that the Luftwaffe was the dominating force on this airfield one of the biggest and most important on the island, yet the nearby town of Comiso was never’ touched by bombs. The famished citizens complained of rough treatment by the Germans, who had rifled their larders.