NEAR CATANIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 193, 15 July 1943, Page 5

NEAR CATANIA

ALLIES' RAPID PROGRESS TANKS IN ACTION (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 14. The 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 has 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. Great numbers of Axis troops and fantastic quantities of equipment arc being sent to the bottom of the Messina Straits, says the Algiers radio. Airborne troops are incessantly harrying the enemy rear, destroying lines of communication and spreading confusion everywhere, and seizing military installations. SEVERE BLOWS FROM AIR. 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 headquarters in North Africa. Severe damage was done to enemy transport and communications. At least 360 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 dam-' aged. . '/"' "' -.1" .

Fortresses gave the airfields at Catania, Trapani, and Milo a heavy pounding, hitting many aircraft on the ground at Catania. At Milo 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 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 was hit and 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. The ships were sunk by Canadian crews flving Beaufighter torpodo-carricrs. 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.—Official Wireless.