Canadians Join 8th Army On Catanian Plain

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1943, Page 3

Canadians Join Bth Army On Catanian Plain

(Received 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. “AXIS FORCES HAVE BEGUN EVACUATION FROM THE n NORTH-EASTERN TIP OF SICILY. WE WILL SOON HEAR GREAT NEWS FROM THE SICILIAN BATTLEFRONT,” STATED CAIRO RADIO. Americans at present are speeding eastward from Palermo and have severed the northern coastal road. Canadians, driving from Enna, joined up with the Eighth Army on the Catania plain. Vichy radio says Berlin reports state that Italians east of Palermo are carrying out a large-scale retreat towards Messina. Numerically superior enemy forces operating from Enna northeastwards, have succeeded in penetrating German defences and have occupied two localities. The Germans north of this bulge have sealed the gap and counter-attacked. Fierce fighting continues. The message adds that the Eighth Army has limited activity in the Catania area to heavy shelling which has increased to drum-fire intensity. Allied headquarters state that more than 100,000 prisoners have been taken in Sicily. Reports received in Istanbul state that the Germans are taking over complete command of all Greek ports, also Corinth Canal. Disquiet appears to be growing elsewhere in the Balkans with a growing conviction that the Allies are about to strike a blow in the Eastern Mediterranean linking up with the Russian offensive.

Prepare Last Stand The Allies are maintaining constant pressure against the Axis forces in Sicily, who are hurriedly building a defence line across the 70-mile base of the San Stqfano-Messina-Catania triangle, in which they are preparing for a last-ditch stand. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters says the enemy, in face of the Allied onslaught is attempting •to pull together badly battered forces of fleeing Italians and resolute Germans in the faint hope of still saving Sicily. Catanian battlefield remains the pivot of the front, slowly rotating eastwards. The Eighth Army forces face Germans across the central stream cf the Catanian Plain, south of the city where, six days ago, it was officially stated they were within three miles of Catania city. The Eighth Army is still meeting strong resistance. Canadians farther north are engaging in stiff battles as they drive back Axis troops towards the lower slopes of Mount Etna. Americans in the extreme north, meanwhile are sweeping steadily eastwards along the coast. Enemy Reinforced Armies of the United Nations tonight are massing for the final battle for Sicily, says Columbia Broadcasting System’s Algiers correspondent. Meanwhile there are reports of reinforcements reaching Axis forces in Sicily. Ankara radio said that troops travelling to the Russian front had been diverted to Sicily. The British United Press reports that a number of battalions have been flown to Sicily since the invasion began. Others arrived by ships and the enemy is still trying to get others through the Allied blockade. The Press Association's military writer suggests that reports that the Germans are evacuating the island across Messina Straits should be treated with reserve and adds: “On the contrary, small Axis craft are trying to get through with all reinforcements they can carry to fighting troops. Supply Lines Hammered Reports from all sources indicate that Allied air forces are constantly hammering Axis communications and supply lines. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent, says that roads and key targets within the Axis defence triangle are receiving a ceaseless battering. Road communications behind enemy lines are restricted, the only main highways available being the north coastal road on the Catania-Messina highway and an interior road swinging west from Mt. Etna through much-bombed Randazzo. Allied airmen are patrolling these regularly. Mainland Heavily Raided

reports that the first South African fighter squadron to fight against the Axis outside Africa is now operating wnh fib advanced Spitfire squadron. Marsala Occupied “A rapidly diminishing portion of the island is all that remains to the Axis',” said Saturday’s North Africa communique. "South of Catania, the Germans ary fiercely resisting the Eighth Army pressure. The Americans occupied, the important: port of Marsala, and continued to mop up enemy resistance in the western part of the island. Large numbers of prisoners and huge quantities of equipment have fallen into the hands of the Seventh Army. "G'n Thursday night our bombers attacked rail communications at Salerno, and also attacked an airfield in Italy. • - "Attacks on Italian airfields yesterday by medium bombers followed our raids on Aquino and Cot rone, while heavybombers attacked Leverano, in the heel of Italy. Many bombs burst in the target area, and a number of aircraft were destroyed on the ground Heavy bombers encountered formations of enemy aircraft and shoi down 12. “During the day, road and rail communications in Sicily were attacked, and fighter-bombers attacked 10 enemy barges elf the north coast. Torpedo-carrying aircraft sank one enemy merchantman, damaged three others, and left a destroyer in flames. During these operations, one enemy aircraft was destroyed. "The previous night our fighters shotdown three enemy aircraft. From, all these operations four of our aircraft are missing." Western Sicily Free Operations in Western Sicily can bit considered at an end, though some of the enemy forces, of course, are still in process of being mopped up, including the 202nd and 2o3th Coastal Divisions, and most of the 23th Aosta Division, according to a correspondent in Sicily. In the centre, the 15th Panzer Division and the remains of the 26th Assieta Division are withdrawing to the north-east, in front of the Canadians in Nicosia area. Eastwards, in the- Catanian Plain, resistance is still very stubborn. According to an estimate quoted by an agency war correspondent at. Allied force headquarters. Axis prisoners in Sicily number at least. 110,600. The total brought in is now at least: 60,000, of which 45,000 were captured by the American Seventh Army. It is estimated that 50,000 more have been rounded up in the extreme western end of the island. - The correspondent adds: "There are indications that the Germans are bringing in airborne reinforcements to the northeastern tip. All the airfields in the west have been captured or neutralised.' In central sector, Canadians are making progress against stiffening resistance.” Bombarded From Sea Allied headquarters in the Mediterranean announce that bombardments from the S'-a north of Augusta continued against the enemy’s right flank. Two of our destroyers were in action with three E-boats on the night of July 20. Hits on all enemy craft are reported, two of them being seriously damaged. Beaufighters attacked an Axis convoy off the Italian coast and blew up a transport: and torpedoed another, which was seen sinking. They- also set fire to two ships, hit a destroyer and shot down an Italian plane.

A correspondent of the British United Press at an advanced air base says that Allied air forces, also increasing the weight of attack against the mainland, carried out one of the biggest air blitzes of the campaign against Italian railways during 43 hours ending early today. The attack against Bologna was the first against that town. Berlin radio quoted a Rome message to the effect that the Allied air raid on Bologna began at 9.50 a.m. yesterday and ended ahoui 12.50 p.m. Many buildings, mostly in the residential centre of the city were destroyed or heavily damaged among the landmarks hit was Marconi's birthplace. Seaforth Highlanders It is revealed in London that the Seaforth Highlanders are fighting in Sicily with the dash and tenacity which has made them famous. Some went ashore in the first landing near Cap Passero; others followed a few hours later near Syracuse. Of the hard fighting which carried the Eighth Army to Catania the Seafcrtns had their full share.

Messina Bridgehead Remains The only part of Sicily remaining in Axis possession is the Messina bridgehead. Information available in London confirms correspondents’ reports that the enemy’s main defence line now runs from Catania around Mt. Etna and northwards to the coasst. There is no confirmation of the reports of enemy evacuation across the straits tc- the Italian mainland. It is believed more likely that Axis forces in the north-east corner of Sicily have been reinforced, though whether to strengthen rearguard positions anc facilitate evacuation or to gain time by preparing another “Cape Bon’’ is net clear. South of Catania, a correspondent writes from Allied North African headquarters, fighting is fierce • and the Germans’ tremendous losses are mounting. They launch counter-attack after counter-attack and have mined approaches to the town in their best manner. Barbed-wire trenches and tank traps are also plentiful, but it is doubtful, he says, whether they will be able to hold the line once the Seventh Army is in contact with the Italians. The message says the important railway junction of Bologna experienced its first raid yesterday by Flying Fortresses based on Africa. The Fc:iresses had to make a round + rip of approximately 1500 miles. They encountered no oppositiion from fighters or flak. The correspondent also