VITAL REGION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24636, 15 July 1943, Page 3

VITAL REGION

PLAIN OF CATANIA ALLIES. WELL PLACED PROSPECTS OF BATTLE (Bmi 0.10 p.m.) LONDON. Jnl.v 14 British troops in the Syracuse area oi Sicily can see the great mass of Mount ' Etna,-- to the north, says Reuter's Algiers correspondent. The lack of Axis counter-attacks on the largest scale indicates that the enemy command is not willing to take the risk of full-blooded action until it is satisfied that it will not be imperilled elsewhere. [t is apparent, however, that the Catania Plain which, in a military sense, is the heart of Sicily, must be defended, as it commands the most vita! approach around the side of Mount Etna to the Strait of Messina. Enemy Exposed The Allied position for the push across tiie plain to the north is most favourable. Axis reinforcements already have been forced to swing north around the hill mass to counter the Allied drive. This manoeuvre has constantly exposed them to deadly strafing and bombing from the unchallenged Allied air force. . Catania also possesses Sicily finest string of airfields, including the Gcrbini network, which had first priority in the attentions of Allied bombers. The massive Allied salient in the south-east corner of the island has put the Axis defenders in a perilous position. Their movement is now seriously restricted. The Times' correspondent in Algiers gays prospects of an advance by Allied mechanised units well into the_ heart of the island seem fairer than hitherto as the result of the occupation of points on the borders of Catania Plain. Iho capture by the Allies of Palazzola, which almost overlooks the plain, is of considerable importance. The town is astride the only road and only railway west from Syracuse. Its capture thus closes one of the avenues from which the enemy might have sent forces against the port. ' Axis Command's Dilemma The general picture is that the Allies now have a great belt of south-eastern Sicily in their hands, including a valuable* 40-mile strip of railway. Spearheads at places are 20 miles from the coast with reconnaissance units, including tanks, even further inland. Artillery duels are ; being fought and local enemy counter-attacks have been dealt with. Our troops are moving forward to engage the enemy forces which are coming down from the north, and a large-scale battle is expected soon. The enemv appears to be nervous regarding the* possibilities of the western portion' of the island. It is plain that if he rushes "I! his reserves to the east he will be inviting a landing in the Trapani and Marsala areas. On the other hand, if be delays too long he may find himself cut off in another "Cape Bon" or "Zaghouan." The Bi'Hiri radio says that when the Axis Command 'discovers on which point of Sieiiv the enemy intends to concentrate his attacks* powerful countermeasures can be expected. JUNCTION AT RAGUSA GREAT STRATEGIC VALUE (Reed. la.m.) NEW YORK, July 14 /file correspondent of the New York Tiffies in Sicily emphasises the great strategic value of the junction of British and American troops at Ragusa, &s a result of which the Allies are folding solidly the entire corner of Sicily, with the unscathed port of Syracuse, a complete road system, and high land that can easily be defended. This greatly reduces the enemy's chances in a counter-attack. Warships fight tanks (Reed. 12. J.', a.m.) LONDON. July 11 American warships oft the Sicilian £oast fought tanks for the first time in history, -ays the British United Press correspondent. As the American troops repulsed the large-scale Axis counterattack in the Gela area naval gunfire knocked out a number of German tanks.