NORTHERN DASH

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

NORTHERN DASH

EIGHTH AKMY'S SPEED GREAT ADVANTAGE GAINED SYDNEY, July 14 The spotlight of the Sicilian campaign is focussed upon the coastal dash by units of the Eighth Army, well past Che naval base of Syracuse and now reported in Augusta, en route to the military heart of Sicily in the Catania Plain, writes _ the Sydney Morning Herald's military correspondent. While the Americans are consolidating their operations along the south coast, the Canadians, who by now must be one of the most highly trained formations in existence, have completed the occupation of the Pachino Peninsula. and have reached the railway in the extreme south-eastern tip of the island.

With their rear thus well protected, the Eighth Army can resort to tactics of extreme mobility in the coastal corridor, Tim full of the towns along the railway to Syracuse and the unexpectedly rapid occupation of the city of Syracuse itself have effectively limited operations in this area to the narrow coastal zone; while the move to Palazzo] a up the Anapo Valley, running west from Syracuse, furnishes a flank against enemy attacks from the mountains. Naval Ease and Docks The occupation of Syracuse is the most important gain made by the Allies so far in the island campaign. The city was captured so rapidly that the installations of the naval base and the docks are probably not greatly damaged; and thus the invaders will have an excellent port to which they can bring sea-borne reinforcements and supplies for the move north toward Catania. The great curve of the Porto Grande to the south forms one of Italy's best harbours, and a lock between the Syracusan outlier and the mainland provides access to the smaller but even more sheltered Porto Piccolo to the north. Driving past some of the finest classical remains still extant, the Eighth Army must have followed the road and railway that cling to the coastline. There is no possibility of attack from the direction of the land in this sector, and at Augusta the British are on the fringe of the Catania Plain proper. The Catania Plain A few miles north of Augusta the railway turns inland to the shores of Lake Lentini and thence across the very heart of the Catania Plain to Catania itself. If the enemy is to put up an effective resistance anywhere in Eastern Sicily, it would surely be on the plain, the cession of which would be tantamount to accepting a withdrawal to Messina. Once the air bases and the communications of the Catania Plain are lost the enemy would be restricted to the road and railway along the north coast. Ihe fate of Sicily will be decided on this plain, and the Eighth Army advanced upon its southern entrance at ar amazing pace. MR. STIMSON'S VISIT LONDON, July 14 The United States Secretary of War, Mr. H. L. Stimson, dined with Mr. and Mrs. Churchill at No. 10 Downing Street. The American Ambassador in London, Mr. J. G. Winant, and the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, were also present.