FRESH TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 5

FRESH TROOPS

POURING ON TO ISLAND STRONG AIR COVER (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. The Allied troops in Sicily are now advancing with the beaches behind them, firmly in the hands of fresh troops, more of which are still being brought in fronj? vast convoys protected by the navy, cables the British United Press correspondent at Allied forward headquarters. He adds that within 48 hours of the first landing the crisis of the Sicilian invasion had passed, and troops were being disgorged on the island in one great stream. The whole coastline along the invasion front is in Allied hands. Several thousand Canadian reinforcements landed in North Africa within 24 hours of the start of the Allied landings in Sicily. A substantial troop convoy carrying additional troops from England followed the ships containing the Canadian assault force. Spitfire night fighters from Malta helped to form an air umbrella over the Allied landings on Sicily’s beaches. Malta-based Mosquitos in the meantime watched Italian aerodromes for signs of the enemy attempting to send bombers to Sicily. The Mosquitos found only one Italian aerodrome illuminated, but after thsir approach the lights were switched off, and stayed off. Reuter’s military correspondent believes that' a 50-mile-advance from either side would establish a line which would give the Allies control of about 1000 square miles in which there are several airfields suitable for immediate use. : The Allied landing beaches, already seem to be well beyond the range of the enemy’s artillery, and are exposed only to air attack, which is unlikely to be very fierce, in view of the Allies’'supremacy in the air. The Zurich correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph reports that Signor Mussolini has asked the King of Italy to address the nation.

The are taking severe measures to prevent gossip, and have already arrestpd many people in Naples. Rome radio said the Allied landings in Sicily are the best organised, the best prepared, and the biggest since Gallipoli. The British and Americans carried through their plans wdth ample supplies.