BRITISH THRUST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25277, 14 July 1943, Page 3

BRITISH THRUST

CATANIA AS OBJECTIVE LONDON, July 12. The first great battle of Sicily will start in the next few 1 hours, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters in a late despatch to-night. The Germans are rushing forces east to Agrigento to meet the drive by the Americans, who were last reported at Licata. The Axis also faces the threat of the British thrust through the Syracuse gateway. Two Italian field divisions have been thrust into the breach for full-scale resistance. The British troops, under General Sir Bernard Montgomery, to-night are reported to be driving north from Syracuse towards Catania, while the Axis is trying to mass forces to meet the thrust. The Axis is believed to have massed its heaviest forces around Trapani and Palermo, where the enemy anticipates that the main assault will be made. Berlin radio claimed that Axis forces, in the course of heavy battles, succeeded in preventing a junction of the British and American forces east of Gela. The Daily Mail points out that this 1 is the first mention of the British being near Gela. Syracuse, which is a city of 53,000 peoble, was taken early in the invasion operations. British troops entered the city at 9 p.m. on Saturday, and, although there was some fighting in the streets and German troops tried to hold out in barracks, the fighting : had ceased and the enemy was completely cleared from the town and port ; by dawn on Sunday. Later in the day ! Allied minesweepers cleared the beach ; approaches of mines, i In the meantime the Americans had i captured Licata and Gela, and equip - | ment w.as being unloaded there yesterj day. Allied aircraft were operating ! from Sicilian airfields yesterday, and j an Agency correspondent reports that ! Axis resistance is not yet strong, i although German troops are en- ; deavouring to hold up the advance. The bridgehead held by the AmeriI cans is 25 miles long and 10 deep, and i between them and the Eighth British 1 Army on the right are Canadians, who ' took a big part in the capture of 1 Pachino. Yesterday the troops were i fanning out as they advanced inland, i and to mid-day there was no sign of i counter-attacks. There was only light j resistance, and the civilians reacted well. An official in one occupied town went to another town which was resisting and persuaded the place to surrender. More than 2000 prisoners were taken on Saturday. Air opposition was practically negligible, but yesterday there was a slight increase.