GERMANS IN PERIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25300, 10 August 1943, Page 3

GERMANS IN PERIL

(Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 9. Large German forces are in peril of being trapped north-west of Etna between the Eighth Army, which captured Bronte, and the American Seventh Army, which is still meeting bitter resistance just east of Troina, says the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with General Montgomery’s forces. The Eighth Army can strike north of Bronte up the Simeto River valley against the flank and rear of the Germans who are believed to be concentrated on the hills around Cesaro.

The Algiers correspondent of The Times says: “ Conjointly with the news that the Allies had taken Bronte come reports from Allied pilots that Randazzo is blocked to traffic as the result of air attacks. Randazzo is a most important strategic point, the occupation of which would enable the Allies to cut off the Germans who delayed too long their withdrawal to the east through trying to hold the Allies at Troina.

The Algiers correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says of Allied planes are smashing against the enemy attempts to evacuate secondline troops from Sicily across the Strait of Messina. Our aircraft are ceaselessly bombing the beaches and small craft in the four-mile channel. The Germans, hurrying to get their troops away, are now using boats in the day-time singly or in small convoys. The enemy air resistance in the last 24 hours has been almost negligible.