DRIVEN OUT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 5

DRIVEN OUT

GERMANS LEAVING SICILY RUNNING THE GAUNTLET ATTACKED BY AIR AND SEA {Roc. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 13. The German evacuation of Sicily is proceeding steadily in the face of an “all-out” Allied air attack, which is encountering the heaviest anti-aircraft barrage of the war. The Germans are believed to have placed 200 guns on each side of the Straits of Messina, and these are maintaining a terrific fire. In support of the Allied bombing of the retreating Germans, warships ol' the Mediterranean Fleet, together with American units, are heavily shelling roads, railways and bridges on both the north and east coasts of the island. The Germans are, however, leaving Sicily from a number of points, and correspondents express the belief that they will succeed in evacuating the major portion of their forces. Correspondents report that the evacuation is in full swing. Thousands of Germans loaded with equipment are being transported to the Italian mainland in lighters, barges, and landing craft. They are running the gauntlet of ceaseless Allied air attacks. The evacuation fleet numbers about 80 small craft, some of which have already been sent to the bottom. A defensive umbrella of fierce anti-air-craft fire is being put up over the Straits of Messina. In addition to the air attacks the evacuation fleet is being subjected to night attacks by naval units.

The bombing of German communications in Sicily is increasingly heavy, and there is some evidence that as a result the Germans are finding it difficult to feed their forward troops, says a military commentator in London. The Germans are now using heavy machine gun and mortar posts to cover demolitions while they fall back. These tactics, although effective in delaying the advance of the Allied forces, are also very costly, as the Germans left in the posts are suicide troops, who will either be killed or captured. According to the latest information the battle line runs from Giarre across the southern slopes of Etna to Bronte, on almost to Randazzo, and thence northwards to the coast. Randazzo is now within range of our field artillery at a distance of 10,000 yards.