GERMANS’ POSITION DESPERATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25305, 16 August 1943, Page 3

GERMANS’ POSITION DESPERATE

FINAL STAGES IN SICILY (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph;—Copyright) (Rec. 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 15. The Sicilian campaign is rapidly moving to its final stages. Chief interest now lies in how many Germans will be trapped in the north-eastern pocket, from which they are desperately attempting to escape to Italy. There are indications that the number of prisoners may be large, as the Allied air forces have blocked the roads to the evacuation beaches. The German rearguards are still fighting back between Randazzo and the coast to hold back the Allied troops from the beaches, but our planes are keeping up relentless attacks against the evacuation craft, forcing the Germans to move men and material to the mainland mostly at night.

An Algiers communique states: “We continue to advance on all iectors. Our troops are steadily pushing the enemy rearguards eastwards from Randazzo. The Eighth Army has captured Riposto, Giarre, and Milo. The enemy on this front is determinedly resisting. Mobile units of the Seventh Army north of Randazzo have captured Floresta, on the Randazzo-Cape Orlando road. The Americans on the north coast have captured Piraino.” Algiers radio announced that the Americans are advancing along the north coast within 20 miles of Messina. The radio also stated that the whole of the Mount Etna region is now in Allied hands. As the Germans step up the evacuation traffic from Sicily, so

the Allied air forces step up their attacks, says Reuter’s correspondent. Our planes at peak periods are queueing up to take off. The Axis air forces are finally showing up at night in an attempt to shield the escape boats and the beaches. The main hope of escape for the Germans fighting on the central fronts was the by-road running north to the coast from Francavilla. Ruins from the bombed houses now block the narrow, twisting streets of Novaro, through which the road passes before it strikes the coast. Evacuation has been speeded up for those from other parts of the front who can be got away. Traffic in the Messina Straits is most active. A few merchantmen have been added to the fleet shuttling back and forth as hard as possible. Hundreds of lorries were seen on Friday unloading on the already congested beaches in the Messina area.

The most experienced crack troops have been thrown in by the Germans to hold the most critical points on the Sicilian battle fronts, including those from the Goering Division, reputedly one of the best the Germans had in Southern Europe. Their ages average from 18 to 20 years. \

Berlin radio admits that the Axis troops are suffering from lack of water. They are also exposed to never-ending shelling from the sea and bombing from the air and leave behind them a field of death every time they retreat to new positions.