VITAL CENTRE

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

VITAL CENTRE

CAPTURE OF RANDAZZO FAR-REACHING EFFECTS RUGBY, Aug. 13. The American Seventh Army occupied Randazzo at 9.35 a.rn. to-day, following sustained pressure by this army and the British Eighth Army. The fall of Randazzo, which is the key town to the remaining German defences in Sicily, means that the enemy has been driven from his most important communications centre. The fall of this town is likely to have an important effect on the remainder of the campaign in Sicily. The front line in Sicily is now less than 30 miles long. The Axis forces are falling back to Messina, and their evacuation is gathering impetus. They are being harassed from sea and air. The special communique announcing the capture of Randazzo says: “This city is the key to the whole German position in the centre of the Sicilian line, and has been bitterly defended bv crack German troops. This morning, under the remorseless pressure of the British Eighth Army and the American Seventh Army, Randazzo fell, and. the Allied troops have driven the Germans from a centre of communications vital to their entire position in North-eastern Sicily.” For the first' time German fighters have appeared on the scene, and have tried to interfere with our Kittyhawks and Warhawks, which are constantly harrying the evacuating German troops. A number of these German fighters were shot down and the rest driven off, our machines continuing with their task of harassing the enemy evacuation.