ALLIES ESTABLISH HOLD IN SICILY

Southland Times, Issue 25703, 12 July 1943, Page 5

ALLIES ESTABLISH HOLD IN SICILY

INVADERS SWEEPING INLAND BEACH DEFENCES SWEPT ASIDE GLIDER AND PARA-TROOPS USED (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 11. Excellent progress has been made by the British, American and Canadian troops who began the invasion of Sicily at three o’clock on Saturday morning. They have established bridgeheads along 100 miles of the south and east coasts and are sweeping inland. It is now revealed that glider-borne and parachute troops landed on the island on Friday night, opening the way for the landings. Genera] Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Allied Com-mander-in-Chief in North Africa, who is directing the« operations, this morning issued the following communique: “With all the beach-heads held and all our troops advancing the Navies’ most important task yesterday was landing more troops, guns, ammunition and supplies. This task was carried out satisfactorily in spite of a heavy swell. Although few details are yet available it can be said that the operations are going according to plan. Reports of casualties have not yet been received, but it seems certain that these are light. Gliders containing British troops were released on Friday night in face of a stiff wind. They turned eastward and a few minutes later had landed in Sicily. Paratroops soon followed them. During the night they captured and consolidated positions behind the Axis beach defences.

American troops landed at Avola. They stormed the beaches, overcame the defences and swept inland. Canadians practically walked in at the south-east tip of the island, but north and west of Pachino the Axis offered stubborn resistance. There was heavy fighting, but later prisoners began to come in in batches of 50 and 100, sometimes guarded by only a single Canadian. German have been landed on the island to stiffen the already formidable defences and heavier fighting is expected. Rome radio states that the Allies are trying to gain control of harbours to make more landings.