BRITISH TROOPS NEAR AUGUSTA

Southland Times, Issue 25705, 14 July 1943, Page 5

BRITISH TROOPS NEAR AUGUSTA

Fall Believed To Be Imminent

(Rec. 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 13. The fall'of Augusta is believed to be imminent, according to a report received in Madrid from Italy. British troops are reported to be halfway between Syracuse and Augusta. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says the Allied forces, besides pushing north and west of their landing points, are attacking Agrigento, also the outskirts of the roads and communications fanning out into the central Catania plain. An Italian coastal regiment was virtually wiped out on Saturday. The Americans captured Licata at a cost of four dead and practically no wounded. More than 300 prisoners were taken. Rome radio announced that Lieuten-ant-General Enrico Francisci, of the Fascist militia, commander of the 13th zone of Black Shirts and general liaison officer of the Sicilian Command, was killed in action. Algiers radio, broadcasting to Italy, quoted the Allied headquarters spokesman as stating that the Allies’ peace terms for Italy are:— (1) For the Fascist regime and the armed force supporting it—unconditional surrender. (2) For the Italian people—freedom to choose any kind of non-fascist gov- .. ernment and thus become a respected member of the family of free peoples. AMERICAN LANDING Gela looked like an American amusement park on the Fourth of July as American troops poured in from invasion craft, says the British United Press correspondent. British and American cruisers and destroyers engaged the defences as the men went in. The captain of one landing barge said: “Flares burned and there were great red and yellow spurts of flame in the defences. Tracer bullets slithered over the beaches and machine-gun bullets whipped across the waters above us. Junkers 88’s and the shore guns began to open up and shells plopped all around. Troops were pouring ashore from barges continuously. They stormed their way towards the town, where they met the enemy in some force. Despite resistance the men hurled the enemy back to the cliffs. Paratroops were fighting their way towards the town. Fires on the airfield added to the light.” Noto was captured at 11.25 a.m. on Sunday. Rosolini and Ispica were taken by Canadians. The Canadians have now joined forces with one of the most famous British divisions commanded by General Sir Bernard Montgomery. Glider-home troops were responsible for the comparatively slight resistance met by some Sicilian landing parties, says an eye-witness with the air-borne troops. This correspondent tells a remarkable story of being captured with the survivors of one party of 70, who held an objective for 14 hours against increasing Italian opposition, before surrendering when their ammunition was exhausted. However, within an hour a British reconnaissance party appeared and began shooting at the guards, enabling the prisoners to escape. Algiers reports state that Floridia, west of Syracuse, has been captured, also three more important towns.

Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says it is officially stated that Ispici and Rosolini were captured by the Canadians. ITALIAN OFFICERS CAPTURED Between 900 and 1000 Italian and German prisoners were brought to North Africa from Sicily yesterday, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. All seemed in high spirits and smiled broadly as they stepped off the boats. They were mostly youths in their teens, of unkempt appearance with badly worn uniforms. The group included about 35 ' Italian officers. Four Italian lieutenant-colonels walked up and* surrendered in one sector, explaining that they had been caught while making a front-line reconnaissance. Reports from Italy indicate growing disorganization, says the Tass News Agency (Moscow). The newly-appoint-ed prefects in a number of southern cities are unable to ensure normal functioning of the services and tendered their resignations. One prefect said that when he arrived the city offices were almost empty. Panic-stricken officials had fled, many leaving the city for the country. Thousands of local residents, especially women with children, gather outside the city offices demanding either food and shelter or evacuation to the north.