8TH ARMY AT GATES OF CATANIA

Southland Times, Issue 25709, 19 July 1943, Page 5

8TH ARMY AT GATES OF CATANIA

STRONGER RESISTANCE AMERICAN 7TH ARMY CAPTURES AGRIGENTO (United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. General Sir Bernard Montgomery’s Sth Army, now at the gates of Catania, is meeting stronger Axis resistance, according to today’s communique from North African headquarters. It is now confirmed that the American 7th Army has captured Agrigento, taking 4000 prisoners. Since the start of the Sicilian campaign 30,000 Axis soldiers have been taken prisoner. The Americans have now advanced 40 miles along the south coast of Sicily since their landing more,, than a week ago. They are now encountering steady opposition. The Bth Army, at the approaches to Catania, is facing especially strong opposition. There is no indication how far the British troops have advanced across the Catania plain, but one report says they are 10 miles from the city. A third Italian divisional commander has been captured in Sicily. Naples yesterday had its greatest pounding of the war. It was attacked by 500 aircraft, mainly from northwest Africa. There were four tremendous explosions, including one from the Royal Arsenal and another from an ammunition dump. Wellingtons, Flying Fortresses, Liberators, Mitchells and Marauders took part in the attack, which began in early morning darkness and went on throughout the day. One correspondent says the Allies are hitting Sicily so hard that the island’s defenders’ only hope of averting a complete collapse is an Arnim Plan—a rearguard action on the pattern which enabled the Axis to hold out for six months in Tunisia. The Bth Army tanks and artillery are concentrating a terrific fire-power north of Lentini and the Axis forces, including the 15th Panzer Division, are suffering heavily. The main battles of the campaign are about to be decided on the Catania plain, the features of which favour defensive tactics. The plain is seared with streams and river beds, forming excellent natural barriers and trenches across our advance. Germans are esLmated to form one-quarter of the Axis strength. The Italians have shown previously that they can fight well if they are strongly entrenched and their flanks are well secured. Tire fall of Canicatti, which is the most northerly point the Americans have reached, marks the Allies’ steady progress towards Caltanissetta, one of Sicily s most important road and rail centres. Its capture would jeopardize the supplies and mobility of the Axis forces. The fall of Biscari gave the Allies their eighth airfield in Sicily. When Catania falls the Axis troops based in the mountains to the west will be in serious danger of being cut oil from all supplies.